Law Council of Australia

Law Council of Australia needed to consolidate its operations and reduce overheads, while creating a modern workplace that supported productivity and offered a welcoming, calm environment for staff and visitors.

Key challenges included:

• Disconnected teams: Staff were split across two buildings, limiting collaboration and engagement, weakening company culture.
• Inefficient space utilisation: Separate locations created operational inefficiencies and increased costs for space that was not needed.
• Flexible work support: The previous offices did not accommodate hybrid work or diverse work styles.
• Culture and identity: The workspace needed to reflect the organisation’s culture, professionalism, and values.
• Attracting talent: The office must become a place that people would enjoy working and in turn, attract and retain the best talent.

Spaceful developed a comprehensive workplace design strategy focused on people and place. Staff engagement surveys, workshops, and observation of workflows informed a strategy to consolidate the workforce, strengthen culture, and optimise operational efficiency.

The strategy ensured the space would support face-to-face collaboration, strengthen in-person connections and empower individuals.

The workplace design draws inspiration from the Canberra region, including the tree-lined streets of Braddon and the foreshores of Lake Burley Griffin. Warm leather and timber detailing in bespoke joinery, paired with bronze metal finishes reflect both place and profession, while rich burgundy, soft green, pink and browns reflect the changing seasons.

Key design features include:

• Work zones: Open-plan workspaces positioned along the perimeter allow ample access to daylight, while quiet rooms and collaborative areas support diverse work styles.
• Movement and flow: Two circulating corridors connect front- and back-of-house facilities, promoting efficient movement and connectivity.
• Collaboration and meetings: Open plan areas encourage movement and interaction, while large conference rooms with operable walls accommodate board meetings or events for over 50 people.
• Biophilic integration: Natural elements are incorporated throughout to enhance comfort and wellbeing.
• Wayfinding: Organic LED strip lights and luminous stretched ceilings enhance wayfinding and natural light perception, while perforated ceilings delineate team neighbourhoods.
• Intuitive layout: The layout was carefully planned to maximise light, optimise workflow and provide easy access to essential amenities.

Key elements of the deliver phase included:

• Sustainability focus: Achieved a 5-Star Green Star rating, recognised as ‘Australian Excellence’ by the Green Building Council of Australia, with targets for indoor environment quality, energy and water efficiency, responsible materials, and robust design and construction management.
• Material initiatives: Low-VOC paints, sustainable joinery using particle bord, recycled acoustic panelling made from milk bottles, and minimised PVC use reduced environmental impact.
• Wellbeing and performance: Delivered a sustainable office fit-out that supports staff comfort and collaboration while meeting rigorous sustainability standards.