Outfitting the Modern Office

An abundance of natural light floods the interior of this newly fitted out office space located in the heart of Sydney. Thoughtful in design, addressing the nuances of different work settings, the office includes a mixture of open and private workspaces, meeting rooms, lounge areas and a breakroom, all designed to offer employees various spots to work. 

Greeted by our Jive reception counter, the grandeur nature of the piece exudes a contemporary look through its thick 58mm panel construction and minimalist profile. A comfortable and welcoming space is further created with our Hugo lounges paired with the Nest coffee table, indulging clients and visitors in the ultimate front of house experience. 

Moving through the space, Hugo lounges and Nest coffee tables are spotted again in the communal area, facilitating a relaxing transition into breaks or informal meetings. Perfect as a side table or coffee table, Nest features a lightweight wood construction, and as the name suggests, designed to be nested if needed or used for individual work. 

Minimalist and organic in feel, the open plan workspace features rows of Benchwork workstations, complemented with Local acoustic screens, Biscuit dividers, Hana task chairs and Globe pedestals. Adjacent to the workstations are small offices for private and individualised work featuring the same furniture. The open plan interior is light and bright with monochromatic hues, while the small offices display a red feature wall, a characteristic carried throughout the office in other meeting rooms for a cohesive feel.

Fresh and playful colours are used throughout the kitchen and breakout space. Using Poppi chairs in Moss Grey and Cosmopolitan tables in natural oak finishes, the space blends a wide range of furniture pieces to create an eclectic, diverse aesthetic for staff to relax. 

Meeting rooms are displayed throughout the large office space, all featuring a distinct red wall to add personality and create a point of difference between the areas. The formal meeting room features a Keywork table and Sax chairs with black detailing, creating a strong contrast and look. 

Smaller rooms for informal meetings feature our Alex chairs and Halo table with a custom D-end shape top to suit the layout of the room. The last of the meeting rooms include our FortyFour chair paired with the Cosmopolitan table to facilitate a productive and focused environment. 

Designed by True Project and Strutt Studios, this office offers various spaces for the modern employee to work based on what best suits their needs, whether it be meeting a colleague in an informal setting or finding a quiet place to work solo. Along with using black, white and greys, hints of colours are used throughout for visual impact creating a comfortable and contemporary workplace.

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3 Ways to Quieten The Workplace

The modern office has an enthusiasm for open workplaces. They are great at fostering collaboration and communication. However, the need for quiet spaces in an office design has increased to cater to all employee needs and wellbeing.

Here are 3 tips on how to create quiet spaces in your office:

1. Unassigned or Enclosed rooms:
   Designing an office with designated quiet spaces allows employees to make phone calls, hold meetings and escape office chatter without distraction. Quiet rooms should be open and uncluttered with minimal furniture to enhance focus and productivity. Integrating glass doors also creates privacy while maintaining visibility.
   

2. Furniture To Define Spaces:
   If structural changes are not an option, using furniture to mimic the feel a of a private office can have the same benefits. Products like high back and side lounges such as the Benj or Hush paired with a small table creates an ancillary area as an alternative to an employee's primary workspace.
   

3. Walls or Dividers
   Creating boundaries using walls or dividers within the open office defines private and focused individual spaces. Freestanding screens such as the Scape or Local screen allow employees to adjust their work setting to suit their needs without disrupting the overall design of the office. Walls and privacy screens maximise the potential of a space, absorb the cacophony and create a quiet havens

THE IMPORTANCE OF ACOUSTICS IN AN OPEN OFFICE

With a shift from traditional cubicle style workstations to open plan offices, workplace acoustics should not be overlooked. Without acoustics barriers the energy of conversations, phones and keyboard click are amplified, which can lead to a decrease in productivity due to distractions.

Here are a 4 products that will help with the acoustics in your office:

1. Workstation Screens:
   Research has shown placing absorptive materials as close as possible to the noise source is most effective. Our Screenwork, Trak, Vast and Local screens are all partition systems which fit to workstations to assist in the reduction of noise reverberations.  Available in a number of sizes and heights, there is a screen to suit every business.

2. Partitions:
   Dividing areas with portable partitions allows offices to split space and section off noisier environments. Our Local and Scape screens are a simple, non-invasive solution to the issue of acoustics. Both screens feature an internal steel frame for added stability and can be inserted into any contemporary context.

3. Mitesco System:
   From acoustic screens and in ceiling panels to phone pods, the Mitesco range makes it possible to meet various acoustic exigencies. Made entirely of polyester which has excellent absorbent qualities, it is then bonded to the inner wadding forming a single body without a break. The screens and ceiling panels can be mounted to the wall or ceiling to absorb further sound.

4. High Lounges:
   Creating spaces specifically for privacy and louder conversations can also assist in reducing noise in the office. Our Hush and Benj lounges feature high backs with high density padding to absorb sound. Doubling as a collaborative space or privacy area, both lounges are a perfect acoustic solution.