Senior Architect / Interior Designer

At Fora, we’re fuelled by a desire to enhance the way people work. We’re here for the progressives, the forward thinkers, the status quo-challengers, the creators and the innovators. With signature hospitality, a like minded community of members and a re-energising wellness experience, Fora takes the grind out of daily work-life, so members can focus on what’s important – working productively, healthily and happily.  

Our journey began over 20 years ago, when we opened our first location on London’s City Road. Since then, our collection has grown to over 60 distinctive workspaces across London, the UK and Germany, totalling 3.2 million sq ft of real estate.  Over the last two decades we have welcomed approximately 300,000 members through our doors, with over 30,000 members today, and boast market-leading retention rates.

As a trusted workspace provider for teams of all sizes, from established brands to new ventures, our uniquely designed, flexible office spaces come with a range of exceptional on-site amenities and a dedicated Member Experience team to take care of all the day-to-day details. Ocado, The British Fashion Council and Pangaia are just some of the businesses who call a Fora workspace home.  

Fora is London’s leading provider of flexible office spaces .   All of our design-led spaces are open and supported by our dedicated front-of- house teams, five days per week. Fora is part of The Office Group, backed by Blackstone and Brockton Capital. We have ambitious plans to expand our collection of workspaces in the future, pioneering industry change through our conscious design and construction practices, and creating workspaces that empower our members to work in their own unique way. 

The role :

Fora is seeking a driven, collaborative and highly skilled Senior Architect / Senior Interior Designer to join the Design and Development team and play a key role in shaping the future of our portfolio. This role is ideal for an experienced Architect  / Interior Designer who can blend architectural rigour with interior design creativity, lead projects and demonstrate project lead experience, understand data and designing to suit, and deliver exceptional workplace environments across a dynamic existing portfolio and a growing estate.

As a senior team member your role will involve multiple projects across our various workstreams, including, but not limited to: underwriting acquisitions, feasibility studies, briefing and concept design, documentation review through technical design and on site delivery and leading design direction from concept to completion on small scale portfolio interventions to larger scale new assets. You will ensure that projects embody the Fora brand, are backed by the relevant data, support operational needs and deliver outstanding experiences for our members and occupiers.

In this role you will collaborate closely with internal stakeholders at Fora; including day-to-day interaction with Development, Real Estate, Commercial Insights, Operations, Finance, Sales and Marketing teams. The role also requires strong collaboration with external consultants and design teams, acting as a key design guardian for Fora.

 Key Responsibilities

Design Project Leadership

• Lead the architectural and interior design vision across a range of projects: potential acquisitions, new developments, existing portfolio refurbishments and smaller scale existing portfolio interventions and enhancements and where required member workplace fit outs.
• Produce high-quality concept designs, space plans, layouts, material palettes.
• Ensure design aligns with the Fora Design Principles, quality, sustainability goals, operational functionality, budget requirements and data analysis.
• Demonstrate organizational leadership skills .
• Ability to work collaboratively in team settings while exhibiting individual initiative.
• Confidence coordinating interdisciplinary teams, managing project schedules and budgets, and effectively communicating with sub-consultants.
• Comfortable in communicating effectively across a broad group of stakeholders, including senior management, consultants and clients.
• Work in a self-directed manner, consulting with the Co-Heads of Design as required to ensure project success.

Acquisitions and underwriting

• Support the Real Estate team with building selection criteria review.
• Attend site visits and oversee preparation of building analysis to understand opportunities and constraints.
• Develop and review space plans ensuring key metrics are met and aligned with Fora Design Principles.
• Undertake due diligence in collaboration with the Development team.

Project Delivery

• Oversee and lead the design process through all RIBA Stages 0-7 from Stategic Definition to In Use.
• Generate concepts and ideas with fresh approaches aligned with the Fora Design Principles.
• Produce and oversee, client presentations, drawing packages, technical detailing, specifications and stage reports.

·       Ensure technical, regulatory and statutory compliance.

• Conduct site visits and reviews, track progress and pro-actively resolve on-site design queries.
• Act as Fora design representative in meetings with external designers and architects, engineers, cost consultants and contractors.
• Review and comment on external designer, consultant and contractor project documentation, drawings, specifications to safeguard the Fora Design Principles.
• Work in collaboration with the FF&E team on selection, review and monitoring to ensure all FF&E and styling aligns to the project requirements and Fora standards.
• Work in collaboration with Fora’s Development team and Alterations PM team to deliver new developments, existing portfolio refurbishments and smaller scale existing portfolio interventions and enhancements and where required member workplace fit outs.
• Coordinate inputs from internal stakeholders.
•   Analyse post‑occupancy performance and translate findings into continuous design improvements.

Standards, Governance, Quality and Strategy

• Assisting in creating, maintaining and evolving the Fora’s Design Principles.
• Champion quality, innovation, user experience, and sustainability across all design decisions.
• Ensure compliance with UK Building Regulations, planning requirements, inclusive design principles, and health & safety standards.
• Support team members through day-to-day guidance.
• Support in the continual development of our Autodesk Revit BIM environment.

Requirements

• ARB registered Architect preferred.
• Postgraduate degree in Architecture or Interior Design as a minimum.
• Strong experience in practice post qualification in commercial office, workplace or hospitality.
• Strong interior design capability with a refined understanding of materiality and industry trend.
• Understanding of FF&E procurement and specification processes preferred.
• Strong ability to lead on projects through all RIBA Stages 0-7
• Ability to lead and design manage multiple projects concurrently
• Experience working client side or extensively with end users would be preferred, but not essential
• Excellent knowledge of technical and construction detailing
• Great knowledge of architectural, structural and MEP to ensure strong design coordination and management
• Excellent knowledge of Building Regulations and Statutory Legislation
• Knowledge of sustainable certifications (eg. BREEAM, WELL) preferred.
• Experience mentoring junior designers

Benefits

At The Office Group, we know that  work isn’t just about working. We offer all of our employers a fantastic range of benefits, including;

• Hybrid working - 4 days in the office 1 WFA
• Flexible working hours
• 28 days annual leave
• Birthday off
• 2 weeks work from anywhere
• Annual leave purchase scheme
• Healthshield
• Study support
•  5% Pension scheme
• Life Assurance
• Discounted Gym membership
• Season Ticket Loan
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• 25% Discount at Fora Cafes
• Discounted event spaces