Scarman & Arden Refurbishment

The challenge was to balance consistency with individuality. Scarman House serves a more commercial conference market, requiring a confident, professional environment that supports business events, meetings and delegate activity. Arden House has a different role, offering a more relaxed postgraduate and home-style setting. Rather than applying a single visual treatment across both buildings, BMJ used the flexibility of the Warwick Conferences brand to create spaces that feel connected but appropriately different.

Close collaboration with the client was central to the project. BMJ worked responsively as the design evolved, considering both the immediate refurbishment brief and the client’s longer-term ambitions for the venues. This helped ensure that the interiors were not only refreshed, but also aligned with how Warwick Conferences wanted guests, delegates and staff to experience each building.

A detailed schedule of preferred suppliers, fittings, finishes and equipment was developed and costed from the outset, giving the client a clear basis for decision-making and budget control. The design was then reviewed at each project stage to ensure the developing specification continued to reflect the brand, operational requirements and overall design intent.

Brand expression was carefully woven through the interiors. A graphic designer was brought into the project team to strengthen wayfinding, materiality and visual identity, while BMJ developed colour schemes, furniture, lighting, fixtures and room dressing to create atmosphere and distinction across the two buildings. These decisions helped turn the refurbishment into a more complete guest experience rather than a simple refresh of finishes.

The design process was communicated through sketches, mood boards, precedent images, material samples and 3D visualisation, helping the client understand the look, feel and practical implications of the proposals. Collaboration with engineering and AV specialists allowed building services, lighting, acoustic treatments and technology to be integrated discreetly, supporting the ambience of the spaces without compromising performance.

The result is a carefully considered interiors project that uses design to support brand, hospitality and commercial value. By understanding the different roles of Scarman House and Arden House, BMJ created environments that feel individual, purposeful and connected to Warwick Conferences’ wider identity — demonstrating how thoughtful refurbishment can elevate guest experience while making existing spaces work harder.