Urban village

The commission for designing and project managing the fit-out of Vanguard Investments' new Asia Pacific headquarters, on levels 33 and 34 of the Freshwater commercial tower, was awarded to Portola Australasia. The project team comprised Rowan Beck, Paula Buran, Karen Baynes, Christian McCaughan and Tony Scott.

Central to the client's brief was the need for flexible space to cater for Vanguard's changing business needs and future growth. Portola worked closely with Vanguard to establish the need analysis documentation, which formed the basis of both the building selection and design for the tenancy.

Critical to the solution was the provision and location of the internal staircase linking secured work areas to corporate facilities, and a sophisticated communications centre to service Vanguard's ongoing and developing business needs.

Portola design director Karen Baynes says the dynamic, interactive design reduces all elements to their simplest form.

"We created a classic, neutral setting to backdrop Vanguard's branding and the 360° views from the tower. We saw the interior as a progression of spaces encouraging circulation and interaction between staff groups and based the layout on a grid."

A passage around the perimeter window walls in the open-plan work areas, maximises the flow of natural light across the tenancy and allows staff to enjoy the views. Breakout and informal meeting areas for staff are provided in this zone.

Furniture systems that provide flexibility and allow for client-managed reconfiguration were designed and chosen by Portola. Textures and colours were subtly varied across the floor areas and married back into the base building elements.

Portola worked with Simpson Kotzman, the base building engineers, to take advantage of environmental features provided in the buildingdesign, to ensure maximum comfort for staff within the tenancy.

The use of freestanding, suspended and wall bracketed fittings was a key component of the lighting design solution. Free natural light supplements the perimeter artificial lighting, which automatically dims in response. Occupancy sensors determine the need for lighting and regulate usage via a lighting control system zoned to minimise wasted energy.

Contact Portola Australasia, Level 7, 10-16 Queen St, Melbourne, Vic 3000, phone (03) 8611 3200, fax (03) 8611 3299.

Story by: Trendsideas