Balbec Capital
A high-spec refurbishment that fixed what the previous fit out couldn't and made it look effortless
Size
2,000 sq ft
Location
SW1, London
Project Type
Office Refurbishment
Industry
Finance
Challenge
A previous fit out had missed the brief entirely, poor acoustics, a layout that didn't work and a finish below the standard expected at Pall Mall.
Process
Zentura corrected the acoustic failures, redesigned the layout and delivered a high-spec refurbishment inside a listed building with minimal disruption to other tenants throughout.
Outcome
A calm, precise office that finally matches the firm. Better acoustics, improved AV, upgraded amenities and a client who couldn't fault the experience.
Getting it right... the second time
Taking on a project that had already failed requires a different level of precision. The stakes are higher. The client's confidence needs to be earned, not assumed. Zentura's approach was straightforward: listen carefully to what had gone wrong, address those issues at the root and deliver a finish that left no room for doubt.
The acoustic specification was central, double-glazed partitioning, acoustic doors and HVAC rerouting to eliminate noise transfer between spaces. For an investment firm where conversations are confidential and concentration is everything, this wasn't a nice-to-have.
A considered fit out in a constrained building
78 Pall Mall is a listed building. No lifts. Shared corridors. Other tenants who expected no disruption. Balbec's team worked from home throughout, which gave Zentura the space to operate efficiently but the logistical constraints of the building remained. Every delivery, every trade, every removal had to be planned around the building's limitations.
The result was a project that, in the words of the client, was barely noticed by anyone else in the building.
Design that works with what's there
Balbec's antique American furniture wasn't an obstacle since it became part of the design. Working sympathetically with an existing aesthetic, Zentura created a space that felt coherent and considered rather than piecemeal. New partitioning, upgraded tea points and improved staff amenities were all introduced without jarring against what was already there.
The brief was always to elevate, not overwrite and now the finished space honours that.
Zentura have been a delight to work with. Your attention to detail from the get-go was very impressive. I have been continuously updated on every aspect of the project, and your staff have been polite and quiet, hardly anyone in the building knew they were around. The finished refit is perfect. You understood our requirements and met them
Lori McGuire, Executive Assistant, Balbec Capital
The Experience
The standard the space deserved
Balbec Capital operates at a level where precision is assumed. The previous contractor unfortunately hadn't delivered that. We did, but not by doing anything dramatic, by getting every detail right, communicating clearly throughout and leaving a finished space that the client described as perfect.
That's what this project was really about. Not the acoustic spec, or the listed building access, or the heritage constraints. It was about restoring confidence in the space and in the process. That's a harder thing to deliver than a fit out and Zentura did both.
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