Description

Supporting an agile and transparent business with minimal barriers between people and operations

The Ergon Energy Brisbane Workplace provides a city based office for the regional Queensland energy distributor. Relocating from a high security CBD government building to a contemporary architectural development on the city fringe, Ergon Energy is using this move as an agent for change in a bid to move away from its old model of business to a new vision and purpose.

Bringing together a collection of business groups from three disparate sites, the new workplace accommodates 490 staff over four levels of the 6500m² tenancy. This relocation provided an opportunity for radical cultural and functional change, facilitated through the design. Reflecting Ergon’s business was critical to reinforce this respected brand and bring a taste of the region to its city operations. The environment had to support an agile and transparent business with minimal barriers between people and operations in a bid to create a unified workforce.

A form of a vertical street, through a series of voids cutting diagonally through the floor plates, creates a sense of connection both vertically and horizontally to each side of the substantially long 80 metre wide floor plate. An interconnecting stair is used through the voids to link the key anchors within the tenancy such as the reception and shared meeting spaces. The staff plaza is based on the notion of a traditional market meeting place, facilitating casual interaction between staff and serving as the backdrop to the amphitheatre stair. These two strong design elements provide a communal space inclusive of all groups’ needs and cultures.