Waterloo Quay Fit-Out with Unispace

When New Zealand company, Unispace set about the design and construction of the office fit-out within an iconic Wellington building, workers stayed safe using Easy Access aluminium ladders throughout. 

The design and layout were inspired by the client’s treaty-based principles of “whenua” or home.  Colour palettes were guided by the mood or atmosphere required for the individual spaces, and the three elements of mountains, rivers and Kainga are represented in each of the three levels covering 3600m2. 

But the design went further than just aesthetics. The innovative fit-out has created a fresh way of working for the new tenants of the 50-year-old building.  The traditional system of dedicated desks for each staff member has been replaced with spaces designed to meet the needs of the varying nature of tasks undertaken, creating a combined, collaborative culture.

A variety of open and closed working spaces allows for areas of greater singular or collective focus.  Meeting spaces with natural light and stunning harbour views promote inspiration and collaboration.  More private “pods” that mimic the construction of a classic New Zealand home allow for singular focused work protected from distraction.

Whiteboards throughout the largely open planned floor space allow for brainstorming discussions to take place at the drop of a hat, without the need to book meeting rooms. Comfortable lounge-style seating and bar-height benches across the front windows allow for more casual interaction between workers, and welcoming kitchen/dining spaces allow for easy food preparation and socialising.

Unispace Destination Workplace

While the construction of these new offices is still in progress, staff have now started moving into the space and while it may be an adjustment to how they have worked before, are finding that with the ability to choose their space to suit the task at hand, they can re-invent their working environment at any given time.

For Unispace, site safety continues to be paramount on this project – they strive to manage the safest, cleanest site for their client and subcontractors, and this ethos is evident when visiting the site, where safe practices include the use of both aluminium and electrically-safe fibreglass Platform Ladders from Easy Access.