Total Place Design: 7C sets a new standard for the built environment

This groundbreaking and brand new network includes four future facing brands, ERA-co, Impact Futures, Woods Bagot and Customs Bureau, respectively providing expertise across placemaking, sustainability, architecture and interior design as well as ultra-luxury concepts.

United under a holding company named 7C, the 7C network, focusing on ‘Total Place Design,’ is a curation of best-in-class capabilities across placemaking (ERA-co), sustainability (Impact Futures), architecture and interior design (Woods Bagot), and ultra-luxury concepts (Customs Bureau), this innovative new network offers holistic and integrated solutions for an increasingly complex built environment. 

The 7C network provides clients with access to a unique combination of the world’s best talent, drives interdisciplinary knowledge throughout the network and delivers shared services that contribute stronger, more integrated solutions for evolving client needs. At the helm of the newly announced 7C network is Sarah Kay. Appointed as Woods Bagot Global CEO in 2024, Kay’s role now expands to Global CEO, 7C, leading the network of brands operating from 18 global cities.

“Since 2020, we have been growing and adding complementary services towards the launch of our 7C network. The 7C network is fundamentally about solving our clients’ most complex challenges and delivering their most ambitious projects. Our ambition is to be the most trusted and influential voice shaping the future of the built world,” Kay says.

“As a networked set of brands, 7C can engage with more phases of our cities’ lifecycle, beyond architecture —from initial visioning, design, and sustainable development to implementation and long-term impact assessment. ERA-co, our second 7C business, has driven 42% compound revenue growth in its first five years. 

“Alongside Customs Bureau, who have been working on significant projects since 2023, and our newly established Impact Futures sustainability consultancy, the 7C network also demonstrates significant growth potential – in time these new brands will make up to 20% of overall revenue,” says Kay. 

Each company within the network represents a stand-alone entity with the ability to work directly with clients, or part of an integrated solution. Together, the 7C network intends to deliver a collective ambition to be the most trusted and influential voice for the built world.

With recent wins showcasing two or more entities within the new network, including London’s mixed-use office tower 85 Gracechurch Street (Woods Bagot and ERA-co) and mixed-used adaptive reuse development Bondi Road (Impact Futures and Woods Bagot) in Sydney, the strategy is already demonstrating its value and is designed to propel the 7C group of companies into their next phase of growth.

“We are proudly fuelling this growth through retained earnings—not external capital. By reinvesting up to 10% of our profits annually, we ensure controlled, strategic expansion while maintaining the highest standards of quality, ownership, and direction. Our commitment is to growth that strengthens—not compromises—the integrity of our design and advisory expertise,” Kay says.

“The 7C network is strategically aligned with key industry shifts, including the rapid expansion of sustainability consulting and compliance, the evolution of urban planning towards regenerative and climate-responsive models, and the rise of hyper-luxury and experience-driven design. By embedding specialised capabilities that anticipate these trends, the 7C network is poised to lead in a rapidly changing market.” 

“This alignment allows us to bring value to our clients by connecting specialist knowledge from across our network to deliver strategic outcomes and long-term impact. It’s what we call a Total Place Design mindset - teams who think more holistically and what’s best for our clients, not individual silos. Something that’s only possible given the depth and breadth of expertise sitting within each of our brands.”

Image: 85 Gracechurch Street / supplied