Beca Auckland Fitout in New Zealand by Studio Pacific Architecture

Article source: Studio Pacific Architecture

This substantial 14,190 m2 fitout for 900 staff offered an opportunity to holistically enhance Beca’s engineering and consultancy business, to present a fresh and professional image of their expanding organisation. Beca committed to a significant strategic transformation in changing to an open plan workplace with all staff in one building, and the fitout is designed in response to support a range of ways to work. Distinct zones are layered through the plan for individual and team-based working, transitioning into ‘studio’ spaces – open work areas that facilitate collaboration, creative thinking, and working.

Exterior view - (c) Patrick Reynolds

• Architects: Studio Pacific Architecture
• Project: Beca Auckland Fitout
• Location: Auckland, New Zealand
• Software used: ArchiCAD

Interior view - (c) Patrick Reynolds

The lively interactive hub space is a vibrant focal point of the working floors. A black cruciform-shaped kitchenette is surrounded with a variety of colourful furnishings to create a bright, inviting hub for working and socialising. Each floor has a separate identity weaving individual colour themes through this central space via the furniture, light fixtures, and graphics. The colours of the various hub spaces on the floors are even visible from outside the building at night, offering a glimpse into the vibrant heart and buzz of work within.

Interior view - (c) Patrick Reynolds

An exposed plywood edge detail used throughout wall and joinery detailing gives a cohesive, crafted quality to the construction. While not relying on an industrial aesthetic, elements allude to an industrial or constructive origin, such as the metal lampshades, abstracted pipework in the glazing film patterns, and the expressed construction/jointing of joinery, fins, and screens.

Level six presents an elegant public reception area and suite of meeting rooms with a high degree of A/V and technology integration. The boardrooms are enclosed by electronically switchable glass, and feature a generous organically-shaped bespoke table, all of which can be modified to suit the size and privacy of meetings within.

Work area - (c) Patrick Reynolds

This extensive fitout, delivered in a staged process, integrated with a landlord upgrade of the dated base building, was designed and built under an extraordinarily compressed timeline with a moderate budget, yet successfully presents a quality professional image of Beca as a confident and innovative organisation. One of the key goals of the project was to provide excellent client experience and showcase Beca’s knowledge and talent. Through opening up their workplace, encouraging interaction and communication, and presenting a cohesive image and identity throughout their office, Beca’s offices now appropriately reflect the strength and quality of the organisation within.

Kitchen - (c) Patrick Reynolds

Reception - (c) Patrick Reynolds

Tags: Auckland, New Zealand

Categories: ArchiCAD, Building

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