GHD

GHD

Auckland, New Zealand

Workplace Issues:

• Incorporate a new way of working that fosters higher levels of collaboration
• Create a layout that showcases GHD’s innovative culture
• Provide workers with an environment that is more comfortable with modern ergonomics
• Achieve higher density of office space to allow generous meeting areas

Application:

• Open plan offices
• Meeting rooms
• Staff café
• Library

Project Scope:

Over 102 workstations

Products:

• Herman Miller Abak Workstation (desks, screening, accessories)
• Herman Miller Mirra Chairs
• Segis Sea Table
• Herman Miller Caper Chairs
• Howe Tempest Tables
• Walter Knoll Chairs & Coffee Tables
• Frezza – Tiper Board Table
• Moroso Soft Seating

GHD is an International professional services company, delivering innovative solutions by combining technical expertise and experience with an understanding of their clients’ objectives and aspirations.

Teamwork, innovative thinking, and integrity is what drives this company, which is ranked in the world’s top 50 engineering and architecture companies.

Moving out of their original inner city location, GHD sought a new location that was close to existing and new clients, and that exemplified who they are, therefore communicating a culture of collaboration, teamwork, respect and integrity.

GHD saw their upcoming move as the perfect opportunity to restructure their workspace in order to break down the existing segregation between departments, and create a physical environment that met the rigorous demands of multiple highly skilled employees. The existing fitout was spread over two floors, with staff operating in individual cubicles that were separated with high division walls. This made it difficult for staff to interact within and between individual departments.

GHD wanted to dismantle physical barriers between departments and allow open access to all information required by anyone in the company, therefore the workspace was deliberately planned to be dense, therefore encouraging employees to work together in generous meeting and collaboration spaces.

Good employee ergonomics were essential, and the system had to be flexible enough in order to accommodate for future growth in employee numbers.

The criteria in summary were to:

• Introduce a more flexible furniture solution to accommodate for changes in projects, work groups, and technology.
• Create a more open plan working environment to foster collaboration within and between departments.
• Install highly functional ergonomic office furnishings to increase the health and wellbeing of employees.
• Allow complete flexibility of all the components in the system to accommodate changes in technology and infrastructure.
• Use as much floor space as possible within the footprint of the new work-space.
• Achieve best value for money, spending on things that matter to employees and less on building square footage.

Employees were moved to an open desking system, complimented with low division screens, and plenty of collaboration, and meeting spaces in order for teams to undertake concentrated tasks without interference.

The workstations supplied were from the leading edge Abak range. GHD required a workstation solution that would provide flexibility, longevity, be constructed through environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, as well as being aesthetically pleasing. Gavin Eldred, GHD’s architect found that the Abak system was the perfect solution. With a concise set of versatile components, Abak created an inviting environment for individual, and group areas. The Abak components were configured in multiple ways for desking applications throughout the facility.
The workstation design included the high quality Mirra ergonomic chair, fully adjustable to meet staff comfort needs.

The new space was configured into teams grouped in departments, with the floor ringed with supplementary services such as lockers and storage cupboards for personal effects, and work papers. The space included six meeting areas, including a multi-function room that could be converted into a larger training or meeting area, and several quiet rooms for concentrated project work. The café has been designed so it can be converted into an open-plan meeting area for both staff and clients.

The client and architect knew that the solution had to deliver a life-time value proposition rather than a short-term cheaper option. This included the whole package and total cost efficiency rather than the one-time costs. The floor-space was able to accommodate more staff comfortably than any other tenant that occupied the building. This was also achieved well under the industry average of $10,000 per station.

Staff that were isolated in the old compartmentalised premises now know and work with fellow colleagues, saving time and reaching more innovative solutions to problems.