New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 34/03C | Page 67

Facing page:Changes in ceiling
treatments denote a move to
quieter or more conversational/
meeting-type spaces in the
Vodafone InnoV8 fit-out.
Below:From one meeting room
to the next – the fit-out combines
a variety of meeting room
configurations, together with
casual staff spaces that engender
further social connections.
of the atrium while a lounge-style space is located
next to the reception, defined by softer furniture
and finishes. The remainder area has cafe-style
furniture and doubles as an informal meeting space.
Warren and Mahoney’s project lead on the reno-
vation Gabrielle Gatt says the Vodafone design is
a bold reinvention of the existing building – also
by Warren and Mahoney – that brings together all
Auckland staff into one location, as one team.
“The atrium’s existing structural elements
including the stair and the connecting bridges
were retained but refurbished to make them both
more accessible and welcoming,” says Gatt. “This
included introducing a solid powder-coated steel
balustrade to the stair and adding slatted powder
coated steel balustrades on the bridges in front
of the existing glass. The latter made the bridges
feel safe while retaining openness, light and views
across to activity on the other bridges and stair.”
The stair from the ground floor up to Level 1 was
removed and a new stair located on each side of
the building, inside the secure line. This meant the
atrium could be open to the wider community.
In addition to the existing building entry from
The Avenue, a second entry lobby was added to
provide ease of access from Tahoroto Road. This
gave a connection through the building and out into
the adjacent Smales Farm precinct, adding to the
sense of energy and buzz at ground floor level.
The atrium edges were opened up on all levels
with the breakout and café spaces located in these
zones to vertically activate the atrium and provide
views across the atrium to each side of the build-
ing. Bright playful colours were used at the edges
to contrast the calmer more formal finishes of the
atrium and bring a sense of liveliness into the floors.
The Vodafone building is testament to Smales
Farm’s objective of redefining the workplace.
This fit-out has re-thought and reinvented ‘tradi-
tional’ to deliver a work environment called a Next
Generation Neighbourhood. Spaces within the
building are designed as destinations, again pro-
moting movement and a variety of workspaces.
These range from highly private, to open and
collaborative – allowing staff to choose the setting
that best suits their needs. All floors, apart from the
ground floor, have areas of open desking. These are
supported by enclosed meeting rooms, quiet areas
and collaboration zones. There is also the ‘Arena’,
a state-of-the-art space with 180 projectors, which
is easily configured as grouped spaces or as one
huge venue where Vodafone staff and guests come
together for events, such as a recent 5G showcase.
Because the Innov8 building’s floorplates are
large, different ceiling finish treatments are used to
define different zones. For example, a change in
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