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MELBOURNE SYDNEY CANBERRA BRISBANE PERTH ADELAIDE AUCKLAND WELLINGTON SHANGHAI HONG KONG

zenithinteriors.com

MELBOURNE SYDNEY CANBERRA BRISBANE PERTH ADELAIDE AUCKLAND WELLINGTON SHANGHAI HONG KONG

Working for success

NAB Docklands Case Study Brookfield Multiplex, Cbus Property,Woods Bagot, Schamburg + Alvisse and Zenith Interiors

Images: Shannon McGrath, courtesy of NAB, architecture and design Woods Bagot

MELBOURNE SYDNEY CANBERRA BRISBANE PERTH ADELAIDE AUCKLAND WELLINGTON SHANGHAI HONG KONG

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Workplace design is a multifaceted and intricate business. A successful project is one that adheres to and delivers on a brief while raising the design stakes through innovation and creativity.Over the years there have been many projects that have embraced best practice, received accolades and awards, and presented new styles of workplace functionality. With the opening of NAB’s (National Australia Bank) new offices at 700 Bourke Street in Melbourne, however, a new benchmark in workplace design has been achieved.

MELBOURNE SYDNEY CANBERRA BRISBANE PERTH ADELAIDE AUCKLAND WELLINGTON SHANGHAI HONG KONG

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A project is only as good as the partners that come together to interpret the client’s vision

and ensure the architect’s inspiration become s a reality. In this case. Just as integral as the client/architect relationship was the engagement of suppliers who could embrace and facilitate the brief.

Zenith participated and excelled in the presentation of world-class design for selection through its understanding of the client’s needs and the parameters of the brief. Through the company’s research and development department, it could offer product development and refinement all within a competitive on-budget cost and the logistics team was able to guarantee supply, delivery and installation on time with quality assurance.

Simon Pole from Woods Bagot, lead interior designer on the project, says,

“WE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE LIKE ZENITH TO WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER FROM THE BEGINNING TO ACTUALLY SEE THE CONCEPT ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO FRUITION, SO IT’S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE BOTH PROUD OF, THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT WE DESIGNED TOGETHER.”

MELBOURNE SYDNEY CANBERRA BRISBANE PERTH ADELAIDE AUCKLAND WELLINGTON SHANGHAI HONG KONG

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A solid relationship for a supplier is one of mutual respect coupled with a

thorough knowledge of client needs. Understanding the needs of the NAB workforce and Woods Bagot’s specifications meant that Zenith could tailor- make products with perfect design precision. Bob Stewart, head of Zenith’s research and development department, was involved in the process every step of the way and this allowed the Zenith team to adapt and rework product designs instantly. Zenith invests substantial capital per annum on research and development and, in a competitive industry, this takes customer service to a new level and ensures that Zenith maintains its ‘edge’ in the marketplace.

“WE CAN BRING A LOT OF VALUE TO THE CLIENT AND THE DESIGNER. WE BROUGHT OUR EXPERIENCE AND OUR CAPABILITIES TO CREATE UNIQUE SOLUTIONS THAT NAB WERE AFTER,” says Stewart about the NAB project.

“AT ZENITH, WE GO THE EXTRA MILE TO NOT JUST DELIVER WHAT THE CLIENT WANTS, WE TRY TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DO FOR THEM.”

Kylie Holton, interior designer from Woods Bagot, says,

“THROUGH MEETINGS WITH ZENITH’S RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM, WOODS BAGOT AND NAB, ZENITH SHOWED CREDIBILITY IN WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ACHIEVE AND THAT THEY WERE PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE CLIENT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE PRODUCT, AS WELL AS THE PROJECT OUTCOME.”

MELBOURNE SYDNEY CANBERRA BRISBANE PERTH ADELAIDE AUCKLAND WELLINGTON SHANGHAI HONG KONG

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NAB required products that not only provided utilitarian service and a bespoke fit, but,

as a global corporate player, excellent design was integral. Through a unique collaboration with world-class design studio Schamburg + Alvisse, Zenith had the capacity to provide cutting edge design in workstations, corrales, custom booths, built-in soft furniture and meeting tables for the project.

Working together with Zenith’s research and development team, Schamburg + Alvisse designed bespoke products that incorporated particular details of the architecture of the building.

“THE PROCESS FOR US STARTED VERY MUCH WITH GETTING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE [NAB] WERE COMING FROM,”says Marc Schamburg.

“SO [THIS MEANT] DOING RESEARCH ON NAB, ALSO SPEAKING TO WOODS BAGOT ABOUT THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT NAB WANTED, SO THAT WE HAD A VERY CLEAR SENSE OF WHAT THEY WERE MOVING TOWARDS CULTURALLY AND WHERE THEY HAD COME FROM. SO THAT WAS REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE DID.”

MELBOURNE SYDNEY CANBERRA BRISBANE PERTH ADELAIDE AUCKLAND WELLINGTON SHANGHAI HONG KONG

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Elements such as the triangulated architecture, architectural details of the internal fissures and the

internal design of the workplace, which balances privacy with transparency and permeability, were incorporated into products, thereby adding another dimension to the interior.

A project the size of 700 Bourke Street was immense, with Zenith supplying more than 2300 workstations, 62 meeting tables, 219 booths with built-in soft furniture and 139 corrales. As important as the design and manufacture of products are, the logistics of an on-time delivery, perfect installation and consistent customer service to ensure smooth transition from factory to site is paramount.

“FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, INSPIRATION CAME FROM THE SITE AND THE BUILDING, THE ARCHITECTURE, THE FRACTAL-LIKE FAÇADE OF THE BUILDING, WITH THE CREVICES LETTING LIGHT INTO THE BUILDING, SO THERE WAS A LOT OF CRYSTALLINE GEOMETRY GOING ON,” says Michael Alvisse.

“THE OTHER THING THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO BOTH WOODS BAGOT AND NAB WAS THAT THEY DIDN’T WANT TO SEE THE SAME PRODUCTS THAT HAD BEEN USED ON OTHER PROJECTS; THEY WANTED SOMETHING THAT WAS APPROPRIATE AND SPECIFIC TO THE SPACE.”

MELBOURNE SYDNEY CANBERRA BRISBANE PERTH ADELAIDE AUCKLAND WELLINGTON SHANGHAI HONG KONG

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Through experience and know-how, the Zenith team processed documentation, expedited

procurement and effected delivery through a dedicated operations manager and coordinator.

Delivery and installation were a seam-less progression with site installers and a permanent on-site supervisor acting as overseer. This is normal practice for Zenith whether a project is large or small.

Throughout the building of 700 Bourke Street, Zenith maintained its vigilance to ensure that the collaborative relationship with all stakeholders was exemplary and for this to happen the right people needed to be in place. The national team at Zenith understands the big picture, is dedicated and works cohesively with its clients to ensure the best outcome for all.

Phil Duggan, CEO of Zenith, says,

“OUR PEOPLE ARE THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY. I SEE THE ZENITH PEOPLE GO THE EXTRA YARD DAY AFTER DAY.”

Excellent customer service is at the core of the organisation, he stresses.

“WE WANT TO WORK WITH OUR CUSTOMERS IN A VERY COLLABORATIVE WAY; WE WANT TO GET THE SOLUTION THAT IS GOOD FOR THEM. WORKING WITH THE CUSTOMER EARLY, IDENTIFYING THEIR NEEDS, FULFILLING THOSE NEEDS AND THEN EXECUTING ON THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY, THAT’S WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT FROM OUR COMPETITORS ...”

Zenith has an ongoing relationship with NAB and is supplying products for future projects.

MELBOURNE SYDNEY CANBERRA BRISBANE PERTH ADELAIDE AUCKLAND WELLINGTON SHANGHAI HONG KONG

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3000 by Schamburg + Alvisse

3000 SPLITBACK, STANDARD AND VERTICAL BACK LOUNGE CHAIRS

“The 3000 range is an admiring nod to our favourite creative city on the planet - Melbourne,” says Michael Alvisse of Schamburg + Alvisse.

Rumba by ZENITH

RUMBA WORKSTATION

Rumba employs a clean, simple design language, creating a strong, bold style, further underlined by its firmly grounded stance.

CASE STUDY FEATURE PRODUCTS