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Office Space

Heritage

From 1930s Art Deco to 21st Century Creativity

In the heart of Sheffield’s Cultural Industries Quarter stands the Work Station — an enduring symbol of the city’s creative resilience. Built in 1936 as a state-of-the-art car showroom and garage, its bold Art Deco design embodied the optimism and modernity of the era.


But this building’s legacy is far more than architectural. Saved from dereliction in the early 1990s, it was reborn as a home for cultural pioneers, independent makers, and emerging storytellers. From music legends and film productions to charities and digital startups, the Work Station has incubated ideas, launched careers, and helped shape Sheffield’s cultural identity.


Today, this landmark continues to evolve — a living space where heritage fuels innovation, and where creative communities thrive side by side with social purpose.

A Journey Through Time

1936
Built as a luxury car showroom and garage
1980s
Vacant and facing demolition
1993
Work Station opens as a creative business centre
1995
Showroom Cinema opens alongside Work Station
2007
Expansion of tenant community; home to cultural and creative startups
2024
Installation of solar panels and major sustainability upgrades

A Building with a Story

This is a building of stories. In the decades since it opened, Work Station has played a part in Sheffield’s creative, musical, and digital history:

The Human League rehearsed in the basement

Warp Films shot scenes from Four Lions on the roof

Auditions for Prisoners’ Wives took place on the third floor

Richard Hawley’s band The Longpigs called office 103 home

The Arctic Monkeys filmed a music video here

The Republic nightclub – which put Sheffield on the map in the '90s – was incubated here

Two people shake hands on stage at Sheffield Adventure Film Festival
"Work Station is a nice creative hub—it’s really good to get little ideas, and to share ways of working with other people."

Drummond, Citizenship First

"The office was decked out and decorated exactly the way we wanted it to be."

Drummond, Citizenship First

"We found [Sheffield’s] warm welcome here, at Work Station. Everyone’s friendly, supportive and helpful—it works really well for us."

Drummond, Citizenship First

"Work Station has been brilliant in accommodating our growth. The flexible terms are great for small businesses."

Will Hitchmough, Wildcat Digital

"There’s a real filmmaking community around the building."

HiBaby Productions

"This is a really good place to bring customers and show them what we do. It’s a great environment."

Kevin Dennis, Auxillion

"We were proud to call the Showroom Workstation our home for many years. It was a place our business could grow and connect with like-minded professionals and creatives, helping each other to thrive in our respective fields."

Mark Herbert, Founder and Joint CEO, Warp Films

"This is our moment as a region. We need to get it right… And that brings me back to the Work Station. Because I think the work you do is a showcase of the best of South Yorkshire."

South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard

Architectural Details

  • Preserved Art Deco features include:

  • Original terrazzo flooring

  • Curved brickwork and metal-framed windows

  • Restored cornicing and light fittings

  • Converted garage doors now used for events and access

Join Our Startup Community

Our Greener Future

In 2024, we installed 141 rooftop solar panels, reducing carbon emissions by over 15 tonnes a year and saving more than £13,000 annually on energy costs. Funded through the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, this is part of our broader plan to embed sustainability into everything we do — from energy efficiency to waste reduction and green workspace design.

A historic building — powered by the future.

Awards & Recognition

In 2025, the Showroom Café Bar was named Best Entertainment Venue at the Best Bar None Awards, recognising its vital role as a welcoming and inclusive venue at the heart of Sheffield’s cultural life.

A Cultural Charity Rooted in Community

Work Station and Showroom Cinema are operated by Sheffield Media and Exhibition Centre (SMEC), a registered charity.

Our mission is to:

  • Support independent film, artists, and community-led projects

  • Provide affordable workspace for the creative sector

  • Offer cultural programming that reflects and includes everyone

  • Create meaningful routes into film and media industries (e.g. through BFI Film Academy North)

Every space rented, ticket bought, and coffee shared helps fuel this mission.


Help us keep the story alive with your support.