The 12-storey office building includes an underground car park, gym, conference centre, several meeting rooms and a staff restaurant with outdoor seating areas that provide spectacular views across Brighton and the South Coast.

The entrance accommodates a unique visitor experience, and whilst there is a clear line of security, the open nature of this space is welcoming and generous. It’s sweeping curves and the widened route to the main core are sized to suit the peak staff flow into and out of the building.

internal spaces have a sense of openness and fluidity, encouraging a flexible and modern working environment. An internal curve motif is used throughout, creating a smooth transition from the secure reception space into the building. Similarly, perimeter coffer lighting assists the flow and linking of the entrance with the core and other parts of the building.

At ground floor level, the double height main entrance extends along the street frontages with feature pendant lighting creating an open and inviting frontage. The floor is terraced internally to provide a visual synergy with the external environment and a café for staff and visitors provides a dynamic and lively scene when viewed from the street.

Flexibility has been built into the typical floors and any future changes in American Express’ business can be easily accommodated. The high level of servicing, the core split into four equal parts, and clean open plan relatively column free floor plates allow this to happen.

Open collaborative work lounge spaces are laid out in a variety of colour themes creating a stimulating and uplifting working environment.

Washrooms have pops of colour creating points of interests in these amenity spaces.

We worked in collaboration with renowned ceramic artist Kate Malone to create a large public art wall — a modern interpretation of the beach pebbles, chalk and flint used around the Brighton area, hand crafted by local school students and American Express employees.

Work with branding consultancy and signage suppliers to develop a building brand for 1 John Street which aligned with Amex corporate guidelines.