Workplace
Sep. 6, 2021
One of the world’s largest timber office buildings is a second home to workers
[Aurecon] Brisbane, Australia
1.6 kilometers from Brisbane’s Central Business District, a massive redevelopment project called Showgrounds, by the development heavyweight Lendlease, is underway. Around the time the project was launched, the engineering, design, and advisory company Aurecon’s lease on their CBD office was ending, and they were in the market for a new site for their 700 employees. They had worked with Lendlease on many projects in the past. For Aurecon, being able to collaborate on the design and construction of a timber skyscraper, for which the company provided building services, engineering, sustainability consulting and structural-engineering services, in collaboration with Lendlease,came at the perfect time. They had long hoped for a new office that would be a safe, strong building that would stand the test of time, a place where staff could work comfortably and that would be innovative in its design. Though more and more countries are building timber skyscrapers these days, 25 King—one of the world’s largest commercial timber office buildings to date, at 52 meters high—met all of Aurecon’s requirements.
Above all, it was important that the building have a familiar quality, something uncharacteristic of an engineering company. “[We wanted] our staff to leave work feeling better than when they arrived [and] to feel like they were coming home when they came to work,” says Aurecon’s Senior Project Engineer, Phillip Saal. Timber buildings are a way of upending the cold image of concrete office buildings. The redeveloped area, at a slight remove from the hustle and bustle of the city, also matches the building’s mood. Even the ground level conveys Aurecon’s intentions of creating a “home.” Furniture is laid out loosely in the open space, and can be moved freely, depending on usage, to allow for smooth, casual communication.
There’s another thing that is noticeably different from the previous office: according to Sarah McMahon, an Associate Principal at the architecture firm Woods Bagot (which undertook the fit-out of the Aurecon tenancy), there seems to be a current trend in Australia to move offices from higher floors to lower levels, and Aurecon intended to do the same.
Building exterior: Ten floors with a total area of 15,000 square meters. The timber used in the building emits lower CO2 emissions, and is sourced from sustainably managed forests.
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Reception area on the first floor (the equivalent of the second floor in Japan). The space is as open and as relaxing as the offices. The placement of a concierge instead of a reception desk is another way to create a sense of familiarity.
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The second-floor offices emphasize wooden surfaces. There are workstations that adapt to workers’ needs, including normal, low, and elevated desks.
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CLT (cross laminated timber) is used as the main building material. Components were provided by the developer Lendlease’s own manufacturing business, illustrating their commitment to timber construction.
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Booths for quiet and focused work. Meetings aren’t allowed here, and the booths can’t be reserved ahead of time, so they are first-come, first-served.
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The communication hub, located in the center of the floor. Workers take a breather over coffee and sandwiches. The area can also be used for informal meetings.
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“I love our entry stairs. Every day I come up the stairs,” says Weiske.
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An area known as the “Zen Room.” Electronic devices such as PCs are not allowed. It’s a space to get away from technology and feel refreshed. There are coloring books provided, access to greenery and natural light, and calming music playing, all of which are believed to be effective for relieving stress.
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Aboriginal Australians value frank exchanges during meetings, and typically do not assign leaders. Taking a cue from such practices, these polygonal desks are meant to remove hierarchies.
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The many plants that fill the space bring a sense of “home” and calm to the office.
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The seven key drivers for Aurecon’s new office. The many terms relating to mindfulness reflect the modern workplace. When it comes to wellness, the building earned WELL Core and Shell certification at the Platinum level—it’s believed to be the world’s first timber building and Queensland’s first building to achieve this honor.
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Office layout examples. The first floor (second floor in Japan) serves as the reception area and has meeting rooms. The second floor is a standard office space for workers.
“The developer, Lendlease, assumed that we’d want the top, because we are the anchor tenant of the building. And we said no, we want to engage [with the street],” says Aurecon’s Senior Project Engineer, Nicholas Weiske.
“Being able to walk in from the street, straight into our fit-out— that’s the experience we wanted,” says Saal.
Soon, the employees did indeed begin to work that way. Since moving offices, more workers have started to use the stairs. After arriving in the morning, the staff head to the staircase in the center of the building and soak up the morning sun shining through the building’s large windows as they climb up. Putting a large staircase in the middle of a building comes with major risks—it would be a waste of a considerable investment if it wasn’t used. “But people really embraced it,” says Weiske. “People use them far more than the lift.”
This isn’t the only feature devised to create a sense of “home.” The lampshades that illuminate the interior are made by Aboriginal Australian artists. Meeting rooms are named after native plants and indigenous words. Polygonal tables, which eschew seating hierarchies, are also inspired by indigenous ways of thinking. The same goes for ABW.
“Depending on the task someone is undertaking, they might want to find some quiet space. They might need to meet with another person so they can collaborate. That’s the beauty of a fit-out that is so flexible in nature,” McMahon says. In addition to the versatility of the office space, importance is placed on creating a healthy work environment, allowing for adaptability through remote-work and flex hours. This is a surprising policy for an engineering company— it’s no wonder that nearly 40% of Aurecon’s employees are women.
On one occasion, 300 visitors were invited for a tour of the office, all of whom praised the space for not being like a typical engineering company. No one feels this more strongly than the workers here. “It’s a much more casual space, so I think that encourages you to talk more,” says Saal. Weiske continues, “I’ve worked here for twelve years, and the first day [in the new building] I sat down next to someone I hadn’t met before. I said ‘Hi, I’m Nick,’ and right from day one everyone felt that it was the right environment to meet people.”
Nicholas Weiske
Senior Project Engineer
Aurecon
Phillip Saal
Senior Project Engineer
Aurecon
Sarah McMahon
Associate Principal
Woods Bagot
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Children’s activity room. Australian law states that children under twelve should not be home alone. On days when children finish school early, they can play here. Children were in the offices when we visited as well.
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Concierge on the first floor. Rather than a typical formal reception desk, the concierge aids visitors in a casual way. The lampshades are works by Aboriginal Australian artists.
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In consideration of workers’ health, the service counter stocks over twenty kinds of nuts/seeds/ dried berries. These types of healthy snacks are gaining attention in Australia for their ability to regulate blood-sugar levels.
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The ground-floor lobby, the building’s common area, is accented with greenery. Another shared building amenity is the large bike storage area.
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The office entrance. The street-facing café was opened to bring the liveliness of the street into the offices. The surrounding residences and offices were also designed to create ground-floor activity.
photo: Hirotaka Hashimoto
From WORKSIGHT 16（2020.7）
