Commonwealth Parliament Offices
Three stunning high-rise floors surrounding a glass atrium
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Location
Levels 19-21, 1 Bligh Street, Sydney
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Completed
March 2019
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Architect
Architectus
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Area
4,891sqm
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Type
Fitout
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Duration
10 months
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Project Manager
Davis Langdon
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Rating
Green Star, Premium Grade
The ultimate working environment
Following a highly competitive tender process, Schiavello Construction NSW was engaged as head contractor for the new Commonwealth Parliament Offices in Sydney.
Spanning three high-rise floors, the project included the construction of key areas including various high-level conference rooms, two media and press rooms, a new telepresence room, and art initiatives.
The interior, designed by Architectus, seeks to take advantage of the qualities of the award-winning office tower, 1 Bligh Street, and provide the ultimate working environment.
Reflecting the nature of Sydney
The design team was tasked with creating a space that reflects the nature of Sydney; harnessing local qualities such as natural daylight, coastal form, local materials, and transparency. Also key to the design brief was maintaining a timelessness that would endure a significant lease period of more than 25 years.
Transparency is a key theme throughout, and the arrangement of the floorplate allows for deep light penetration and access to views. Sweeping double glazed tenancy walls and ergonomically positioned pods allow patrons walking within the generous circulation to gaze through workspaces out to the views.
Challenges
One of the key challenges was the need for separation between various occupants and public spaces as well as support and security staff. The team needed to deliver a highly secure and individually suited series of tenancies with complete acoustic separation, high-security protection, mechanical, electrical and hydraulic separation for each. Integrating these requirements seamlessly into the fitout’s architectural features called for a large number of bespoke elements, including over 100 items of joinery, and more than 430 architectural drawings.
Managing design and value engineering
Our NSW team managed the design process in great detail, spearheading design workshops to ensure each buildability issue was resolved to achieve the highest quality design and application.
Value engineering was an important consideration for the client, and a level of redundancy was factored into the design, enabling the use of the fitout to be easily amended without having to undergo retrofit or refurbishment every time the staff members using the facility change. Further, materials and products were assessed on a whole-life-cycle basis to determine the upfront costs as well as maintenance, with a goal of minimising ongoing costs.
From a sustainability perspective, the fitout creates synergy with 1 Bligh Street, known for world leadership in environmentally sustainable construction. Currently finalising the Green Star submission, the project is targeting a 6 Star Green Star rating.
Schiavello subsidiaries
For Schiavello, the project afforded the opportunity to showcase the company’s deep set of capabilities, from construction to in-house design, engineering and manufacturing. When the team ran into a critical timing challenge securing the architecturally-designed metal pendant lighting required for two conference rooms, Schiavello’s metal fabrication division stepped in as the manufacturer. Schiavello also harnessed joinery expertise to deliver some of the most highly crafted items of furniture, such as the main conference room table. Schiavello Signage developed a detailed laser cut metallic Australian crest designed by Architectus; one of the key focal points in the fitout.
The Schiavello NSW Systems team worked closely with the interior architect to develop the workplace furniture solutions. The open plan work areas, offices, and visitor suites are supported by a combination of Schiavello’s customised Centric and Marina workstations, paired with bespoke joinery developed to optimise aesthetics and functionality to achieve the Architectus vision.
Award and recognition
Schiavello offered a convenient, coordinated approach to delivering an outcome that has met the client’s expectations. The project was led by Schiavello Director Bernardo Mulet, Construction Manager Scott Drummond, and Project Managers Andy Leitch and Gisela LaPoint. It was this team’s exceptional level of commitment through the lifetime of the project that earned LaPoint the 2013 National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Award for Excellence in Construction, Refurbishment and Fitout.
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