We were delighted to see Bidwells featured in the press discussing their new Cambridge headquarters. It was a privilege to work alongside their team on the redevelopment and refurbishment of Bidwell House, delivering a workspace designed to support the next chapter of their growth.
The fourteen-month project saw the COEL team complete a full strip out before delivering a carefully considered workplace transformation. The result is a vibrant and flexible environment that reflects Bidwells’ culture and brings its teams together into a single agile working community.
Bidwells is a leading real estate adviser operating across the Golden Triangle, supporting clients within the science and technology, sustainability and residential sectors. Their ambition was to create a headquarters that could unite more than 40 teams in a single connected workspace.
Working closely with the Bidwells leadership team, COEL delivered a full workplace solution and office fit out, including planning, design, build, and furniture, for their 21,000 sq ft Cambridge office.
The office design supports a more agile approach to working. Rather than relying on fixed desks or enclosed offices, the workspace offers a variety of environments suited to different tasks throughout the day.
Open collaboration areas sit in relaxed café spaces, touchdown desks, and comfortable breakout seating alongside. This variety encourages movement throughout the workspace and allows employees to choose the setting that best supports their work.
Creating a flexible environment was central to the brief. The layout encourages interaction while remaining practical for focused work.
Minimal fixed desking ensures teams can adapt their working patterns while shared spaces promote natural collaboration. Meeting rooms provide quieter environments for discussion, while open areas allow ideas to flow more freely across teams.
This approach reflects a growing shift within modern workplaces. Agile work practices give employees greater freedom to choose the most suitable space for each task while maintaining strong connections with colleagues.
The arrival experience was designed to separate client-facing areas from the main working environment clearly.
Visitors enter through a welcoming reception space that introduces the Bidwells brand through confident signage and thoughtful office interior design. A series of meeting rooms is directly off the reception area, providing comfortable, professional spaces for hosting clients.
Beyond this point, the office opens into a series of staff-focused spaces designed for collaboration, connection and everyday work.
People sit at the heart of the Bidwells business. Their workplace needed to support both professional collaboration and social interaction.
Inspired by the role traditional pubs have played in British communities, the design introduces relaxed seating areas that encourage conversation and informal meetings. Comfortable booths and lounge seating provide welcoming spaces where colleagues and clients can connect.
At the centre of the office sits the Brewery Café, a social hub that supports the working day and transforms into an event space in the evening. Lighting and AV allow the space to host internal gatherings and client events, creating a lively atmosphere that strengthens relationships across the business.
Throughout the office, the design balances style with functionality.
The reception lounge provides additional informal meeting areas, while the boardroom offers a larger space for strategic discussions. Folding walls allow the room to adapt depending on the size and nature of the meeting, ensuring the space remains flexible for future needs.
From the moment visitors enter the office, the experience feels both professional and welcoming. Every space has been designed to support conversation, collaboration and the delivery of excellent client service.
Elements of Cambridge history influenced the design concept. The city’s historic pubs inspired the relaxed seating areas that run throughout the workspace.
One notable reference is The Eagle, where Watson and Crick famously announced the discovery of DNA. Drawing inspiration from these local landmarks helped create a workspace rooted in the city’s culture while still looking firmly towards the future.
The success of the project was built on close collaboration between the Bidwells and COEL teams.
Richard Pilsworth, Partner at Bidwells, reflected on the experience:
“I would happily recommend the COEL team, who throughout the duration of our project have shown the right positive attitude towards keeping to budget, programme and quality and became a very trusted partner on the project by the end.”
The completed workspace reflects the ambition of the Bidwells business and provides a flexible environment ready to support their continued growth.
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