New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 33/03C | Page 75

Facing page:Strong steel
girders retained from the
skeleton of an existing
warehouse building are
repurposed to provide support
for a glazed roof which provides
protection from the rain on the
circulation paths. Towards the
rear, the roof extends down to
provide more comprehensive
protection for the Business Perk
cafe.
This page:Operable walls allow
various size configurations of the
four seminar rooms.
means around 15% of the building is actually
outside – with attendant savings on air conditioning
and even on the amount of indoor lighting required.”
The corner lift and externalised stair structure, with
its individual concrete panels and mesh screens,
encloses one side of the gateway into the site with
the other side delineated by the building’s mass.
With reception on the building’s ground floor, the
other floors are runs of open-plan offices. And just
as you can enjoy glimpses into the plaza from the
street, so too can staff anywhere in the offices look
out to the front and side of the building through its
walls of glazing and bridges enclosed by screens.
“The mesh is really a series of small, linked
fixed louvres that admit natural light while limiting
solar gain and avoiding strain on air conditioning,”
says Kerry. “The smaller louvres allow you to look
through the screen without it impeding views.”
The head office engages with its setting in other
ways, too. Staff and visitors on the circulation paths
behind the screens animate the facade for passers-
by, while the building also connects to stairs and
walkways linking back to the lecture spaces and
outdoor coffee venue behind.
Ultimately, EMA’s new office building’s semi-
industrial frontage provides a dramatic, high-profile
calling card for both the company, its admin offices
and the wider business hub.
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