Image Credit : Dion Robeson
Project Overview
A whole-building redesign for the RAC head office in Perth achieves greater member connection, sustainable workspaces, and superior health and wellbeing amenities to empower employees.
With over 1000 employees located within this six-level building, the design enhances member and employee experience and encourages people to interact and engage with one another, resulting in better connections and increased 'chance' conversations. Deep consideration was given to the member’s area and improved face-to-face member service, with substantial investment in change management and health and wellbeing in the workplace.
Members are at the heart of what RAC do, with over 1.3 million members in WA. So, improving the member experience and connection for visitors was a key driver for RAC. A new ground entry was incorporated on Wellington Street, generating significant brand presence and increased opportunities for foot traffic to access member services and a new café. A dominant audio-visual display wall at the entry showcases the brand's services and offerings and sets the tone for the progressive changes.
The three-staged refurbishment starting from the top level down, occurred while the business was still operating. The extra care during this time demonstrated RAC's importance to its member base and employees, and Unispace’s ability to undertake construction in an active workspace.
With client briefing and test fits commencing in late 2020, the project was delivered with a staged program on time and on budget by Unispace with the final stage completed in December 2022.
Project Commissioner
The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC)
Project Creator
Team
The project team for the redesign and refurbishment of this six-level building included Designers and Project Managers from Unispace, partnering with the Work Package Lead team from RAC.
Project Brief
The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC) had outgrown the existing fit-out of their RAC-owned Perth head office.
On top of reconfiguring the space to work better for RAC, included;
• Creating a space that brings people together by creating purposeful and communal destinations
• Reinvigorating the space to connect with members and support employees
• Designing a welcoming and humble space that focuses on people-centricity; members and employees
• Significant consideration for reuse and refurbishment of furniture, avoiding landfill and waste
• Upgrade services to provide better efficiency, including upgrading to LED lighting throughout.
Critically, the space was designed to enable RAC staff to work in an agile manner with no allocated desks, instead spaces are booked where needed. RAC have implemented a system that provides power to desks only if booked, reducing their power consumption and helping build a mentality of flexible working and agility.
Movement was a pivotal element in the building design approach, achieved by providing open breakout spaces in the level 2/3 and 4/5 atriums and unique destinations to the East side of each level. This includes:
• ‘Wellness’ at Level 2 with prayer, first aid, respite and flex gym spaces
• ‘Connection’ at Level 3 with a multi-use zone able to be configured with flexible furniture and curtains allowing for varied work settings
• ‘Meeting’ at Level 4 with flexible meeting spaces
• ‘Lounge’ at Level 5 adjacent to the formal Meeting rooms and exec staff.
Project Innovation/Need
RAC’s new office places an importance on reconnecting with the community and creating a dynamic, tech-enabled space that empowers employees through various settings.
The open, bright, and sustainable spaces across the six-level building embody RAC's vision to champion "a safer, sustainable, and connected future for all Western Australians”. Particular attention was paid to ensuring RAC members and employees were safe and supported throughout the onsite refurbishment process.
Consistent branding is incorporated throughout the building, and each floor is differentiated with a varied colour palette and a statement accompanied by playful graphics reflecting the business's values. The ground floor provides an inviting, interactive, member-focused experience, including a concierge, café with a commercial kitchen, exhibition and community space, and a member's lounge. The brand is integrated through digital imagery and a prominent yellow ribbon weave through the ground floor, connecting the arrival concierge, community areas, and staff entry lifts to the upper floors.
Efficiency was paramount to the design, from creating multi-use spaces with flexible furniture and settings, removing the “one-use” rooms and spaces, upgrading services and implementing power-saving devices.
Significant recycle, reuse and redeploying of old furniture's of old fitout meant landfill was kept to a minimum, saving over 200T of CO2 emissions, and over 60,000kg of waste going to landfill.
The sheer scale of this project makes it one of the largest workplace projects delivered in Perth last year. This project was successfully delivered on time and within budget by Unispace.
Design Challenge
Working to redevelop and refresh the RAC space during COVID, while maintaining staff use of the building, required careful staging and communication with the client at all times.
Unispace Design, Project Management and Delivery teams worked closely with RAC to develop staging plans to enable decanting of staff and minimal disruption. Levels 4 & 5 were completed first, followed by Levels 2& 3 and completed with Levels 1 and Ground.
Minor refurbishments were made to the first floor to complement other levels, and part of ground floor were allocated to enable spill space for decanting staff during construction.
During the ground floor works, the RAC staff cafe was relocated to a temporary space on Level 5, allowing the catering kitchen on that floor to be used by cafe staff and maintain this service during the construction of a new and improved cafe and commercial kitchen.
Unispace worked to use WA based suppliers, where possible, to prevent delays due to border closures during COVID and to support local suppliers.
Sustainability
Sustainability was an important consideration for RAC in this project. In accordance with Unispace principles, sustainable materials were used wherever possible, this included low VOC products specified, E0 board and products with sustainable credentials.
Energy-efficient fixtures and white goods were specified throughout, high water-efficient hydraulic fittings were used and all toilets were upgraded to provide new water-efficient fittings.
Existing furniture was re-upholstered and refurbished, and furniture no longer required was repurposed to other RAC offices or donated to charity.
The provision of power save to all workpoints has also been an integral introduction to the space. Power is only provided to the desk if it has been booked, screens and docking stations are therefore turned off, not on permanent standby, the power is also cut if the desk is registered as not in use after a prescribed period of time.
Significant Recycle, reuse and redeploying of furniture of old fit-out meant landfill was kept to a minimum, saving over 200T of CO2 emissions, over 60,000kg of material waste avoided and over 14 charities and not for profit organisations helped.
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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