Bright for business

Contemporary office designs often provide insight into the work of the company that uses them, and act as a shopfront for both visitors and staff.

This office fit-out is a clear example. With a reception area inspired by Brisbane's iconic Story Bridge, the office of international management consultancy firm Evans & Peck clearly displays the company's roots in infrastructure. Designers Smith Madden created the design, which uses a variety of textures and materials to create the industrial look of a cityscape.

Focus Commercial Interiors was awarded the contract to bring Smith Madden's design to fruition. By working alongside the designers, the company was able to formulate a plan for approaching the job on what was a tight ten-week program, says director Mark Glover.

"An existing office had to be dismantled before the new design could be created. By engaging ECO Commercial Stripouts this work was completed in minimal time to accommodate our program."

Focus Commercial Interiors took on the role of construction management, ensuring the subcontractors were completing the project to deadline and maintaining a high standard of work.

"Many challenges had to be overcome when taking on the construction management role. Limited access to the building was one of these, made more difficult by the unusual sizes, shapes and lengths of some of the materials used," says Glover.

To overcome this problem, some elements were fabricated in sections and assembled on site.

The break-out area is a particularly colourful part of the Evans and Peck fit-out, designed as a central hub to the offices. Steel and ironbark make up the pergola over the joinery. Fabrics specified by the designers were laid over the doors leading to the boardroom.

Exposed pipework in the ceiling plays a major part in creating the industrial, city-within-a-city look that Smith Madden were aiming for with the design of these offices. The existing ceiling was removed and the pipework and ducts were cleaned and painted. Some ductwork was left unpainted to provide visual contrast.

The flooring specified required a four-day lay period, during which time all subcontractors and Focus Commercial Interior staff were not able to access the majority of the site. This increased the pressure of the deadline, but through careful management and co-ordination, the work was still completed on time.

The design called for steel gantries overhead in areas of the ceiling that were unexpectedly filled with air conditioning ducts. In many instances, problems such as these were ironed out without jeopardising the design, and while still maintaining the original budget, says Glover.

"We worked as a team with the designers and subcontractors. Everyone was open to suggestions when it came to finding the best way to approach the job, which helped when solving problems."

The directors of Focus Commercial Interiors have over 80 years' combined experience in office fit-outs and refurbishments.

"While we are a young company at 18 months old, we have a vast amount of experience under our belts, which is reflected in our professional approach to a project and the standard of our workmanship," says Glover. "We pride ourselves on working with our clients, not just for them."

For further information, contact Focus Commercial Interiors, PO Box 212, Capalaba, Qld 4157, phone (07) 3890 0555, fax (07) 3890 0155. Email: sales@focusci.com.au.

Story by: Trendsideas