manners street OFFICE FIT-OUT

PYNENBURG & COLLINS ARCHITECTS - WELLINGTON

Following the 2013 Seddon earthquakes, our Dixon Street office was designated as being vulnerable. We required a new office space for our Wellington team, one that was large enough to accommodate our growing number of staff and a building with high earthquake resilience.

The top level of the Grand Central Tower in Manners Street offered a great opportunity for a new and modern workplace. It met the requirements of height, space, and natural light, and was complemented by 360° views of Wellington Harbour and the city. The floor required a complete refurbishment – one that would enable us to run our architectural practice efficiently, effectively and in a safe environment.

We have kept the space mostly open plan with a central working ‘hub’ – an island bench that is used by our architects, designers, and clients to easily view large-scale drawings, plans, materials, and finishes. A lightbox reception desk sits casually unattended, creating a space in front of the lifts to separate public and private spaces, and offers a comfortable place for our staff members to greet visitors.

Our team members work together in the open-plan environment, exploiting the flexibility to move around easily, communicate, and collaborate. Work areas are aligned to take advantage of the views, while two meeting rooms are 'inboard' to create a natural division between work and support spaces.

A limited materials pallet was used, one that celebrates the existing concrete structure, so that when combined with the new elements it creates a modern aesthetic.