SHAPE wins two awards at the Master Builders South Australia Construction Awards

SHAPE engaged with both companies to deliver sleek office fitouts.

Arup Adelaide Office Fitout

Arup had identified the need for a new office space to accommodate modern working styles and, as part of their commitment to sustainability, undertook the Living Building Challenge (LBC), which was a key driver in how the office was designed and constructed.

The office is located on the Mezzanine Level of 182 Victoria Square and was previously occupied by SHAPE’s Adelaide team. This project, therefore, held a special place for both the client and the contractor, resulting in SHAPE being engaged under an ECI agreement to provide input during the planning and design stage.

The Arup Office was the first fitout project within South Australia to target the Living Building Challenge, and the process presented a significant learning curve to gain a comprehensive understanding of the sustainability requirements to achieve certification. SHAPE worked closely with Arup and Walter Brooke to carefully review the design and maximise the reuse of materials in the space.

To meet the sustainability requirements, new materials and equipment went through a comprehensive vetting process, such as using locally produced and sourced materials to avoid the carbon emissions produced by transporting materials overseas. Other requirements included the use of low VOC paint, FSC-certified timber, and ‘Red-List Free’ materials.

Speaking on the wins, General Manager at SHAPE Adelaide, Grant Patterson, said:

“The Arup office fitout has a special place in the heart of many of the team here at SHAPE in Adelaide – the new space was previously our home for some 14 years up until 2021. So, seeing our team work on transforming our old space into something new was quite wonderful.

We were also fortunate that in line with Arup’s values, the project was driven by their brief to design and build an office space guided by Living Building Challenge (LBC) criteria. This meant our team were given the challenge to incorporate a number of sustainable initiatives (including significant repurposing of some of our old fitout materials into their new design), all of which our team achieved with amazing results.” 

MinterEllison Office Refurbishment and Fitout

Whereas the MinterEllison office was designed to accommodate the global law firm’s collaborative working styles, Featuring a range of open workstations, quiet rooms, focus areas, and meeting and client spaces. SHAPE constructed a grand new staircase spanning from Level 8 to Level 10 to enhance connectivity and staff circulation. This design element serves as a highlight in the reception space on Level 10 and the breakout areas on Levels 8 and 9.

The client’s brief was to create a sophisticated and high-end office space that reflected their vision and appealed to their clients. Some of the exceptional features that make this space unique include a striking feature staircase with sky glass balustrades, curved stone walling, 54 custom joinery types throughout the office, and nine different ceiling types to complement the various areas. The level of quality extends beyond aesthetics and into the operational factors of the office, such as lighting and AV requirements.

Grant also mentioned that: