Acquired by W Denis Insurance Brokers PLC in 2023, the six-storey 1960s office block at 8 St. Paul's Street was stripped back to its structure and entirely reimagined. Two new floors were added, the facade was fully reclad, all windows replaced, and the interiors designed from scratch — creating 20,000 sq ft of premium workspace that functions as both the company's flagship headquarters and a leasable professional hub for other businesses in the city.
Lumen Loom was engaged to work alongside interior designers R U Creative to develop the right lighting solution to illuminate their intended design for every space within the building. Working collaboratively from early concept through to on-site commissioning, our role was to translate the interior design vision into a layered lighting scheme that performs both functionally and atmospherically across a varied programme — from high-performance open-plan workspace and private meeting rooms, to a coffee lounge, gymnasium, breakout areas, and a rooftop terrace with views across the Leeds skyline.
Central to the specification was the design and deployment of a Lutron Athena commercial lighting control system — giving the building full scene control across all zones, automated daylight harvesting, and seamless integration with the building management system. The result is a responsive, energy-efficient installation that adapts to occupancy and time of day without demanding anything of its users.
Aqform architectural track and suspended luminaires provide precision illumination across the open-plan office floors, combining flexibility with a clean visual language that complements R U Creative's interior design scheme. In the breakout spaces, Onok feature pendants with adjustable light elements introduce a more tactile, human quality — fixtures that invite interaction and create distinct moments within larger open areas.
Throughout the staircase, communal areas, breakout zones, and the gym, Lightforms linear wall lighting and track spotlights deliver both ambient wash and focused task illumination — practical, well-resolved, and consistent in finish. The final layer belongs to Zava Luce, whose design-led decorative luminaires provide the finishing touch above meeting tables and breakout zones: pieces that signal considered taste and elevate the overall quality of the interior.
