GTA were appointed to facilitate Ryan Specialty’s relocation from the Gherkin to their new London headquarters at 25 Fenchurch Avenue. As a global specialty insurance business providing underwriting, brokerage, and alternative risk solutions, Ryan Specialty required a workspace that reflected their professional credibility while supporting collaboration, culture, and growth.
Applying our expertise in workplace strategy, data collection, and spatial design, GTA developed a tailored solution that aligns with Ryan Specialty’s business strategy, growth ambitions, and brand identity. The move to a larger space, spanning three floors and 45,000 sq ft, not only provided the opportunity to create a destination office but also accommodated new and future business acquisitions.
A defining feature of the project is the bespoke internal staircase connecting the 3rd and 4th floors. More than an architectural statement, the staircase acts as a vertical connector, encouraging movement, visibility, and interaction between teams. It also symbolises the openness and connectivity at the centre of Ryan Specialty’s culture.
The 4th floor serves as the social hub of the workplace, anchored by a spacious teapoint and breakout area where colleagues can come together for lunch, informal meetings, or company-wide townhall gatherings. This space fosters togetherness and strengthens a sense of belonging across all teams.
The 6th floor was conceived as a client-focused zone, with a welcoming reception leading into a refined broker lounge and a suite of meeting rooms. The broker lounge serves as a relationship-building sales tool that offers brokers a comfortable, professional space to meet clients, discuss products, and strengthen partnerships while fostering trust, loyalty, and sales opportunities.
The 6th floor’s expansive 28-person conference room showcases Ryan Specialty’s scale and, with a direct view of the Lloyd’s building, the epicentre of the global insurance sector, provides an impressive setting for major meetings, client presentations, and strategic sessions.
Acoustic performance was a key priority for Ryan Specialty. GTA tested base build conditions to inform abutment details, and modelled the expected sound experience to determine appropriate treatments. Acoustic performance was tested during and post-construction to ensure all spaces met or exceeded the agreed performance criteria, delivering confidentiality in meeting zones and comfort throughout open work areas.
Materiality and detailing were carefully considered to reflect Ryan Specialty’s identity. The design palette draws from the company’s signature navy, blue, and grey tones, paired with warm oak finishes to create a contemporary yet welcoming environment. Illuminated stretch ceilings enhance natural light penetration through the deeper areas of the floorplate, while high-quality finishes and craftsmanship reinforce the brand’s image.
Brand graphics, values, and quotes are seamlessly integrated across the interiors, reinforcing culture, heritage, and identity throughout the workspace. The design prioritises sustainability and is on track to achieve SKA accreditation. Material choices, energy-efficient systems, and construction practices were all selected to minimize environmental impact, creating a workplace that performs for both people and the planet.
The result is a sophisticated, high-performing environment that delivers on every aspect of the brief: a destination office that celebrates the Ryan Specialty brand, promotes wellbeing and collaboration, and provides a professional, flexible space for both daily operations and premium client hospitality.
