Sheldon maximised creative reuse to transform a dated office into a stunning speculative suite for commercial institution Peakstone, benefiting tenants and the environment.
The construction and operation of commercial buildings uses a staggering amount of energy. Office fitouts also contribute to this impact on the environment, especially when offices are regularly replaced and refurbished. It is estimated that 20-50% of the proportion of whole of life carbon emissions in commercial buildings are caused by office fitouts. 115,000 tonnes of fitout waste and 35,000 tonnes of loose furniture are thrown away every year in Australia. The embodied energy costs within an office fitout are significant, which is why Sheldon is working to reduce the environmental impacts of its projects through circular economy initiatives.
At level 5, 55 Clarence St, building owners Peakstone inherited a dated but high-quality fitout. The conventional approach would have been to strip this out and start from scratch, however Sheldon realised there was an opportunity to reuse some of the existing elements, and through considered design planning were able to transform the space into a stunning new office, whilst keeping costs and waste as low as possible.
COST EFFECTIVE YET TRANSFORMATIONAL
Sheldon was committed to implementing a material retention strategy, from design phase through to construction. The aim of this approach is to reinvigorate dated elements of the space, by using existing components during a complete transformation that elevates spaces aesthetically
and functionally. From flooring to services, and partitions to furniture, much was kept and re-used from the floor’s previous fitout, whilst transforming a space into a modern, multi-functional office.
There are several cost benefits to incorporating reuse into a speculative fitout project, as seen at 55 Clarence St. With the right design and delivery process, office refurbishment costs can be reduced by over 21% by reusing over 20% of the existing material. With material costs rising approximately 6% since 2022, reuse is an effective way to keep project costs down whilst refurbishing a space.
The result is a rejuvenated workplace that takes advantage of a natural palette (clay, white, and teal), as well as material (timber finishes and biophilia) to establish a beautifully modern aesthetic. Retained furniture and partitions are combined with this refreshed palette to create several functional work points and collaboration spaces, including an adaptable board room/training area with a movable wall.
FURTHER WAYS TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Other initiatives for the project included a robust waste recycling program with an 85% project wide waste recycling target, logistics coordination, prioritisation of modular work points, and greener modes of transport for deliveries. Additionally, by designing for future flexibility, disassembly and re-use, Level 5, 55 Clarence St makes steps towards being a more sustainable and future proof office fitout. There are many opportunities we can take in making our workplaces more sustainable through the circular economy’s ethos of reduce, reuse, recycle.
PLANNING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
As global and Australian regulations tighten, an increasing expectation for businesses to report emissions, and an increased focus on refurbishing existing buildings, fitout choices have become an essential consideration. This is evident with the World Green Building Council’s net zero commitment to reduce overall embodied CO2 emissions from base build and fit out by at least 40% by 2030. Circular thinking is an industry-wide priority, and its benefit is a more sustainable future for the design and construction industries and everyone who uses workplaces.
Project: Peakstone
Size: 871 sqm
Location: Sydney, Australia
Design Studio: Sheldon
Photo Credit: Somewhere Projects
Website: sheldon.com.au
