AA Munro: Collaboration, acoustics, and a move to Bedford

Client:

AA Munro

Sector:

Insurance

AA Munro Insurance has long known that where you work shapes how you work. So when the time came to move from their offices to a newly constructed building in Bedford, they saw more than just a blank canvas, they saw an opportunity to build a space that truly fit the way their team connects, collaborates, and serves clients. As a returning client with a history of working closely together, AA Munro turned to us to help bring this vision to life.

The journey started not in a brand new office, but in a space left behind by the previous tenant, a space that, despite its potential, felt dark and uninspiring. Yet, underneath it all, the bones were good. The office had excellent natural light waiting to be unlocked, and that became one of the key goals from the start: how to make the most of the available daylight, turning a once-gloomy environment into a bright, energetic hub for their team.

Our client, ever the detail-oriented and engaged project lead, made it clear from the beginning that two things mattered above all: natural light and acoustic comfort. The space they inherited had great lighting potential, but felt dark and enclosed. To fix that, we integrated extra-tall glass doors for the private offices, allowing daylight to travel deeper into the space while also reducing sound transfer during private calls or focused work. These taller-than-standard doors, paired with acoustic seals, helped strike the perfect balance between openness and privacy.

Every design choice that followed reinforced those same priorities. From finish selection to acoustic panels, we worked together to shape a layout that welcomed natural light and managed sound without compromising on function or visual flow.

One of the pivotal decisions was to install Global Furniture Group’s Evolve workstations, which blend high-quality acoustic panels with glass toppers. This design wasn’t just about aesthetics. The glass sections above the acoustic panels were a deliberate move to let light bounce and flow across the office, keeping sight lines open while still preserving pockets of privacy. In fact, a lot of thought went into which elements to keep from the previous space, some furniture, such as private office sets and round meeting tables, was repurposed, balancing budget constraints with sustainability and a sense of continuity.

AA Munro’s team spends much of the workday on calls, so sound management was non-negotiable. The new workstations' acoustic panels softened conversations and kept the office from becoming a noisy echo chamber. Meanwhile, the hanging acoustic baffles and soft dividers worked double duty: containing sound and creating a feeling of comfort, all while ensuring the revitalized office stayed filled with daylight.

Even as people moved around, the glass elements and thoughtful layout meant light could travel deep into the space, transforming it from its previously dark, closed-in feeling into something open, fresh, and alive.

Throughout the process, collaboration was at the heart of every decision. Client's involvement at every step, from finish boards to final walkthroughs, ensured that every choice supported AA Munro’s vision. Even after installation, we stayed in touch, making sure the space worked as intended, and listening to feedback from the people who would use it every day.

The result is an office that feels completely transformed: filled with natural light, comfortably quiet, and perfectly suited to the way AA Munro works today. The team’s response has been enthusiastic, they love the new atmosphere, and it shows in the way they use the space. For us, this project is a testament to what happens when a client’s vision and deep involvement meet the right design partnership. AA Munro’s Bedford office isn’t just a place to work; it’s a story of renewal, ingenuity, and the kind of collaboration that turns challenges like a dark, echoing space into lasting strengths.

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