PROJECTS » BLACKROCK, EDINBURGH
BLACKROCK, EDINBURGH:
BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm, relocated its Edinburgh operations to a new state-of-the-art office at Dundas House in the city’s New Town. This move came after a comprehensive £48 million refurbishment led by Robertson Group. The historic Dundas House site – once a two-storey Victorian building with a listed façade, later expanded with a four-storey modern extension – has been transformed into 140,000 ft² of Grade A office space for approximately 1,500 employees. This marks a 63% increase in footprint from BlackRock’s previous Edinburgh office, reflecting the firm’s commitment to growth in the city. The project’s vision was to create a “future-ready environment” that supports BlackRock’s ambition and reinforces Edinburgh’s status as a global financial center.
THE CHALLENGE:
The fit-out combined:
A listed heritage frontage
A multi-storey atrium hub
Large open-plan workspaces
Breakout lounges and café areas
Quiet booths and focused work settings
While architecturally impressive, these spaces risked feeling hard, expansive and overly corporate without natural elements.
Planting needed to:
Add warmth and softness to timber, glass and metal finishes
Break up long sightlines in open-plan areas
Define zones without building walls
Thrive in varying light conditions
Stay consistently high quality with minimal disruption
And crucially — it had to meet the expectations of a global financial brand where presentation standards are non-negotiable.
PLANTING SUMMARY:
As part of this major redevelopment, we were approached to design and deliver planting schemes that would enrich the new interiors, creating a healthier and more inspiring place to work.
This included the creation of a striking central atrium display, where a raised bed was planted with tall tropical species and a rich underplanting of textured foliage.
Planting at the entrance is clean and structured. A line of Sansevieria in matching planters runs alongside the access gates, softening the security area without getting in the way of circulation.
A Nordik Moss wall adds a simple green backdrop, bringing texture and colour to an otherwise neutral space and creating a calmer first impression for visitors.
Planting around the presentation area is kept simple and purposeful. A continuous run of greenery sits along the top of the stage backdrop, softening the height of the structure and helping it sit more naturally within the open atrium. The planting is made up of mixed trailing and leafy foliage, allowing plants to gently spill over the edge rather than feel rigid or decorative.
At floor level, large freestanding planters with statement foliage plants frame the stage and provide balance without blocking sightlines. The darker planters contrast with the lighter timber finishes, keeping the planting visually grounded and understated.
In the atrium and café areas, larger bespoke planters are used to break up open seating and subtly define zones.
These are filled with a mix of broad-leaf tropical plants, adding height and density to the space. The greenery helps make shared areas feel more relaxed and comfortable, while also improving acoustics.
Across the main office floor, planting is integrated into desks, storage and booth seating.
Smaller planters add greenery at eye level, softening the workspace and providing light screening between teams without closing the space off.
ONGOING MAINTENANCE:
Installation is only the start.
Benholm provides regular, proactive maintenance visits to ensure every plant remains healthy, vibrant and presentation-ready.
Our service includes:
Regular plant health checks
Watering and feeding to suit seasonal conditions
Pruning and reshaping to maintain clean lines and appropriate scale
Replacement planting where required
On-site quality control checks carried out to ensure standards were upheld
For a global brand like BlackRock, consistency matters. Our ongoing care ensures the space always reflects the same high standard as day one.
THE OUTCOME:
Planting now plays a visible and practical role throughout Dundas House:
Warmer, more welcoming arrival experience
Softer acoustics in busy areas
Better visual zoning in open-plan floors
Improved staff wellbeing and comfort
A greener, more sustainable workplace identity
By combining thoughtful design with long-term care, Benholm has delivered plants with purpose — not decoration, but working elements that actively improve how the workplace feels and functions every day.
PROJECT TEAM:
Robertson Construction | MLA | Cundall | Solace Interiors | Gardiner & Theobald LLP | City Access Scaffolding | Richter | FES Group | MMM Joinery | Linear Projects | All Star Joinery | METALtech UK | Optima | Grosvenor Services
Photography: Mcateer Photo | Paul Zanre
LET’S COLLABORATE:
If you’d like a workplace planting and maintenance strategy that aligns with your fit-out programme and long-term wellbeing goals, Benholm can support you from early design development through to installation and ongoing maintenance.
To start a conversation, call us on 01324 861300 or email sales@benholm.com