Project Overview

Headquartered in Sydney, Pacific National is Australia’s largest private rail freight operator, running 24/7, every day of the year.

Pacific National partnered with Spaceful to create a transformative workplace that ignites enthusiasm, collaboration and drives future growth while honouring the company’s rich history. The challenge was to move beyond a traditional office environment, reflecting Pacific National’s core values in every detail of the design.

Spaceful delivered a dynamic and engaging workspace, breaking down the barriers of a four-floor office to create an agile, flexible two-level layout. Featuring diverse work zones, biophilic elements, and retreat spaces designed for employee well-being, the design encourages seamless interaction, productivity, and connection.

Thoughtfully integrated with Pacific National’s heritage, the space serves as a tangible manifestation of the company’s culture, inviting employees back to the office and driving collaboration, innovation, and growth.

Project Commissioner

Pacific National

Project Creator

Spaceful

Project Brief

Pacific National enlisted Spaceful to transform its workplace into more than just an office. It was to become a space that would ignite a renewed sense of enthusiasm, encourage collaboration, and fuel the company’s future growth, all while honouring its rich heritage.

The challenge was to break free from the limitations of a four-floor office and design an environment that truly reflected Pacific National’s core values: Make it Simple, Share More, Kindness, Gratitude, Curiosity and Own it. The space also had to embody the company’s culture, offering employees a dynamic, engaging workplace to draw them back to the office and inspire connection.

Pacific National’s transition from a traditional work model to a more agile, flexible approach presented the opportunity to enhance collaboration and employee engagement. Staying true to Pacific National’s values, Spaceful delivered a carefully crafted environment that blends productivity with relaxation, featuring retreat spaces designed to recharge employees, natural light, and biophilic elements to connect the workspace with nature.

To ensure the new office supports diverse work styles and promotes seamless interaction, flexible zones were created throughout, including quiet pods, collaborative benches, and social areas, plus an open interconnecting staircase that connects the two levels.

The result is a balanced, vibrant work environment that helps to attract and retain talent and support customer-focused decision-making, all while celebrating the company’s legacy through thoughtful design. This design is a clear example of how a workplace can shape company culture, enhance employee experience, and drive business outcomes.

Project Innovation/Need

Spaceful delivered a workplace that redefines how space can support culture, connection, and operational flow. Drawing inspiration from Pacific National’s freight rail networks, Spaceful created a continuous ‘trackway’ circulation path across both floors, linking collaboration zones and dividing the office into distinct neighbourhoods. This spatial innovation enhances movement, interaction, and wayfinding, delivering both aesthetically and functionally.

Downsizing from four floors to two without sacrificing connectivity, Spaceful installed an interconnecting staircase to encourage collaboration and reduce siloed working. This is an architectural solution that brings new value to multi-floor office planning and strengthens workplace culture. The shift has encouraged cross-team engagement and improved communication across all levels of the organisation.

The design also integrates brand and legacy in new ways. Rail-inspired artwork, a model train feature, and materials such as steel and timber provide a tactile link to company heritage, while colour-coded rooms, intuitive lighting, and local rail hub naming conventions turn brand identity into a lived experience. Biophilic elements, such as native greenery in key zones, further connect the workspace to nature and promote well-being.

Technology was used with precision and consistency: unified AV, sound scaping, smart locker systems, and desk/room booking tools offer intuitive usability and flexibility. These are all features that support hybrid work and improve daily operations.

By combining industrial storytelling, biophilia, flexible tech, and strategic spatial flow, Spaceful has delivered a novel, high-functioning workplace model that brings people together, boosts productivity, and reflects a modern, values-led way of working.

Design Challenge

The core challenge for this project went beyond spatial constraints, reimagining how people work and interact. Executives, previously housed in private offices, were initially reluctant to transition into an open-plan environment. Spaceful addressed this through a design-led approach, creating dedicated open executive settings with separate storage and meeting tables. This allowed for visibility and approachability without compromising on privacy or functionality. The new layout successfully broke down hierarchical barriers, resulting in enhanced collaboration and faster decision-making, an outcome now fully embraced by leadership.

Another significant challenge was the physical disconnection of staff across four floors. Even after downsizing to two floors, the lack of internal connectivity remained. Spaceful resolved this with the strategic insertion of an interconnecting staircase, transforming the way teams move, meet, and engage. This intervention not only improved circulation but also created a stronger sense of community by reducing reliance on lifts and encouraging informal interactions.

Working within a fixed budget and under considerable time pressure, Spaceful delivered both innovation and efficiency. A locked budget was established from the outset, with a continuous budgeting approach integrated throughout the design process to ensure every decision met both creative and financial criteria. With in-house resources, a highly agile team structure, and clearly defined milestones, Spaceful executed the project swiftly and effectively, without compromising on design integrity.

This project exemplifies how intelligent design can facilitate cultural transformation. Through spatial strategy, material innovation, and stakeholder engagement, Spaceful delivered a workplace that supports connection, transparency, and performance.

Sustainability

In alignment with Pacific National’s commitment to sustainability across all operations, it was essential to design a workspace that minimised the company’s environmental footprint. Spaceful, in partnership with building management, conducted a comprehensive Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) peer review to ensure that the fit-out aligned with the base building's 5 Green Star and 5.5 NABERS energy rating, setting a strong benchmark for sustainable performance.

A strategic focus was placed on waste reduction. During construction, Spaceful implemented a comprehensive waste management plan, including an onsite recycling setup for construction waste such as metals, plastics, and cardboard. This reduced landfill contributions and ensured materials were responsibly repurposed. To minimise new material use, Spaceful retained existing features, such as open ceilings and the original carpet in the workstation area. This integrated old and new to reduce waste while celebrating the building’s history and character. By using an adaptive reuse approach, Spaceful created a cohesive design that balances sustainability with aesthetics.

Innovative materials also played a key role; acoustic panels made from recycled milk cartons and flooring containing a high percentage of recycled materials highlight the project’s sustainable ethos. These decisions reflect both environmental and design-conscious thinking.

Energy efficiency was central to the project. Energy-efficient LED lighting with occupancy sensors was installed alongside high-performance insulation, creating a thermally efficient environment that lowers power usage and supports long-term operational savings.

By combining thoughtful design strategies, sustainable material choices, and an energy-efficient fit-out, Spaceful delivered a future-focused workplace that supports Pacific National’s sustainability goals.