The Client
- The Client
- The Challenge
- Discover
- Design
- Deliver
- Testimonial
The Client
Headquartered in Sydney, Pacific National is Australia’s largest private rail freight operator, running 24/7, every day of the year.
The Challenge
Pacific National wanted to transition from a multi-floor, traditional office to a connected, agile workspace that would actively drive collaboration, culture and employee engagement. This transformation had to be delivered within a fixed budget and tight timeline constraints.
Key challenges included:
- Siloed operations: A four-floor layout physically disconnected teams, limiting spontaneous collaboration and engagement.
- Poor cultural alignment: The existing office did not reflect the Pacific National approach or its core values, negatively impacting employee engagement.
- Office attendance: The workspace lacked appeal and flexibility, hindering the goal of enticing employees back to the office.
- Budget and time constraints: The office design had to meet operational needs while adhering to a tight budget and a non-negotiable move-in schedule.
Discover
Spaceful developed a strategy focused on using the physical environment to spark enthusiasm, encourage connection and embed core company values.
Key strategic goals included:
- Maximising connectivity: Transitioning the business from four floors to two and removing physical barriers to enable spontaneous interaction.
- Encouraging movement: Creating flexible spaces that cater to diverse work styles and comfort levels.
- Enhancing operational efficiency: Optimising the new footprint for higher utilisation, scalability and faster decision-making.
- Celebrating heritage: Strengthening brand and culture, increasing employee satisfaction and driving office attendance.
- Supporting retention and wellbeing: Creating a flexible and engaging environment designed to improve employee satisfaction.
Design
The design concept, ‘Spark the Pacific National’, was engineered to ignite collaboration, attendance, and belonging. The aesthetic blends Pacific National’s corporate colours with earthy tones inspired by the Australian outback. Materials like steel and timber provide a tactile link to the company’s rail heritage.
Key design features include:
- Heritage storytelling: Rail-inspired artwork, a signature model train feature, and local rail hub naming conventions turn brand identity into a lived daily experience, while colour-coded rooms and intuitive lighting reinforce clear wayfinding.
- Wayfinding and zoning: A continuous ‘trackway’ path, inspired by Pacific National’s rail networks, links collaboration zones and naturally divides the office into distinct neighbourhoods.
- Vertical connection: A central interconnecting staircase actively encourages cross-team engagement and helps to break down silos.
- Agile work settings: The space offers a balanced mix of quiet pods, collaboration benches, phone booths and open-plan areas. Executives are positioned within open-plan areas to promote visibility and engagement.
- 24/7 wellbeing: Breakout areas are placed along the perimeter to maximise natural light and are enhanced by biophilic elements. Dedicated wellness rooms offer a place to relax and rejuvenate.
- Social and event space: A large café-inspired breakout area with spectacular views encourages socialisation and can be utilised for events.
- Technology integration: Unified AV, sound-scaping, smart locker systems and desk/room booking tools offer intuitive usability and flexibility.
Deliver
The Pacific National office fit-out in Sydney was completed on schedule and within budget.
Key delivery highlights include:
- Seamless installation: Delivering an interconnecting staircase involved structural adjustments, meeting code requirements, coordinating multiple contractors, and minimising noise disruptions in occupied areas.
- Systems integration: Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems were fully coordinated to ensure optimal performance.
- Sustainability review: A comprehensive Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) peer review supported the building’s 5 Star Green Star rating and 5.5 Star NABERS rating.
- Waste management: Construction materials were recycled on site as part of an effective waste reduction plan.
- Energy-efficiency: LED lighting with occupancy sensors and high-performance insulation were installed to optimise energy use.
Testimonial -
“Our vision was to create a working environment that inspired our people to connect, collaborate and engage. An environment that encouraged people to come into the office - one that was appealing, easy and enjoyable to work in. Now, as we adapt to our new ways of working, we're thrilled to see more of our people in the office, embracing the new space and reconnecting in person.”
— Melanie Withers Head of Communications at Pacific National
