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Client: Moneypenny
Architect: AEW
Contractor: Bora Construction Ltd

Wrexham firm Moneypenny’s ‘dreamland’ HQ  

CW Studio, Manchester has designed the landscape for Moneypenny’s new £15million headquarters in Wrexham. The striking new building, designed by AEW Architects, is designed to accommodate over 1,000 staff. Set in a ten-acre landscape, it has its own ‘village pub’, a treehouse for meetings and dramatic views over meadows, orchard, woodland and the countryside beyond, all designed to create a happy, relaxing and inspirational setting for employees and visitors. 

A contemporary blue Irish limestone walkway leads to the entrance through a landscape of tall swaying grasses, echoing the natural landscape of meadow beyond. Directional paths pre-empt desire lines towards the entrance and create spaces for seating within the planting. Hornbeam hedging gives structure and defines the space. A timber deck leads to a wetland filled with filtered surface water, while a wet meadow detention basin holds any overflow in severe weather. An orchard provides apples, damsons, plums and black cherries for the staff to enjoy. All species were chosen to provide fruit for the staff to enjoy throughout their working day. 

Moneypenny have been the perfect client and it is so wonderful to see the staff enjoying their new home. There are even picnic baskets and blankets so that people can sit in the meadow at lunchtime and eat apples from the trees

arolyn Willitts, Director of CW Studio

Materials used

Main entrance walkway; Kilkenny Blue limestone. Diagonal crossing paths; Kobra granite flamed paving. Stone edging; Kobra granite bush-hammered. Stone benches; Bespoke Kobra granite benches that feature Artscape greetings ‘Croeso’ and ‘Welcome’ in a vintage typewriter font with ink splatter as a ‘playful nod’ to the work done within, by Moneypenny. The text was sandblasted into the surface of the stone using laser-cut templates. The stone benches terminate the diagonal crossing paths and are enclosed by tall grasses. 

Stone deck to the rear; Kobra granite ‘planks’ flamed paving. Stone seating circle; Split face Kobra granite blocks in a mown circle within the meadow. 

Since we founded Moneypenny we have strived to set the industry standard for ‘excellence’. Our new head office once again raises the bar in achieving this and offers employees the ultimate work environment, which in turn provides stunning service to our clients. CW Studio have exceeded our expectations with this project. Carolyn has been a joy to work with and has delivered something that we’re truly proud of.

Ed Reeves, Moneypenny co-founder and director,

Award-winning 

British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards for North of England, and Finalist for the Society of Garden Designers Awards 2019. 

Materials used