Work Throwback: Transforming Progress Rail’s Flood-Damaged Office

A successful office refurbishment is never just about replacing finishes, installing desks or giving a tired space a new look. At its best, it solves practical problems, supports the people using the building every day and gives a business the confidence that its workplace is ready for the future.

That was exactly the case with our Progress Rail Sandiacre refurbishment.

For this work throwback, we’re revisiting a large-scale refurbishment that brought together space planning, technical building services, durable specification, brand-led design and careful project coordination on a live industrial site.

Progress Rail needed more than a standard office refresh. The existing building had suffered flood damage, particularly across the ground floor, which meant the project had to begin with the fundamentals: making the space safe, practical, resilient and fit for long-term use.

This created an opportunity to rethink how the building worked for the team.

Rather than simply reinstating what was there before, the project focused on creating a workplace that could support day-to-day operations, improve staff facilities and provide room for future growth. That meant looking closely at how people moved through the building, where teams needed privacy, how meeting spaces would be used and which areas required the most robust finishes.

The result was a carefully planned two-floor office environment that balanced open-plan working, enclosed meeting rooms, private offices, welfare spaces, breakout areas and practical storage.

One of the key considerations on this project was durability.

In commercial interiors, the right specification depends heavily on the environment. A workplace connected to an industrial operation has very different demands from a standard office. Flooring, furniture, tea points, washrooms and wall finishes all need to withstand regular use while still presenting a professional image.

For Progress Rail, the design needed to feel modern and considered without becoming too delicate for the setting. Hard-wearing materials, practical finishes and robust furniture were selected to help the space perform over the long term.

The scheme also made strong use of Progress Rail’s brand colours, with yellow, grey and black tones running through feature walls, seating, manifestations and graphics. This helped connect the finished workspace to the company’s identity while giving the office a clear visual character.

Behind every finished office fit-out is a significant amount of technical coordination.

For this project, ACI delivered a broad scope of works covering the core infrastructure needed to bring the building back into use. This included mechanical, electrical and plumbing works, as well as HVAC upgrades, partitioning, finishes, furniture and external improvements.

The ground floor also required careful attention due to the previous flood damage. Part of the project involved raising the floor level to create a more consistent and practical base for the new layout.

Once the building fabric and services were addressed, the internal spaces began to take shape. Solid and glazed partitions were used to form meeting rooms, offices and enclosed spaces without making the workplace feel closed off. The use of glazing helped maintain light flow through the office while still providing privacy where needed.

A major part of the brief was to create a more dynamic and engaging workplace for Progress Rail’s team.

This is something many businesses continue to focus on: if staff are being encouraged back into the office, the environment needs to offer more than a desk. It needs to support collaboration, concentration, comfort and connection.

The completed Progress Rail workspace includes a variety of settings, from open-plan workstations and formal meeting rooms to breakout seating, welfare areas and private offices. This gives staff more choice in how they use the building throughout the day.

The breakout and welfare areas were particularly important. These spaces provide somewhere for staff to step away from their desks, have informal conversations and recharge during the working day. In a busy operational environment, well-planned welfare facilities can make a significant difference to the overall workplace experience.

A good office layout should work on day one, but it should also be able to support what comes next.

During the design stage, ACI worked through multiple layout options to help Progress Rail get the best possible use from the available floor space. The final scheme needed to support the team’s existing requirements while also allowing the business to grow over time.

This influenced the number of workstations, the balance of open and enclosed spaces, the positioning of storage and the way meeting facilities were planned. The furniture specification was also considered with future capacity in mind, ensuring the completed office could remain useful as the company’s needs evolved.

Another important part of the project was coordination.

Progress Rail’s site remained active throughout the works, which meant the fit-out had to be carefully managed around ongoing operations. Deliveries, access routes, construction activity and day-to-day site requirements all needed to be planned to reduce disruption.

For businesses operating in manufacturing, engineering, logistics or industrial environments, this type of project management is essential. The quality of the finished space matters, but so does the ability to deliver the work safely and efficiently while the client’s business continues to operate.

The refurbishment also extended beyond the main office building.

Warehouse welfare areas had also been affected by flood damage, so these spaces were included within the wider programme. This ensured staff facilities across the site were improved in line with the same practical and durable approach used throughout the office areas.

By treating the office, welfare and support spaces as part of one wider workplace strategy, the finished project provided a more joined-up result for the client.

Looking back, the Progress Rail project is a strong example of how a challenging refurbishment can be turned into a long-term workplace asset.

What began as a flood-damaged building was transformed into a modern, hard-wearing and functional office environment. The completed space supports Progress Rail’s operational needs, reflects the company’s brand and provides a better day-to-day experience for staff across both office and welfare areas.

For ACI, this project demonstrates the value of combining practical construction knowledge with thoughtful workplace design. From early space planning and 3D visuals through to technical works, finishes, furniture and final handover, every part of the project was focused on creating a workplace that would perform for years to come.

Advanced Commercial Interiors works with businesses across Nottingham, the Midlands and the wider UK to deliver office fit-outs, refurbishments, space planning, furniture and workplace design solutions.

Whether you’re refurbishing after building damage, planning for growth or looking to create a more engaging workplace for your team, our team can help turn your ideas into a practical, professional and future-ready space.