New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 34/02C | Page 12

spaces also situated on this level and on level 11.
And the front-of-house client floor shared by all
employees is located midway up, on the 13th floor,”
says Rowntree.
“There’s a built-in egalitarian aspect to the
allocation of spaces too – the uppermost floor could
have been reserved for executives, instead of being
allocated as an amalgamated contact staff area.”
The reworked spaces now offer an activity-
based environment with unassigned seating
and a strong emphasis on personal lockers over
personal workspaces. Breakout areas, wellness
rooms and a prayer room are dotted through the
floors. Contained areas, such as meeting rooms,
are towards the centre of the floorplate, optimis-
ing natural light penetration and views for the outer
workstation zones.
“Unispace worked closely with Suncorp to
develop a warm, soft material palette to create a
welcoming aesthetic throughout. Strong brand
colours were avoided, in favour of a more cohesive,
connected look and feel.”
The new staircase linking all floors is crucial to the
functionality and success of the space and was a
major architectural undertaking with 150 tonnes of
concrete taken out and 60 tonnes of steel moved in.
This page:A new stairway that
visibly and functionally connects
all five levels is the main unifying
element of the inclusive fit-out.
Facing page:From the 13th
floor public entry space, visitors
and customers can interact
with the floors above and below
– a strong visual symbol of
integrated businesses.
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