1 St James's Market

The Crown Estate has recently undergone a three-month programme to refurbish our office space at 1 St James’s Market. The plans for the newly refurbished space were informed by people with a range of different lived experiences from inside and outside the business to understand a broad range of needs and preferences. This helped ensure the new space is a supportive of our cultural evolution and will enable new and improved ways of working, aligned with our purpose and representative of the Crown Estate’s values.  

The team also worked with consultants from AccessAble to test the lived experience of those with differing accessibility requirements, improving not just our occupied floors, but the welcome within the main lobby. 

Key inclusive design features include:

• New and improved wayfinding, with the introduction of brail. An automated email will be sent to all guests ahead of their visit to include wayfinding from local tube or bus stops, guidance for taxi drop-offs, information on the arrival experience and what to expect plus the ability to communicate any accessibility requirements in advance.

• Calming paint palette chosen with neurodiversity in mind. 

• The creation of a physiology lounge, recognising the needs of those who may be pregnant, post or pre-menopausal or those with a long-term condition. This comfortable and safe space will provide various seating options to support where, due to a physical need, a desk is not the appropriate seating.

• The floorplate has been arranged from loud to quiet, with the introduction of a fully accessible phone/video booth. This provides transition free access, multiple lighting options and an accessible, sit-stand table.

• The reception has been reconfigured and one-height reception desk to ensure an equitable experience for all visitors. The lectern has been replaced with a sit-stand lectern for all event speakers.

• The project team engaged with the Race and Ethnicity Network to design a multi-faith room and understand the needs of those who may which to use this space. It has been designed ensuring it is not aligned to any specific religion, provides suitable storage for different faiths including space to store the Quran at non-foot level, a marker to identify the direction of prayer and manifestations on the door to provide suitable privacy.

• The tea points have been reconfigured to include accessible height counters along with new seating and tables to enhance social connections.

• Training has been provided for all catering, security and front of house team-members. This includes revised fire safety protocols for both employees, visitors and those hosting an event. A nominated fire-buddy will be identified for any visitor who may need extra-assistance in leaving the building in the event of a fire or emergency. This training has been implemented in all serviced offices and amenity spaces across the estate. 

• Enhanced biodiversity and all materials chosen in line with the both our existing WELL platinum certification and the latest sustainability standards.