AstraZeneca’s Cambridge Sky Lounge: A thoughtful transformation by Ekho Studio

Acoustic panels help transform underutilised and unloved space into a calming, warm, tactile and collaborative environment.

AstraZeneca’s Cambridge workplace has undergone a remarkable transformation thanks to the creative vision of Ekho Studio. Following on their award-winning redesign of AstraZeneca’s UK head office in Kings Cross, Ekho Studio was tasked with revitalising the Sky Lounge - a space previously hindered by fragmented layouts, lack of cohesion and poor acoustics.

The project’s brief was clear: overhaul the underutilised Sky Lounge to create a cohesive, inviting and functional environment. Ekho Studio’s design embraced AstraZeneca’s “5 C’s” business objectives - Concentration, Communication, Collaboration, Celebration and Connection - while adhering to key principles of sustainability and environmental responsibility. Locally sourced materials and products that enhanced the building’s environmental credentials were prioritised throughout the process.

The new Sky Lounge is a vibrant, character-filled space that transcends the ordinary. The interiors feature a palette dominated by natural materials: rustic oak veneers, textured lime rendering, tactile terracotta tiling and recycled worktops. Layered elements such as semi-transparent voiles, dense curtain screening fabrics and wool and bouclé upholstery add depth and tactile interest to the environment. Addressing the challenge of poor acoustics was central to the redesign. Ekho Studio specified Troldtekt wood wool acoustic panels in both classic and Troldtekt line, both finished in natural colours. These panels were installed across ceilings in meeting rooms and open-plan areas, coupling a tactile surface with effective sound absorption. The Troldtekt line panels, with their milled grooves and seamless edges, create a striking visual rhythm while minimising noise reverberation. In the meeting rooms, classic Troldtekt panels are arranged in clustered frames on the walls, interspersed with natural wood, offering both a functional and a visually attractive point of interest.

Troldtekt line features milled grooves in the surface with overlapping edged on both short and long sides creating a seamless look whereby the joins between the panels are not visible. Forming part of the wider ‘design solutions’ range, the straight runs of milled lines create an intriguing visual aesthetic, adding depth and symmetry while helping reduce the reverberating sound bouncing off the surrounding hard surfaces.

The transformation of the Sky Lounge has had a tangible impact on AstraZeneca’s Cambridge teams, encouraging a renewed enthusiasm for working in the office. As Sarah Dodsworth, Founding Partner and Principal Designer at Ekho Studio comments:

“The Sky Lounge is a joyous open space which has resulted in the subsequent vote of confidence - a surge back into working within the office by the teams based in Cambridge. 

The design language, choice of furniture, integrated layered lighting and a carefully considered selection of materials contribute to a highly sustainable and mature looking scheme that transcends trends and will provide longevity for the years to come. This offers real value to the business and epitomises the approach to sustainability being at the heart of the solutions. Part of our design included the introduction of Troldtekt line for the first time adding a new dimension to the sightlines. Troldtekt panels worked so well in our project for AstraZeneca at the UK headquarters in London so it was a clear choice to incorporate into this scheme as well”.

Troldtekt wood wool panels excel at providing acoustic comfort with a visually attractive and sound-absorbing tactile surface coupled with high durability, resistance to impact and humidity. With a long-life cycle of over 50 years, all panels are Cradle to Cradle Certified^® at Gold level and only use wood from certified forests (PEFC/09-31-030 and FSC^®C115450). Depending on the panel specified, reaction to fire is classed in accordance with EN 13501 as B-s1,d0 or A2-s1,d0 respectively.