Looking sharp

Consolidating a workforce spread over four separate locations provides an ideal opportunity for a business to investigate new workplace values and methodologies. An innovative, interactive environment will not only empower and energise staff it will also send a strong message to clients, reinforcing the company's core brand.

Such was the case with Isis Projects' fit-out of the new Virgin Blue Airlines (VBA) headquarters. Bringing together four separate offices provided the client with an unparalleled opportunity to establish a new benchmark for office design and construction.

Heather Jeffery, Virgin Blue general manager public affairs, says Virgin Blue has undergone a rapid evolution and wanted its head office to reflect this maturity.

"After eight years of non-stop growth, we relocated close to 1000 team members from four disparate offices in four parts of the city, to a completely new environment. It was extremely important that the design would reflect the direction of our airlines, and support our unique culture and the camaraderie and teamwork that is central to our success."

John Healy, state manager for Isis Projects, the main fit-out contractor, says the decision by VBA's project manager Incoll to choose a specialist fit-out contractor to complete the project, rather than integrate the fit-out with the base building, was instrumental in producing a high-quality product.

"The benefit of this key decision has been a higher level of control by all the consultants, and in particular, the refining of key design elements and management of the programme with respect to VBA business demands, at a competitive cost to the client."

David Middleton, Isis project manager, says the VBA fit-out needed to reinforce the company's core values it was as much a reflection of its brand as its product.

"But a fit-out is not simply about creating flexible workstations, more breakout areas, more space and a more rationalised management of the office. It's about forming a horizontal community with a sense of connectedness. It's about creating a visual dynamic that communicates the essence of the brand to its most important audience: the people who work for it."

To provide such a work environment at VBA, the Cottee Parker design team created a series of dens on each floor of the three buildings. The design retains a horizontal connection, ensuring there are plenty of opportunities for staff interaction. The provision of more breakout areas and support spaces also reflects the more consultative team dynamics of the modern workplace.

"The design provides greater empowerment for the end users," says Middleton. "There are no standard workstation runs' but rather a system where desk configurations can be altered easily. Teams have the ability to group and regroup workstations for different operational purposes as required."

Middleton says Virgin Blue also took the opportunity to rebrand its image the sleek, contemporary design of the main reception area reflects the company's innovative, forward-thinking approach to business. Here, the space is defined by extended horizontal elements, including a brightly striped carpet and a red reception desk that appears to slice through an angled silver wall. The wall is supported at the back by a series of timber fins mounted on stainless steel poles. These extend beyond the end of the wall, curving to enclose a curtained meeting area.

The cutting-edge design of the new Virgin Blue office posed its own challenge to the contractors.

"From a design point of view, this is quite a structured layout with a lot of modular elements," says Middleton. "The office has a streamlined, minimal look, and a contemporary warehouse feel. It is often said that when something looks simple, it is because someone has put in a lot of hard work to get it that way. For this project, it was a case of trying to think outside the square to make sure everything was co-ordinated, measured and installed without hold ups."

Middleton says the Isis team built prototypes of several different joinery and bulkhead elements, redesigning these when necessary.

"It was a very collaborative project. Isis took a highly proactive role to ensure the best outcome, co-ordinating weekly meetings with the client, the design team from Cottee Parker, project manager Incoll, services designer Medland Metropolis and quantity surveyor WT Partnership."

Completing the 12,000m² fit-out within five months was another major challenge. The fit-out needed to follow hot on the heels of the base build shell and core.

"As VBA had an imminent lease expiry on its existing premises, the completion date could not be moved," Middleton says. "And because this is a new building, it needed a Certificate of Classification on completion of both the base build and fit-out. Isis made quite a significant contribution to ensure this was achieved."

Middleton says that the project underwent a series of staged handovers. Building B was completed first, as it accommodates VBA's complex computer system.

In keeping with modern workplace trends, the VBA fit-out provides an element of transparency. Several small, fully glazed rooms provide spaces for one-on-one meetings and interviews. Offices are also designed to provide views across the floorplates.

"Each of the nine floors is colour themed," says Middleton. "The walls either side of the central lifts feature reflective colour-backed glass, and carpets and joinery are colour co-ordinated. Each floor also features a breakout area with seating and kitchen facilities."

Healy says the completed project achieves the objectives of all the parties involved.

"It creates an inspirational workplace that not only reflects modern work practices, but provides a flexible, user-friendly environment that will grow with the airline."

For more information, contact Isis Projects, Level 8, 39 Sherwood Rd, Toowong, Qld 4066, phone (07) 3871 3800. Website: www.isis.com.au.

Story by: Trendsideas