Woods Bagot has transformed the iconic Palace Hotel into its new Perth Studio, delivering an agile workplace for the 70-person strong team.

Positioned on the corner of St Georges Terrace and William Street in the Perth CBD, the new studio fitout enables a highly flexible work environment which supports new modes of work, with wireless mobile technology and no allocated seating for staff, offering freedom of movement and choice.

A combination of free-seating desks, stand-up work stations, lounge areas and semi-enclosed meeting spaces introduce a sense of dynamism and autonomy.

Creating a diversity of spaces, the refurbishment provided Woods Bagot the opportunity to demonstrate its ability to design and deliver a non-hierarchical contemporary workplace environment with a distinctive hotel-like aesthetic in a nod to the building’s previous function.

Perth studio’s workplace interiors leader Stirling Fletcher said it was about creating a workplace where freedom of choice and movement were key ingredients to the project’s success.

“Woods Bagot realised its new studio was an opportunity to demonstrate the practice’s ability to design, deliver and occupy a workplace that leads by example, blurring the boundaries between workplace, hotel and home. It was about bringing the necessary elements together in a way to create an eclectic mix of work settings and social breakout zones to support truly agile working,” Stirling says.

The main circulation stair and lift well run from the ground floor to the second floor, increasing connectivity and fluidity of movement throughout the building and its multiple zones. Both the heart of the building and a central meeting place for Woods Bagot staff, clients and guests, the mezzanine level atrium provides an integrated breakout zone while offering the opportunity to host community events out of hours.

Key to the design rationale was to reflect and facilitate the evolving paradigm of work to support the workforce of the future. Responding to the fact that today’s workforce spends more time at work than at home, the Perth studio’s design has successfully delivered a tailored experience that supports agile working while enriching the firm’s values and culture.

The restorative design solution respects the original architecture of the building, retaining original elements and celebrating the structure’s original high ceilings, flooring and heritage features.

Key strategies to minimise our environmental footprint include minimisation of the built environment, reuse of task seating, lighting and furniture, conservation and restoration of the heritage fabric of the building and furniture pieces, waste and recycling strategies, introduction of plant life, and a focus on well-being where movement is encouraged to promote connection and convergence in the workplace.

Photography by Dion Robeson.

woodsbagot.com

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See last week’s DesignWall: Anston Architectural by Dan Gayfer Design.