Coorparoo, Queensland, Australia
Commercial Workplace Interior Design - Saunders Havill Group
About the Project - Stage 1 & 2
About the Project - Stage 1 & 2
About the Project - Stage 1 & 2
Saunders Havill Group Stage 1 & 2 Workplace Fitouts at Bowen Hills, Brisbane, have finally been completed. We have had the pleasure of working with this amazing client since the end of 2019. Overall we needed to provide interior spaces that would encapsulate designer orientated work spaces for Surveyors, Urban Designers/ Town Planners, Environmental Management professionals and Landscape Architects to work within. Both office fitouts located at 5 & 9 Thompson Street needed to seamlessly complement each other through the overarching conceptual design intent and the bespoke design detailing. As the sites were two existing warehouses the intention was to create a beautiful and functional environment for their employees to work in over both sites. Ideally the matrix of both spaces needed to be connected internally and be functional for all employees to connect for meetings, functions, lunch and mixing within both sites collaboratively for projects as one office. Stage 1 was approx. 350 sqm and Stage 2 was approx. 1100sqm, the floor plates to both fitouts were very different and so to was the requested brief outcomes of both from the client. The design intent played an integral part to sequence both interior spaces through the selection for colours, finishes, materials and joinery style. We were extremely lucky to have Stage 1 completed and in working order when we initiated the design phase of stage 2, this allowed the client to reconsider and review some elements initially requested for stage 2 while designing and planning the concept and floor plate.
The Conceptual Design completed in stage 1 played a vital role in the influence of the entire project we were able to work this methodology throughout both stages easily as both building envelopes had sections of dual height raked ceilings. These areas needed to have careful consideration for what was designed in these spaces; in both cases we needed to reduce unnecessary noise interference due to the amount of users within the space at the one time and what functionality these spaces were used for. These spaces included both workstation areas and also kitchen/collaboration/ function spaces. The colour scheme throughout both office fitouts aligned with earthy tones of nature and history of the buildings, the charcoal and white finishes used were to highlight or hide surfaces. The use of this palette accentuated the beauty of the textured and natural tones of the brick in stage 1, the feature moss elements in stage 2 and the concrete flooring, timber and bespoke joinery used across both sites. These references encompass a harmonious conclusion to the space which was endorsed by the client. The floor finishes used throughout both sites helped enhance the style and industrial feel of the design. The carpet tiles played a role in the acoustics to help disperse sound throughout and the cobble stone design of the carpet tile alludes to the intended aesthetic. The herringbone vinyl plank and existing concrete flooring break up and lighten the spaces as well as providing a sense of calm and natural influence.
Stage 1 of the project
Brief
1 x Director Office
1 x Waiting Area
As many workstation spaces as possible to include the mezzanine area (42 x 1800 X 750MM)
1 x Collaboration area
1 x Meeting room
1 x Utility/ printing/ layout area
1 X Equipment storage Bay
3 x Existing Toilets
1 x Existing kitchenette/ storage
In Stage 1 due to the height of the building envelope careful consideration of the acoustics was required throughout both the ground level and the mezzanine to reduce unnecessary interference as there would be a large number of occupants (staff) using these areas to work at any one time.
The existing building, with its high raked ceilings, brick walls and exposed services, provided a great starting point for a raw, industrial design aesthetic. We had the ability to design an interior space that encapsulated these unique feature elements to help provoke a real sense of warmth and ambience. We designed with intention and used these elements to help uncover a unique atmosphere by peeling the existing paint back from the walls to reveal the heritage of the external brickwork. The use of Tasmanian Oak timber panelling conveyed a sense of rhythm and repetition throughout the internal walls and ceiling features. The high ceilings and the existing exposed air-conditioning units were elements to endorse and expedite the use of acoustics throughout the interiors. A combination of timber with acoustic backing and Autex wall and ceiling products played a vital role to accomplish a design where the client could functionally work within the space and have minimal background sound. Each individual space was considered from offices, breakout spaces, collaboration hubs through to workstation areas. Squaredesigns Corporate added acoustic treatment throughout so no matter your location, no unnecessary interference would be endured. We lowered the ceilings over breakout spaces and collaborative hubs and used wall panelling to assist with the acoustics to these areas and in turn enhance the design. Overall it is a great space to work in and our careful consideration paid off as the acoustics throughout these spaces compliments the over design intent and also works as indented eliminating background noise and interference for the employees to work in the space functionally.
Stage 2 of the project
Brief
1 x Reception/ Waiting Area
1 x Document Signing Room
1 x Boardroom
2 x Meeting Rooms
3 x Director Offices
4 x Quiet Rooms
1 x Kitchen / Function / Collaboration Space
About the Project - Stage 1 & 2
About the Project - Stage 1 & 2
2 x Utility / printing / layout spaces
1 x Survey Equipment Room
1 x Mapping Storage Area
12 x Administration workstation area
34 x Survey workstation area
1 x Collaboration Area
2 x Layout Spaces for Collaboration
1 x Comms Room (existing)
1 x Male Toilets (existing)
1 x Female Toilets (existing)
1 x Storage Area (existing)
Stage 2 on the other hand was a larger site with more restrictions, a larger number of people to accommodate and the requested brief from the client had bigger expectations. As Stage 1 was working and functional the client also had the opportunity to review its initial brief as they could review how employees used stage 1. What the client found was that smaller meeting room/ quiet zones were needed and areas where the employees could layout projects and collaborate were initiated. These elements were then transferred in the planning stage of Stage 2, throughout the initial stages of this project we were working through Covid 19 times where building material prices were sky rocketing and even being able to get materials was hard. This was the greatest challenge we incurred throughout the process of this workplace project and the forever changing constraints associated to the pandemic. What we found was that the initial intended concept for Stage 2 when tendered was more than budget due to these unforeseen circumstances.
Through the tendering process we needed to value manage the design and evaluate all tenders from builders and then substantiate what would be the best outcome for the design intent of this project and what builder would achieve the best results within the client’s budget. From this it allowed the client to decide if they wanted to keep moving forward with their workplace project at this time or put it on hold until there were clearer directions of the outcomes in the construction industry. This process approximately took 12 months overall. Saunders Havill Group and Squaredesigns Corporate did not want to lose the design intent and these constraints had a great impact on the design and altered our thinking process. With the client we decided to evaluate "the big picture" of the office fitout from client budget, location, the longevity of the office in its current space and the growth of the Saunders Havill Group company within a 10 year period. This strategy would endeavour to calculate the right outcome needed to keep this project moving forward. While evaluating the "the big picture" of the project, consideration of the cost implications for the build due to price increases and lack of materials had to be reviewed to allow for the office fitout to continue. The outcome of this project was heighted as the evaluation of these constraints would determine the progress of the project, the design intent, the overall cost and the client budget for this 1100sqm office fitout to be developed. We completed a crapulous review of all the above and kept altering the design where we could, not losing the design intent and strategically holding firm on the client brief throughout all spaces. Some areas within the initial design were reviewed and depending on savings that could be provided for the client sacrifices were made and internal areas were moved. This meant that many existing walls were kept throughout the BOH area and only the FOH walls were largely demolished and reconfigured as per the design brief requirements from the client.
After many months of putting the project on hold, value managing and the completion of many excel spreadsheets, negotiating with building companies and not losing the design intent over all, we had a break through - Premis Solutions came through with the required budget price to get this project off the ground and start the construction phase - from negotiating price, confirming budget and the conformation of the signed Construction Contract, we have finally completed all of the above and were starting on site at end of the May 2022 the project was approx. 4 months in the making. Both Squaredesigns Corporate and Premis worked closely together to complete this project on time and to the expectation of the client. Premis moved very quickly through the construction of this project and with little unforeseen issues throughout the project was completed 2 weeks after the intended date, the unforeseen's were what threw the project 2 weeks out and with what Premis delivered, completing the timing in only 2 weeks when it should have been as least 6. Premis did a great job keeping this project as close to the projected timeline as possible. Brining this project to construction has been great indicator of the success we have had to the overall project.
As the client was moving back into the space we were completing the Finishing Touches, décor and Artwork. The finishing touches made were simple and thoughtfully configured to what was actually needed to bring both spaces together and the use of history to both front of house bookshelves to both sites. We also used existing project plans and certificates throughout both stages which highlighted the work Saunders Havill Group had completed over the many years of their practice. Intertwined throughout the historic imagery we seconded a local Brisbane Artist Carmel Montague to paint abstract art that would portray and reflect what the office fitout was and who Saunders Havill Group as a company are and what they did. Both Carmel Montague and Bianca Di Luzio our Design Director worked closely together initially to complete a direction of artwork type and the abstract entities to portray, these now all flow seamlessly throughout Stage 2. The one off pieces worked out amazingly and the vibrancy within the paintings of what Carmel produced were stunning and so thoughtfully illustrated. We believe Saunders Havill Group love the end product of both Workplace Fitouts. Squaredesigns Corporate has been working closely with Saunders Havill Group over the last few years to bring this project to fruition and we have been very successful in its outcome. We thanks all of our supplies, builders and people that have helped bring this project together all should be congratulated for a job well down.