RAF Leeming - RAFX, Innovation & eXperimental Hub
Supporting innovation in the defence sector through office planning, design and furniture
The RAFX (eXperimental) team develops technology for the RAF to help it deliver safer, more efficient, and more predictable operations.
The RAFX team was moving into a new base at RAF Leeming in a converted air hangar previously used to store aircraft parts. They turned to Richardsons to convert the hangar into a functioning hub for technical innovation.
The brief
The RAF aimed to use the new Innovation Hub to attract the right high-quality cyber and programming candidates for the team and deliver projects faster and more efficiently.
The Innovation Hub’s furniture, layout and design needed to appeal to RAFX’s ideal candidates by providing plenty of varied, flexible spaces for hot desking and collaboration across the team.
Our approach
Due to the nature of working in a military facility, we needed to secure advanced security checks for every member of the team who worked on site, including project managers, drivers and fitters, prior to any work beginning.
Once we had begun work on the layout and interior design of the space, we used fully immersive virtual reality technology to allow the RAFX team to explore and give feedback on the new space before we began installation.
The result
The Innovation Hub’s furniture, layout and design have brought the converted air hangar to life.
Hot desking areas
Open-plan desk areas and comfortable workstations provide ample space for effective hot desking.
Flexible furniture
Breakout areas with movable screens and partitions allow staff to adapt their workspace to suit their needs.
Conference rooms
Large conference areas with inbuilt technology facilitate innovation across the team.
Soft seating areas
Multiple soft seating booths and sofas provide comfortable spaces for work and socialising.
The impact
The new space has been successful in helping the RAFX team attract new talent.
The collaborative spaces help to bring staff together for faster and more efficient project delivery.
