LinkedIn Experience Centre, UK
Overview
LinkedIn’s London office now boasts an Experience Centre where members, customers and employees can collaborate, innovate, and connect in person. Designed by Ab Rogers Design (ARD), this dynamic hub is bursting with character across three areas: The Arcade, The Theatre, and The Executive Briefing Centre.
From creating pockets of interest and setting the right scene for a meeting to highlighting textures, working with interactive elements, and adding drama, the layered lighting strategy defines the unique character and identity of each space.
Design
A glowing timber backdrop, illuminated by track-mounted wall washers, frames the reception desk alongside a large Santa & Cole Cirio Circular pendant that anchors the space, creating an inviting arrival experience.
Leading from reception, The Arcade is a lively, internal ‘street’ featuring meeting spots, lush planting, and playful design elements. Track-mounted wall washers and spotlights accentuate textured brickwork, featured artwork, and the bright, bold exterior of The Theatre. A Hunter Douglas perforated raft ceiling houses strategically placed recessed downlights that punch light onto the tables and enhance the planting below. An integrated line of light frames the feature ceiling and supplements ambient light levels while illuminating the soffit above for an elevated effect. Muller Van Severen lamps droop over circular tables, casting an intimate glow, and are complemented by lighting integrated within banquette joinery to create visual interest.
Elevated by the lighting design, The Theatre is the beating heart of the Experience Centre. A striking in-ground line of light wraps around the base of the curved coral structure and is balanced by high-level, curved track lighting, creating a sense of flow and movement that encourages people to explore beyond. From outside, it’s a captivating view that catches the attention of passers-by. Inside the auditorium, a linear lighting profile washes the curved timber wall and, together with low-glare, laser-blade lighting within the ceiling, provides a discreet and flexible base layer for the specialist AV/theatre lighting configuration – designed by others with Ström’s consultation.
In The Executive Briefing Centre, the lighting design reflects a shift in character to a chic, residential-style space. Cove lighting enhances the vertical timber finishes, adding depth and warmth, and Vibia pendants above soft seating create intimacy. Meeting rooms feature tunable white technology and high colour rendering, creating ideal meeting conditions that users can tailor via a control system. In the boardroom, a Barrisol skylight complements the sleek design look and supports ambient light levels, while adding drama through an array of illuminated colours.
Sustainability
The project targeted LEED credits under the guidance of Arup’s Sustainability team. Lighting credits included energy efficiency, luminaire efficacy, and daylight-linked controls. Fortunately, the footprint of the space allowed for effective daylight control in The Arcade – the main collaboration area.
Additional sustainability measures include raw aluminium finishes on iGuzzini track-mounted luminaires and suppliers who incorporate recycled materials into their ranges – such as Stoane Lighting and Optelma. All architectural lighting fixtures were reviewed using TM66 Specify criteria, prioritising UK and EU manufactured products.