Working brief
Streamlined design and adaptability were key requirements for workstations in the Minter Ellison Rudd Watts legal office fit-out. Schiavello Ultimet office furniture from Kada Commercial Furniture fitted the bill
The changing image of modern law firms is not only reflected in the office design it's also evident in the workstations. Gone are the traditional, heavy partners' desks and filing cabinets. Today's office furniture is light, streamlined and adaptable.
For the Minter Ellison Rudd Watts fit-out, Craig Craig Moller architects selected the Schiavello Ultimet system from Kada Commercial Furniture. Sales director David White says workstations and desks not only had to convey the right look, they also needed to be adaptable, and they needed to fit the budget.
"Workstations had to be height adjustable, and the system needed to be flexible enough to create a variety of different sizes and shapes. Some partner office desks needed to be built around large columns, for example," he says.
White says the typical lawyer workstations are significantly larger than a standard 1.8m x 1.8m workstation, measuring 3.5m x 1.75m.
"The architects wanted to achieve these large spans without having a forest of legs to support the desks. With its minimal leg detail and under-desk supporting rails, the Ultimet system fitted the brief perfectly."
To provide a co-ordinated look, most Quiet Room and Level 20 meeting room tables also feature Ultimet bases. The same style and finishes flow from open-plan to office to meeting room, says White.
Workstations have been customised to suit each end user, using a variety of Ultimet products. Administration desks each have a function wall tile with up to a dozen clip-on file trays. As each administration person can be working for up to six partners, this allows for easy, accessible filing, says White.
Lawyer workstations have double the amount of shelving, plus a sliding clip-on whiteboard.
As the Ultimet system is panel based, power and data is set into fabric-wrapped tiles. The above-desk, acoustic tiles have a chequerboard pattern, while the below-desk tiles have a durable powdercoated finish. White says this was a way to bring costs down without compromising the design integrity.
Kada also supplied partner office side chairs, cafe tables and stools, and the main boardroom table, which features a Steelcase Fliptop system.
For further information, contact Kada Commercial Furniture, PO Box 37-792, 125 The Strand, Parnell, Auckland, phone (09) 377 0760, fax (09) 377 0765. Email: info@kada.co.nz. Or visit the website: www.kada.co.nz.
Story by: Trendsideas
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