Image Credit : Shannon McGrath
Project Overview
Construction company, SHAPE’s new Melbourne office represents world leadership in sustainability, as the third office to receive the highest certifiable rating (6 Star) from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).
The central location of Queen & Collins set the tone for the project, and the theme of connectivity formed the core design decisions.
The design honored SHAPE’s new home by taking influence from the historic gothic-style building, Queen & Collins, recently refurbished by GPT Group which pioneered the integration of Indigenous design and a color palette in a commercial building.
Having partnered on many office fit-outs before, Siren Design and SHAPE consulted with their team during the entire process, including Indigenous voices, to ensure the new space was inclusive of their workforce and celebrated their people.
Reflecting upon the exterior’s gothic architecture nestled amongst commercial buildings, Siren Design Group worked closely with SHAPE to create an office emulating the design concept of ‘urban grit’ through the selection of materials, textures, and natural hues. At the heart of the project was the idea of creating a place for ‘the boots and suits’ – where team members arriving from the construction site could feel just as comfortable as those in suits.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Siren Design:
Nicole Pollak - Managing Director Australia
Ria Andres - Associate Lead
Emily Rolls - Senior Interior Designer
Oscar Giraldo - Senior Interior Designer
Dan Ryvitch - Senior Architectural Technician
Builder: Shape
Services Engineers: NDY
ESD: Rewild
Project Brief
Siren was engaged by Shape to design an office that responds to the evolving needs of the organization and challenges their current ways of working. Sustainability, wellbeing, diversity, gender identity, and reconciliation were at the forefront of the brief.
The space needs to encourage collaboration, complete flexibility, enhance well-being, and can support long-term development. We aspired to create a space of ‘urban grit’ that celebrated the Shape community and had a unique design edge to it.
Sustainability was key to this space and the project team conversed highly to create a space that utilized the maximum amount of natural light, reused items, and created built rooms with efficiency in mind.
Support of local manufacturing and community engagement is also paramount to Shape and we collaborated with different local suppliers, some Indigenous businesses, and indigenous artists, giving that final, unique touch to the project.
Project Innovation/Need
The absence of a sign-in desk and reception was an ongoing discussion during the briefing and design stages of the project. There were some queries as to how that sense of welcome could be achieved without a clear delineation of front-of-house and back-of-house spaces. What was created instead is an open entry point that draws you further into the space. This was an intentional part of the planning for visitors, office staff, and contractors to feel at home even though the space looks highly sophisticated and professional. Furthermore, the breakout area flows onto the side to create this sense of engagement and belonging as you enter the Shape office.
Design Challenge
A key challenge was the move from static assigned workstations into bookable desks and meeting rooms. Although the flexibility of working from home during the pandemic gave it a nice precursor to staff, the move to agile work can be an interesting topic to raise with staff.
The project team faced this challenge by holding workshops with various staff from different departments to understand their needs and what reservations they may have. this mainly revolved around the need for privacy and focus work. These items were then addressed by providing quiet rooms and focus pods which are spread across the floor.
Sustainability
Sustainability has been at the forefront of this project. There were clear approaches to the plan that helped out in maximizing natural light and energy efficiencies such as keeping as much of the built form away from the perimeter of the building. Care was given to selecting new materials that are recyclable, have reduced carbon emissions, and are ethically resourced. An audit of Shape’s furniture from their previous was done and items were carried over to their new Fitout to be reused.
We have kept most of the ceilings exposed to avoid any unnecessary additional materials to the Fitout. All internal paint finishes and adhesives have a low volatile compound leading to long-term emissions control
The office achieved a 6 Star Green Star rating, representing world leadership in sustainability.
The fit-out scored highly across sustainability categories, including management, indoor environment quality, water, materials, land use and ecology, and innovation including:
-95% of timber is FSC certified or from a reused source
-60% of timber furniture meets the ‘sustainable timber’ criteria
-95% of all engineered wood products meet specified formaldehyde emission limits
-95% of all internally applied paints, adhesives, sealants, and carpets meet specified VOC limits
-All water fixtures have 6-star WELL certification
-GreenPower electricity sourced from renewable energy providers
-Lighting levels comply with best practice guidelines
-Floor and wall finishes installed with low VOC adhesives
-Carpets under a take-back program and 100% recyclable
-91% of total recycled waste achieved during construction
Interior Design - Corporate
This award celebrates innovative and creative building interiors, with consideration given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes, aesthetic presentation and functionality. Consideration also given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
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