Microsoft Sydney
Sydney, Australia
Where work is a 'thing that you do, not a place that you go'
Futurespace completed the refurbishment of four floors (10,700m2) for Microsoft at their existing headquarters in North Ryde. This project is an innovative one: it embraces current best practice in workplace design and implements Microsoft’s Work Place Advantage (WPA) program. WPA is a Microsoft real estate program that invests in Microsoft’s people by providing them with a physical environment that supports innovation, productivity and satisfaction for employees and their businesses.
The refurbished workplace consists of a menu of work settings that enable and allow individuals and teams to work according to task. Instead of allocated desks and a selection of meeting rooms, the workplace identifies needs of the business units then provides the physical space to support this. Along with unallocated workstations there is a smorgasbord of settings that offer choice, flexibility and increased mobility for the Microsoft team.
The North Ryde premises includes a full refurbishment of office areas, café, reception and customer facing areas. It provides more meeting and collaborative spaces along with creative and innovative workspaces showcasing Microsoft’s technology. Key drivers for the project include increased employee experience and satisfaction and attracting and retaining a talented workforce.
The commercial design concept realises Microsoft’s key goals of maximising access to daylight and incorporating colour, texture, natural materials, and transparency into the design of the work environment. Each floor is identifiable by its own creative concept including geometrics, organic and linear drawing on colour and form of the Australian landscape.
The refurbished work environment provides flexibility and choice, supports mobile and virtual work and inspires innovation, creativity and transparency – both physically and in the team’s work practices. WPA is “designed to identify and meet the unique needs of Microsoft’s businesses through the provision of appropriately designed and equipped work environments [and] by investing in workplace solutions that match business objectives.”
Awards
Dulux Colour Awards 2012 – shortlisted
Interior Design Excellence Awards 2012 – shortlisted
