Londons Canary Wharf is best known as a financial district, populated by bankers and other business people. However, now that the British government has opened a large hub in the area, the districts population mix is becoming more diverse. This project is part of a bigger shake-up of the UKs civil service, which will reduce the number of government buildings from 800 to around 200 by 2030, with the aim of reducing costs and increasing synergies between departments. In this instance, this meant moving around 6000 civil servants from their old, often cramped, offices newly fitted-out, modern office building in Canary Wharf. One of the relocated departments is Ofgem, the British energy watchdog. Ofgem is an interesting case because it is one of the front runners in the governments drive towards smart working term for a wide range of flexible working practices, including remote working and activity-based working in the office. Kim Pivett, Ofgems manager for building services, says: We are one of the first to have fully implemented the governments smart working policy, but ultimately the entire government will have to work this way. That means that there is a lot of interest in how we are doing this. We have already shown around more than 50 departments. What visitors get to see is a brand-new, light, modern work environment where there is an almost palpable sense of energy. When walking around, you see people chatting, laughing, having phone conversations, and working on their computers at large work benches. In between the work areas, there are semi-open collaboration spaces where groups of people can be seen drawing onThe buildings restaurant, doubling as a space whiteboards and holding video meetings via large screens.for meetings, working, town hall sessions and In other words, a lot of buzz and activity, but there arepresentations. (photo: Hufton+Crow)also small quiet rooms for those who do not want to be disturbed by the sight and sounds of their colleagues.