This upcoming panel, "What Comes Next In Workplace Design?" will address the evolving landscape of the commercial sector in the wake of the pandemic.

As hybrid working models reshape vacancy rates and demand for office space, there is much to debate regarding the future of commercial architecture.

“Workplaces used to be spaces for work to be undertaken efficiently. Then they became places of influence and motivation. Will the future find them places of ethics and values? As principles of ESG (Environment, Sustainability, Governance) are entering the built environment, workplace designers are being tasked with a broader set of criteria against which workplaces can be measured,” Donna Wheatley, Partner at Gray Puksand says.

“Ethical considerations expand our current focus on sustainability, wellbeing and flexibility. Our projects now need to use less resources, integrate with nature, upcycle materials, know how materials were produced and transported, support local communities, and build social networks in the office.

“Organisational values will become the framework of a workplace concept. Our expertise in workplace occupancy and utilisation patterns means our clients reach out to us early in their workplace journey. We can have a significant impact on how organisations work, and this means we have more opportunity to innovate by focusing on our clients as an ecosystem rather than a workplace.”

This discussion will explore how many existing commercial buildings are being reassessed for potential residential conversions and what this means for the industry.

According to Ashleigh Ward, Associate at Carr, the prevailing sentiment is that the commercial architecture and development sector in Melbourne has reached a juncture.

“While the market appears somewhat more buoyant in Sydney and Brisbane, there remains a notable scarcity of new development opportunities. As architects and designers, we can harness this moment by shifting our focus toward mixed-use projects and asset repositioning, particularly in light of current high commercial vacancy rates,” Ward says.

“This shift allows us to prioritise timelessness and quality, fostering flexibility and longevity while promoting sustainable reuse to achieve cost savings. Furthermore, the rise in collaboration between the public and private sectors presents an exciting opportunity to improve the quality of buildings and their interiors within the public domain.”

Our panel of experts will delve into the current state of commercial architecture, future trends, and the opportunities—or challenges—facing built environment professionals.

As the dynamics of work continue to change, this panel promises to provide crucial insights into the next steps for workplace design and the broader implications for urban development.

Join Robert Price, General Manager at Geyer, Karen Primmer, National Director at Calder Consultants, Donna Wheatley, Partner at Gray Puksand, Ashleigh Ward, Associate at Carr, Daniel Lim, Senior Development Engineer at Knauf, Steven Fraser, Ceiling Systems Manager at Network Architectural as well as Daniel Walker, Product Development & Marketing Director at Billi to explore the future of our built environment and what it holds for workplace innovation.

The 2024 Sustainability Summit will be held in Sydney on November 14.

To reserve your place at the 2024 Sustainability Summit for this and other sessions, click here.

Image: Blight Rayner Architecture, Tzannes. Photography: Ben Guthrie, Martin Seigner, Martin Mischkuling / Interiors: Hassell Studio.

Clémence Carayol

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