Thirdway brings creative collaboration to a former Methodist church

Photography: Peter Ghobrial

Commissioned by TodayTix Group – an e-commerce company specialising in cultural experiences, from Shakespeare to Spielberg – design-and-build firm Thirdway set out to create a concept with creativity and culture at its heart. Selecting a former Methodist church next door to London’s Ambassador Theatre, the new site celebrates the listed building’s original architectural features while providing a contemporary, collaborative space that connects employees working from London, New York and remotely across the UK.

Little traditional, fixed desking was initially required due to the company’s hybrid working policy, allowing Thirdway to focus their efforts on creating social areas, meeting spaces and breakout zones. The emphasis was therefore on creating areas with a convivial, ‘front room’ feel – almost evoking a members’ club vibe – as well as larger meeting spaces, plenty of breakout furniture and phone booths for one to two people to conduct focused, uninterrupted calls or Zoom meetings at a time.

The design team worked closely with both TodayTix’s CEO and employees to help them craft a human-centric head office that genuinely caters to the company’s day-to-day needs. In particular, the CEO was enthusiastic about incorporating his passion for vintage furniture into the design, scouring Paris flea markets for statement pieces and eventually donating feature sofas and chairs from his own collection. These eclectic pieces continue in the CEO’s office on the top floor, joining the building’s feature skylights and exposed steel beams, as well as an informal space within the office to engage with staff when needed.

As TodayTix hosts regular launch events, parties and a range of live performances, Thirdway paid special attention to a mezzanine space, installing a bar, disco balls and climbing ivy across exposed brickwork. This laidback, speakeasy atmosphere, has proved to be the perfect setting for the brand’s ‘town hall’ events and larger meetings, and has also been instrumental in aiding the London team’s collaboration with their colleagues over in New York. However, after executing their original design brief, Thirdway later returned to the former church building to implement more fixed desking, as the fast-growing company was expanding in size.