Breathing new life into 43 Queen Square - Case Study

Project:

Pre-Acquisition Survey

Location:

Bristol

In Brief:

Straddling Queen Square and located near iconic Bristol landmarks such as the Prince Street Bridge and Bristol Cathedral, 43 Queen Square is now home to a state-of-the-art flexible workspace, leased and operated by Runway East has opened on the 1st July 2026.

Just 3 months earlier, this wasn’t the case. Previously occupied by a legal firm, the building had failed to move with the times. Featuring enclosed cellular offices, executive suites and ageing interiors, the site was proving unsuitable for the needs of modern businesses.

To transform the site ahead of its July 2026 launch, an extensive fast-track refurbishment programme was undertaken by Easton Bevins, Runway East and workplace design specialists Interaction.

Transforming a traditional workspace

Founded in London in 2014, Runway East has grown into one of the UK’s leading independent flexible workspace providers, operating sixteen locations across five cities. Having already established itself as Bristol’s largest independent office operator, the company identified 43 Queen Square as a prime opportunity to expand its presence within the city.

Easton Bevins were appointed to provide building consultancy and surveying expertise at the outset of the project. Following a detailed pre-acquisition technical due diligence survey in January 2026, key issues were identified relating to fire compartmentation, flat roofing systems, drainage and the fabric of the wider building.

While the structure itself remained sound, the building required significant refurbishment works to modernise the space, improve safety and support the long-term performance of the property.

We were aware of the clients’ desire to fast-track the scheme, and as such provided detailed and costed advice to Runway East via an accelerated programme, including an telephone consultation on the day of the survey, an executive summary of the key elements, and finally the full report, which included projected costs for the defects identified.

Delivering a fast-track refurbishment

Working within an accelerated programme, refurbishment works commenced in February 2026 with the aim of preparing the building for occupation by the summer.

The existing office layout was stripped back to create a more open and collaborative environment, replacing enclosed suites with flexible workstations, breakout areas and modern meeting spaces designed to support businesses of varying sizes.

Attention was also given to improving the usability of the courtyard, transforming it into an external working and social space complete with power, Wi-Fi connectivity and flexible seating.

Alongside the internal transformation, key maintenance and compliance improvements were carried out across the building, including roofing investigations, fire safety recommendations and wider repair works.

Balancing heritage with modern working

The completed refurbishment now provides approximately 500 workstations alongside a range of meeting rooms, phone booths, breakout spaces and collaborative working environments designed to support businesses of varying sizes.

Delivered within a condensed timeframe, the project has helped breathe new life into one of Bristol’s most recognisable commercial locations, transforming a neglected office building into a contemporary workspace designed around flexibility, sustainability and future growth.

Our consultancy services and expertise cover the complete construction lifecycle. To discuss your project, contact us on 0117 942 8776 or email info@eastonbevins.co.uk.

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