An international design and consultancy firm for natural and built assets, Arcadis has three core principles: exceptional quality, intelligent delivery, and the belief that all projects should improve quality of life.
With offices in major cities across the globe, the Arcadis Australia team partners with a wide range of clients, spanning government, industry and the wider community. Their innovative projects involve everything from major road and rail infrastructure, to waste and water planning, and even heritage projects .
Putting people first is integral to the Arcadis ethos, as are integrity, client success, collaboration and sustainability. So, when they decided to fit-out their new headquarters in Sydney’s CBD, they needed a partner who could understand and deliver on these values, with specific experience in agile and collaborative workspaces.
Working across multiple levels (three working floors; one client floor) totalling 4,200 square metres, the fit-out needed to focus heavily on collaborative furnishings to accommodate Arcadis’ 465 staff. Their goal was to encourage a more agile and flexible working style.
Business Interiors’ main challenge was to deliver a solution that supported staff to work in a more collaborative, open-plan office.
Furniture selection was key to the project’s success, as Arcadis required suitable furnishings that allowed for desk-sharing and hot-desking capabilities, moving to a more agile way of working.
Harnessing the power of the multi-floor layout, Business Interiors resolved to give every employee a personal locker on each floor. This supported Arcadis’s vision of a more flexible workplace by providing staff a personal place for their belongings, no matter where they were located within the company’s headquarters.
Additionally, Business Interiors worked in tandem with the architect, WMK, to create spaces that incorporated formal meeting rooms, flexible training rooms, individual work zones and informal collaboration spaces.
Finally, materiality was a driving factor throughout the project. Business Interiors worked with both WMK and Arcadis to bring their brand vision to life, resulting in a neutral palette overlaid with stylish natural finishes and warm, rich timber.
Business Interiors helped to transform the space, creating a workplace that is now energetic, dynamic and inviting, and ultimately allows both staff and clients to ‘live’ the Arcadis brand. The collaborative spaces encourage staff to interact, while a variety of different workspaces mean staff can approach their daily tasks in an environment that supports individual working styles.
Working with local and international brands to develop tailored furniture solutions, and ensuring an extensive product sampling and testing phrase prior to purchase, meant Business Interiors was able to meet Arcadis’s objectives within their strict timeframes while working with a multitude of stakeholders.
The resulting space truly embodies the spirit of Arcadis’s core values, providing a smart, fresh look for their new collaborative and innovative workplace.
