Arup Sydney

A true ‘one team’ approach with the developer, base build architect, contractor, designers, and Arup ensured Barrack Place put people first. The building thoughtfully connects people and supports the wellbeing of its tenants and visitors - it has exceptional amenity, indoor air quality, comfort and physical and digital connectivity. We partnered with Arup to create a workplace where the exchange of knowledge and skills through learning and experimentation – central tenets of Arup’s work culture – are not only facilitated but lived by all. Engaged early in the construction planning of Barrack Place in which Arup was both building engineer and future tenant, we were presented with the opportunity to influence the building’s architecture to align with Arup’s vision of the workplace interior. The heart of Arup’s new Sydney office is a four-storey void, designed by our team into the base building, which connects all five floors of the workspace. With striking horizontal and vertical views across and between floors, this centrepiece presents a clear insight into Arup’s every day operations and gives a sense of connection. The collaboration spaces centred around and adjacent to the void put the ‘Arup University’ on show – they are an open invitation to both staff and partners to come together for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and skills. Designing with Arup provided opportunities to challenge the usual approaches to commercial workplace design, to consider new uses for simple materials, alternative treatments of typical elements such as ceilings and floors, and the innovative adaptation of engineering solutions to create a best practice workplace environment. We used the access floor to create the centralised collaboration spaces surrounding the void. These spaces are “sunken” and step down from the access floor directly onto the slab. These collaboration spaces look into the Arup University, the heart of Arup’s work culture. Open exchange areas surrounding the void create a welcoming space for employees and clients to come together, while specialist spaces, such as the SoundLab and Lighting Lab, support ongoing experimentation and improved decision making. The fitout achieved a 6 Star Green Star Interiors v1.1 Design Review Certified rating and will achieve a 5 Star NABERS Energy and 4 Star NABERS Water rating. The rare integration of developer, base building architect, contractor, interior design team, and Arup’s multidisciplinary team is truly innovative. The diverse input led to a new kind of commercial building and workplace, different to typical office buildings – one that thoughtfully connects people and supports the ‘well-ness’ of its tenants and visitors. From the acoustics to light and air quality, the clear views, yoga and meditation room, ergonomic furniture, and best-in-class end-of-trip facilities, the attention to health in this workplace is unique. The workplace feels distinctively Arup – engineered, design-led, collaborative, social and healthy.