Key Dates
Image Credit : Peter Bennetts
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Project Overview
GPT Group’s future sustainability relies on their ability to forecast changes in real estate markets and develop services that respond to them. Eight years ago GPT approached BVN having identified the need to shift to more strategic, human focused relationships with tenants, recognising that future workplaces will be more than the individual office, but instead part of a broader, amenity rich, eco-system within the building.
From this, Space & Co. was born, it is GPT Group’s answer to the demand for greater flexibility in workplaces and property leases.
Space & Co. is commercial office space as a service, where flexibility is key.
The environments offer a variety of workspace solutions to support individual’s preferences including a range of fully enclosed, semi-enclosed, and open areas are available for variable least terms. Additional amenities include spaces for lectures and events available for lease through the online platform Liquidspace for Space & Co members and all tenants of the building. The combination of amenity and variety of personal workspaces that Space & Co provide satisfy the needs of a new workforce participating in the gig economy. The communal nature of the spaces create a sense of belonging to a shared community.
Level 12, Melbourne Central Tower is the latest addition to the Space & Co. portfolio. It is part of an ongoing relationship with Space & Co. and BVN by which each project provides an opportunity to evolve to meet ever-changing market demands.
Team
Space & Co: Daniel Stiffe, Bettina Woodward BVN: Bill Dowzer, Susanne Mayer, Elise Cuneo, Sally Campbell, Marc Hine, Jessica Enander Accuraco: Chris Taylor TJ Consulting: Toshihiko Matsuzaki Ambience Lighting: David Justice Plan Group
Project Brief
The primary objectives of Space & Co. remain the same by which the Level 12 project addresses the complex needs of businesses both emerging and established, who require rapid delivery of workplace, flexibility, and greater versatility, all under-serviced by existing office stock.
The Space & Co. design model blurs the boundaries between design practice and client, embracing multi-disciplinary co creation of workplace and business model simultaneously, elevating the designer’s role and their impact.
The project explores the relationship between space and delivery methods, by which the environment and service models are adjusted as new sites come on line. Each evolution consists of 70% tested concepts, with the remaining 30% left to trial new ideas that respond to user demands and usage data collected.
The benchmark for the success corresponds directly to the bottom line – this is commercial office space as a product. If spaces do not meet tenant’s needs, they do not lease and can be quickly changed. Occupancy and retention statistics are a litmus test for design success.
Project Innovation/Need
Data collected from past sites provided valuable information and a basis to test new ideas including:
- Level 12 Space & CO is the evolution of previous designed spaces acknowledging all spaces working well and a combination of previous experiences, ie a design-thinking workshop room, the library, the glasshouse, the verandah space
- A modular partition system between leasable suites providing flexibility in available suite sizes, designed to be installed or removed overnight.
- Modular shop fronts to suites where tenants can personalise their space, also addressing security, storage, and signage.
- A large multifunctional room with moveable tiered seating providing a new typology of space available in the Space & Co. portfolio.
- The development of products that can be applied to multiple locations such as the design of a glass house as a meeting room.
- a professionally equipped kitchen for all members and staff that fosters community and allows for culinary events
Design Challenge
The challenge with every new site remains the same; to review lessons learnt from previous sites and data collected, evolve new ideas to test, and deliver environments of a high design quality in both a cost effective and speedy manner.
Sustainability
The concept of a hosted environment offering flexible leasing not only provides choice in regards to lease terms for tenants, but significantly reduces the amount of churn of small to medium scale office fit outs. Historically small business’ looking to occupy space would commit to a lease for a period of time after which the fit out would be completely removed. The concept of a hosted environment offering flexible options means space is designed from the offset with the purpose of being continually curated.
Services are distributed in a format to accommodate multiple configurations. Flexible wall systems and a common aesthetic throughout mean suites can be reconfigured and refurbished in a much quicker manner ready for a new tenant with far less waste.
The planning approach of perimeter suites and shared amenities in a central location works well in existing building stock with a central core – revitalising these assets.
Interior Design - Co-Working & Studio Space
This award celebrates innovative and creative building interiors, with consideration given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes, aesthetic presentation and functionality. Consideration also given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
More Details