Shaping a Future-Ready Office
CostCertified, a forward-thinking technology company, aimed to create an office that embodied its innovative culture while allowing room for future expansion. The brief focused on combining the company’s lively energy with the historic character of the building and delivering a workspace that could adapt to different work styles, foster collaboration, and promote employee well-being without compromising the building’s heritage.
The project involved fitting out three floors within Cape Town’s historic Refinery Building on Kloof Street, covering 2000m² of office space. The challenge was to merge the vibrant, youthful spirit of CostCertified with the preserved elements of the former school hostel. Trend Group handled both design and execution within a tight schedule, demonstrating their ability to transform spaces while maintaining historical authenticity.
Blending Heritage with Modern
Respecting the building’s heritage was a priority, so key structural and historical features were retained, including the original ceilings that maintain its authentic character. Modern office essentials like LED lighting and air-conditioning ducts were incorporated as visible elements, serving both practical functions and as architectural highlights. Blinds were added to the high windows to provide a gentle visual and acoustic buffer.
The workspace was carefully arranged across three floors to meet business needs while enhancing employee experience. The ground floor features open plan co-working areas that flow onto terraces, creating a lively, café-like atmosphere. This level also includes collaboration zones, meeting rooms, breakaway areas, work lounges, and informal games rooms. The first floor offers a calmer environment centered around an internal courtyard with low seating, a fire pit, hanging greenery, Astro turf, and a tree with a seating mound. Surrounding this courtyard are collaboration booths and workstations for focused work and quiet concentration.
Flexible Workspace Inspiring Innovation
The project successfully achieved all of CostCertified’s goals by delivering a lively and engaging workspace that accommodates a variety of working styles and enhances employee well-being. The office design was created with flexibility in mind, allowing the space to evolve with the company’s future requirements and ensuring it remains a valuable long-term asset. Careful quality control throughout the project guaranteed that every element met the highest standards, resulting in a workspace that is both practical and inspiring.
