Find out what's unique about Spencer Ogden's office in Singapore

Just imagine its Astroturfed floor that looks like a manicured lawn.

While many office spaces are still boxed in monochromatic shades and cubicle compartments, Spencer Ogden Singapore offers something bold and quite out of the ordinary.

The design combines some British elements with a little bit of Asian twist all rolled into multihued mixes designed to make every working day a little less stressful.

A global energy recruiter, Spencer Ogden has continued to expand its business operations across the world with offices in key regions including the UK, Middle East, United States, Scotland, and Asia Pac. Its Singapore office opened last March 19 with a young workforce up its sleeves.

Deviating from the usual corporate offices, Spencer Ogden plays with quirky pieces such as a statue of a Mongolian warrior and a portrait of a Queen in shades. But its main eyecatcher is the Astroturfed floor that looks like a manicured lawn sealing the garden-like vibe of the enitre office space. Plus, employees also get to enjoy a generous view of the Marina Bay Sands from the office’s location on the 23rd floor.

Singapore Business Review interviewed David Spencer-Percival, CEO of Spencer Ogden, to know more about the office’s design and inspiration.

SBR: Who was the client? What were the needs/requirements of the client for its office space outlined in the brief to the design firm?

Spencer Ogden is a leading global energy recruiter. We recruit across the whole sector: renewables, oil and gas, nuclear, power, smart, mining, trading and finance.

We are unique in that we offer an end-to-end service for our energy clients.

Spencer Ogden has a young workforce, with an average age of 24. Recruitment is a tough industry, demanding long days and many thankless hours on the telephone. The office design needed to take these factors into account.

I believe that the ubiquitous grey and white corporate office is uninspiring; it does nothing for productivity or staff retention. I wanted the design of the office to energise our team;

I want our team to enjoy coming to work. I know that creating a fun and attractive office environment brings benefits: I have seen that it increases staff productivity by 30%.

I also wanted the office to have distinctly Asian feel, whilst retaining its British identity.

SBR: What is significant/unique about this project/design?

The whole design is unique! It is inspired by and incorporates the domestic and garden spaces, which is very unusual. It also mixes Asian and British design. The office is full of quirky and interesting pieces, such as a portrait of the Queen in sunglasses and a large statue of a Mongolian warrior. The time and energy spent designing and building each new office we open conveys our commitment to creating a positive work environment for our employees.

SBR: Please give us a brief description of the office space.

One of the most distinctive features of the offices is the Astroturfed floor - it looks like a manicured lawn! We have basketball hoops to add to the sense of the office being outside. Our recruiters sit around large round tables – inspired by King Arthur – which encourages team-playing. There are no wires on display: everything is built in. We also have a bright red 1950s style American diner, large maps and blackboards on the walls.

Our two conference rooms are made to look like rooms from a grand private home. For example, in the “Not Bored Room” there is a large opium bed and dining set complemented by silverware and a large painting of a tiger.

One of the best things about the office is the view, which we can fully enjoy because of wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling windows. We are on the 23rd floor, and look across Clarke Quay to Marina Bay Sands, which looks especially beautiful in the pink glow of sunset.

SBR: Tell us about the team who worked on this project.

My wife Bonita was the Design Director. She is a talented designer, having worked as a stylist, image consultant and costume director for much of her life. She has had a number of prestigious clients; including the British pop band Take That. Space Matrix, who worked on Facebook’s and Rolls Royce’s Singapore offices, were the design consultants.

SBR: Where is the office located?

The office is on Eu Tong Sen Street, in The Central. This location is in the heart of Singapore and is easy for clients and candidates to get to. The Central also has one of the best food courts in town!