Two adjacent heritage buildings, The Shelley Warehouse and Electrical Sub Station No.164, were integrated through new openings in the heritage walls and interconnecting stairs. The narrow, tall space between the buildings was kept as an illuminated shaft with exposed services, creating a moody display of original brick walls providing unexpected visual connections and a reminder of the buildings' past lives. Three levels of open plan work areas and strategically located meeting rooms enable team collaboration and flexibility with full height glazing creating a modern, almost transparent insertion.
Close collaboration with the architects fjmtstudio holistically balanced the buildings heritage brick walls, timber ceiling soffits and exposed services. The design incorporates an industrial aesthetic befitting a construction company, respecting the heritage and celebrating the new. A new material palette of polished concrete, reclaimed timber, oak toned joinery, tan leathers and copper highlights subtly reference Built’s corporate colour and complement the existing heritage materiality. Staff wellbeing was at the forefront of the design with sustainability in focus.
Dedicated onsite gym, staff breakout and a significant planting strategy contribute to a healthy and desirable workplace along with products, materials and fittings selected on their sustainable merits. Built’s Head Office has achieved a 6-Star Green Star Interiors v1.2, WELL Health Safety and WELL Platinum. This is an incredible success considering the challenges inherent in adapting heritage-listed buildings and demonstrates the ongoing feasibility to the industry of adaptively reusing heritage structures.