Futureworks’ managing director Chris May in the new AKA-equipped facility
London-based AKA Design supplied studio furniture to the new Futureworks creative media training facility in Manchester, England, working closely with acoustic design specialist Harris, Grant Associates (HGA) of Surrey, England. The new audio training facility at Futureworks demonstrates how AKA can work closely with architect and client to design a room where interior, furniture and technology combine to create a streamlined, ergonomic environment.
“HGA’s design work has always stretched further than just the acoustics of the rooms, and technical furniture has always been essential to this,” explains HGA director Neil Grant. “We’ve found that the good working relationship we’ve developed over a quarter of a century with AKA has resulted in our being able to design and specify specific furniture and finishes, which work in conjunction with our rooms and facilities, to the benefit of the owners and clients.”
AKA offers a flexible design service, and works with HGA in a different way for each project. The Futureworks installation drew exclusively on AKA’s flatpack range—specifically its ProCommand desks designed for Digidesign’s D-Command consoles. However, HGA has also used AKA’s custom design service, or a combination of the two, to suit different budgets and installations.
“The Futureworks education model is built on the concepts of excellence, workflow and integration,” says the facility’s managing director, Chris Mayo. “AKA’s furniture solutions, combined with Neil’s approach to studio design, have ensured that we have been able to realize these concepts in the build of the studio facility.”
“We can integrate our own finishes across the range of furniture, making it an integral part of the design and installation, and modify and incorporate furniture into the technical system design so that it is less of an adjunct to, and more of an integral part of, the room design,” concludes Grant. “AKA offers flexibility, creativity and support to our design efforts, and at a price point that continues to benefit our clients.”
For more information, visit www.akadesign.co.uk, www.harrisgrant.com and www.futureworks.co.uk.
