Spectrum Workplace delivered a 35,000 sq ft refurbishment for DPS Games in Guildford, creating a vibrant, inclusive studio environment designed around creativity, collaboration and wellbeing. Completed within a live environment over a 16-week programme, the project combined high-performance production spaces with welcoming social areas, including specialist audio rooms, flexible workspaces and a central staff deli. The design also considered neurodiversity and DDA compliance throughout, resulting in a workplace that supports different ways of working while enhancing both employee experience and operational performance.
Dylan Beale, Studio Director – DPS Games
The goal of the project was to create a workplace that supports the fast-paced, collaborative nature of game development while improving the day-to-day experience of the people working within it. The design needed to balance highly technical production requirements with flexible, welcoming social spaces that reflect the studio’s creative culture, while also offering choice, inclusivity and adaptability across different ways of working.
A central feature of the refurbishment is the transformation of the staff deli and breakout area into a vibrant social hub. Designed to accommodate over 200 people, this space now acts as the heart of the studio, encouraging informal interaction and collaboration between artists, designers, engineers and producers. Rather than functioning solely as a dining space, it supports a wide range of activity—from team meetings and creative discussions through to social breaks and studio-wide gatherings. Bold finishes, natural planting and adaptable furniture help create an environment that feels energetic, comfortable and inviting throughout the day.
Alongside this, Spectrum Workplace introduced a range of specialist production environments tailored to the needs of modern game development. Purpose-built, soundproof audio rooms were integrated into the studio, supporting recording, voiceover work and gameplay testing. These spaces were designed with high-performance acoustic insulation to ensure complete separation from surrounding work areas, enabling technical processes to run smoothly without disruption.
The wider studio environment also benefits from carefully considered acoustic treatments, including ceiling baffles and soft finishes that help manage ambient noise and improve comfort in open-plan areas.
Wellbeing and inclusivity were central to the design. The workplace includes a variety of work settings, from collaborative zones to quieter focus areas designed for deep work and concentration. These calmer spaces incorporate dimmable lighting, biophilic design elements and enhanced acoustic control to support employee comfort and mental wellbeing throughout the day.
The design also considers neurodiversity, offering a balance of stimulation and calm so individuals can choose environments that best suit their working preferences. In addition, the entire studio meets DDA requirements, ensuring full accessibility and ease of movement for all employees and visitors.
Delivering the project within a live studio environment required careful planning, phased construction and close coordination with the client team. Strong communication throughout ensured minimal disruption to ongoing operations, with the project successfully delivered on time and within budget.
The result is a future-ready workplace that reflects the identity of DPS Games while supporting the evolving needs of its teams. By combining high-performance technical spaces with warm, people-focused environments, Spectrum Workplace has created a studio that enhances collaboration, strengthens culture and improves everyday working life.
More than just an office refurbishment, the DPS Games Guildford studio represents a modern approach to workplace design—one that places people, performance and experience at its core.
