UTS Institute of Sustainable Futures are a university research institute within UTS that has been creating change towards sustainable futures by conducting independent project based research for Australian and international clients since 2007. As part of the overall scope it was proposed that the Institute relocate from Level 11 to Level 10 into a new purpose built environment which showcases and supports the Institutes diverse functions. The challenge was to overcome a few physical factors of a difficult base building floorplate, outdated services and constrained ceiling space to achieve a 6 Star Greenstar rating for the interiors, which would be the first of its kind at the university. Working closely with the client and the university, we engaged the overall staff to promote a more open and collaborative environment. This meant proposing not incorporating any offices into the design and introducing an Activity Based Working Environment – a drastic change for the staff and overall culture. A change management component was implemented into the overall programme to take ISF along on the journey and minimise any surprises. This created a collaborative nature between GroupGSA, UTS and ISF.
The outcome allowed for a more permeable environment that promoted natural light through the space and was more aligned to ISF as an organisation. Due to the nature of the work (research and focus), GroupGSA created a diversity of spaces that would support different ways of work/collaboration. These included zoning the work areas from Collaborative and noisy to Silent Spaces for concentration. The central hub (arrival, breakout and project space) was designed with flexibility to support a dynamic and modular environment for events and town hall meetings.
UTS Institute of Sustainable Futures are a university research institute within UTS that has been creating change towards sustainable futures by conducting independent project based research for Australian and international clients since 2007. As part of the overall scope it was proposed that the Institute relocate from Level 11 to Level 10 into a new purpose built environment which showcases and supports the Institutes diverse functions. The challenge was to overcome a few physical factors of a difficult base building floorplate, outdated services and constrained ceiling space to achieve a 6 Star Greenstar rating for the interiors, which would be the first of its kind at the university. Working closely with the client and the university, we engaged the overall staff to promote a more open and collaborative environment. This meant proposing not incorporating any offices into the design and introducing an Activity Based Working Environment – a drastic change for the staff and overall culture. A change management component was implemented into the overall programme to take ISF along on the journey and minimise any surprises. This created a collaborative nature between GroupGSA, UTS and ISF.
The outcome allowed for a more permeable environment that promoted natural light through the space and was more aligned to ISF as an organisation. Due to the nature of the work (research and focus), GroupGSA created a diversity of spaces that would support different ways of work/collaboration. These included zoning the work areas from Collaborative and noisy to Silent Spaces for concentration. The central hub (arrival, breakout and project space) was designed with flexibility to support a dynamic and modular environment for events and town hall meetings.
UTS Institute of Sustainable Futures are a university research institute within UTS that has been creating change towards sustainable futures by conducting independent project based research for Australian and international clients since 2007. As part of the overall scope it was proposed that the Institute relocate from Level 11 to Level 10 into a new purpose built environment which showcases and supports the Institutes diverse functions. The challenge was to overcome a few physical factors of a difficult base building floorplate, outdated services and constrained ceiling space to achieve a 6 Star Greenstar rating for the interiors, which would be the first of its kind at the university. Working closely with the client and the university, we engaged the overall staff to promote a more open and collaborative environment. This meant proposing not incorporating any offices into the design and introducing an Activity Based Working Environment – a drastic change for the staff and overall culture. A change management component was implemented into the overall programme to take ISF along on the journey and minimise any surprises. This created a collaborative nature between GroupGSA, UTS and ISF.
The outcome allowed for a more permeable environment that promoted natural light through the space and was more aligned to ISF as an organisation. Due to the nature of the work (research and focus), GroupGSA created a diversity of spaces that would support different ways of work/collaboration. These included zoning the work areas from Collaborative and noisy to Silent Spaces for concentration. The central hub (arrival, breakout and project space) was designed with flexibility to support a dynamic and modular environment for events and town hall meetings.