Yorkshire Water Operational Support Centre – Leeds

Bowman Riley transformed existing Leeds offices into a new Operational Support Centre for Yorkshire Water accommodating the relocation of all support staff from its long-standing head office campus.

Aligned with Yorkshire Water’s vision, the new headquarters provides a modern, energy-efficient workplace that promotes collaboration, flexible and hybrid working, and staff wellbeing. By refurbishing existing buildings rather than building anew, the project both reduced embodied carbon and improved the sustainability profile, while creating an adaptable, resilient environment designed to meet long-term needs.

The project involved reconfiguring an early-2000s office building to provide 1,000 workstations, meeting and conference facilities, and collaboration spaces. The second floor of an adjacent building was redesigned to provide additional space. Works included a complete MEP redesign, a new fire strategy, and a workplace transformation aligned with WELL design principles.

Bowman Riley provided lead consultant services, architecture, interior design, workplace strategy, Principal Designer services under CDM and Building Regulations, signage, wayfinding and graphic design. Our design created an intuitive, inclusive workplace, reinforcing the Yorkshire Water brand through colour, materiality, nature-inspired finishes and accessible design.

The biggest challenge was delivering the scheme to an accelerated programme, with the client keen to occupy the building as soon as possible. Early tendering enabled the design to evolve during construction, with input from the client team. The construction phase was completed in just nine months, against a typical 12–18-month programme. This was achieved through proactive collaboration among the design team, Peak PM Project Managers, and the fit-out contractor, Overbury, alongside increased resources.

This project demonstrates our expertise in complex workplace transformations, delivering resilient, future-ready commercial environments.