Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa March/April 2015 | Page 78

“as they are an important part of the office experience,” Wyatt explains, “and shouldn’t be an afterthought.” Once beyond the ground floor, Inhouse applied space-planning principles in order to reconfigure the office layout into an open-plan constellation, while taking Santam’s corporate identity into account. The brand manual requires that any space-planning allows for different levels of meeting spaces, from campsites all the way through to boardrooms. Wyatt also introduced centrally located printer stations, rather than a printer at 78 each work station, to create efficiency, with lounge areas placed nearby as secondary meeting spaces. These pause areas are always important in offices as they act as recharging stations for staff but also allow for collaboration and congregation. “To see the staff members benefitting from space planning principals which foster collaboration and productivity, has been a definite highlight of this project,” Wyatt says. Where standalone offices were needed, a frameless glass walling system was used to maximize the transparency and allow natural light into the space. Meeting rooms were treated in a similar way, but with an awareness of the acoustic and AV requirements, as well as the need for privacy. The main meeting rooms were situated in the central area of each floor – a continuance of Santam’s desire to make the most of access to natural light throughout the surrounding areas. Over the years, Inhouse has developed a bespoke office furniture system for Santam, which was created in conjunction with Santam’s furniture supplier CO Designs. It is a custom-built range that Santam