New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 30/12 | Page 100

the designer. “Every employee is trained to make
a perfect barista coffee when they start with the
company. So the coffee machine is a vital part of
the service provided at reception.”
Changes to the workstation environment can be
seen readily on the upper level. Opting for a true
open-plan environment, BP has placed all workers
on the same footing. The executive team sits on the
main floor alongside other staff.
“There is a concession, in that each manager is
seated close to one of the non-bookable, nonallocated quiet rooms,” says Langford. “These can
be used by all staff at any time, for private calls and
concentrated work.”
The designer says surveys have shown that while
collaborative work is on the increase, approximately
70% of the work that most people do in an office
is some form of focus work. So there is a need to
minimise visual and noise disturbance.
“We have provided for activity-based working,
but recognise that collaborative areas will involve

First floor

Ground floor

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more noise. So we created concentric zones where
the noise levels diminish the further away one gets
from the central stairwell. Collaborative meeting
tables are positioned closest to the central stair,
while the quiet rooms are right out on the perimeter
of the space.
“The meeting tables at the front of the office
are splayed to echo the curve of the balustrade.
Desks behind this follow the same layout, which
also avoids any suggestion of a row upon row of
chicken-coop workstations.”
Workstations can be raised or lowered by
workers so they can be used sitting or standing –
the mobile cabinets are higher than conventional
units, which makes them more accessible.
Langford says the “busy-ness” of the office is
reflected in the carpet tiles, with colourful green
and yellow tiles clustered around the main circulation area at the top of the stairwell. The coloured
squares gradually drop off the further one goes
back into the office.

Below:On the upper level,
workstations are splayed out
around the central node of the
stairwell.
Right:Collaborative areas, which
are the noisier parts of the office,
are positioned near the stairwell.
Zones were created to ensure the
noise levels gradually reduce as
you move further back into the
office. Quiet rooms are placed
right on the perimeter of the
building.
Below right:Workstation heights
can be adjusted so staff can
work standing or sitting. Large
windows bring plenty of natural
light into the office.