Project Information
Client: South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue
Location: Sheffield
Date: May 2023
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue serves as the statutory fire and rescue authority for South Yorkshire, England. Its operational area encompasses the cities and towns of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield. The service manages 21 fire stations across the county, organised within four districts that correspond to these localities. They are staffed on a wholetime basis, wholetime and day-crewed, wholetime and retained, or retained-only. With the remaining four staffed by on-call retained firefighters. This work was carried out in collaboration with Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation and Kate Tamsin Interiors, ensuring a high-quality and well-considered approach to the project.
Brief
Dams was selected as the sole furniture supplier for the newly refurbished South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Headquarters in Sheffield. We were responsible for both the supply and installation of a range of furniture solutions, with the aim of delivering a modern, adaptable, and collaborative working environment.
This project focused on aligning the workspace with contemporary working practices and the evolving needs of the organisation.
Highlights
To support a dynamic and progressive workplace at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Headquarters, a thoughtful selection of furniture solutions was specified throughout the space. Bench workstations and ergonomic task seating form the core of the environment, encouraging productivity and flexibility. Steel storage units and Flux storage ensure secure and efficient organisation across the office. Collaborative zones have been enhanced with inviting soft seating, modular shelving, and Tilly Booths, providing versatile spaces for teamwork or informal meetings. Formal meeting rooms benefit from Adapt meeting tables and Tuba conference chairs, creating a professional setting for presentations and group sessions.
Challenges
The project presented a number of challenges that required careful planning and coordination. One of the primary challenges was to create a cohesive and future-ready workspace within the constraints of a refurbished building, ensuring
that new furniture integrated seamlessly with the existing infrastructure.
Designing spaces that could accommodate a diverse range of working styles, from focused individual tasks to large team collaborations, demanded thoughtful zoning and the selection of flexible furniture solutions.
Solution
Through a collaborative approach, we reviewed multiple floor plans and a wide range of product options, focusing on key elements such as the specification of acoustic meeting booths, the choice of soft seating fabrics, and the functional needs of task chairs. This thorough evaluation enabled us to recommend layouts and furniture solutions that maximised usable space while supporting a flexible, modern working environment aligned with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s objectives. we delivered a value-engineered fit out that not
only met but exceeded the original specification. Importantly, this rigorous process achieved a cost reduction of approximately 30% compared to the initial budget estimates provided by SYFR. Throughout, we maintained a focus on quality, durability, and adaptability, ensuring the final installation supported both current and future ways of working. This carefully considered approach resulted in a seamless delivery of a forward-thinking, efficient, and welcoming headquarters workspace.