NG Bailey, the UK’s largest independent engineering and infrastructure services business, has marked a new chapter in its long-standing presence in Leeds by relocating to a modern headquarters at White Rose Office Park. The Grade A workspace brings together all operational businesses and support functions into a single, amenity-rich environment designed to support collaboration, wellbeing and future growth.

Selected for its high-quality infrastructure, transport connectivity and onsite amenities, the new headquarters reflects NG Bailey’s commitment to creating an exceptional working environment while supporting long-term sustainability ambitions.

A brief shaped by workplace quality and architectural intent

Think Architecture led the workplace strategy for the CAT B fit-out, developing a layout that balances focused work areas with meeting rooms, breakout zones and social spaces. NG Bailey required a lighting scheme that complemented the architectural language while delivering comfort, flexibility and clarity across a range of tasks.

KNG Building Services worked closely with the Zumtobel Group to develop a coordinated approach. A key challenge was defining a coherent luminaire selection across both Thorn and Zumtobel, ensuring each space met performance requirements while contributing to a consistent visual identity. Collaborative workshops and on-site demonstrations allowed both lighting performance and aesthetic intent to be refined together.

Developing a coordinated lighting approach

Detailed reviews enabled the team to establish a clear visual hierarchy across the office. A mix of recessed, suspended and continuous-row solutions was used to define each space while maintaining low glare and consistent lighting quality.

The reception combines Thorn Cetus downlights with Zumtobel SLOTLIGHT Round to create a clean, contemporary entrance. Across open-plan areas, Thorn IQ Beam provides uniform, low-glare illumination suited to all-day screen-based work.

Meeting rooms feature suspended SLOTLIGHT luminaires alongside TRAMAO fittings with micro-reflector optics, supporting collaboration, presentations and video conferencing. Breakout areas use layered lighting to define zones, with SLOTLIGHT introducing continuity, LINETIK adding contrast, and Novaline supporting circulation and informal seating.

Supporting different ways of working through light

Throughout the building, the scheme balances functional performance with spatial definition. Low-glare optics support focused tasks, while architectural forms help distinguish collaborative and social areas.

Emergency lighting is delivered using Zumtobel RESCLITE PRO and Thorn Voyager Blade, ensuring compliant coverage without visual clutter. Controls play a key role, with presence detection and daylight dimming via a wired DALI system reducing energy use while maintaining consistent light levels. Meeting rooms include scene-setting for presentations and video calls.

A collaborative process, a cohesive result

“From a Zumtobel Group perspective, this project was about bringing together the strengths of both Thorn and Zumtobel in a way that genuinely supported the client’s workplace vision,” says Martin Raper, Key Accounts Manager, Zumtobel Group. “By working closely with NG Bailey, KNG Building Services and the wider design team, we were able to develop a lighting scheme that feels cohesive across the building while still responding to the very different demands of each space.”

Carl Nielsen, Managing Director, KNG Building Services, adds, “The brief asked for operational performance and architectural identity in equal measure. The joint Thorn and Zumtobel solution delivers both, creating a workplace that is comfortable, visually coherent and aligned with how NG Bailey’s teams use the space day to day.”

For more information about the respective products, please visit www.thornlighting.co.uk or www.zumtobel.co.uk