Broadstone Architects were engaged to exploit the qualities of the original protected structure, upgrade the building amenities and give the tenants a workplace to be proud of in this multi tenant office building. The original Adelaide Hospital Building underwent a refurbishment in the early 2000’s to create the current multi tenant office complex known as Adelaide Chambers.
The original works were poorly executed and there had also been an underinvestment in the building upkeep in recent years. The building had inherent qualities but these were obscured by the gharish colours and materials that had been used in the original refurbishment. The aspiration was to return to the understated elegance befitting the building as well as providing the ancillary facilities expected by tenants in a high quality office building. The drama of the magnificent cantilevered stone staircase wasn’t celebrated upon arrival with the reception desk shoehorned into an ancillary side room.
The new reception desk was relocated to the main hall and visually leads ones eye to the staircase upon arrival into the building and the stepped profile of the desk gives the space an Escher like quality. A more appropriate and understated colour palette, finishes and lighting scheme combined to transform the main space in the building back to its former glory. The chosen material palette was continued up throughout the stairwell and common areas achieving a consistency throughout. Brass detailing and graphite colours are continued into the lower ground floor area to achieve a consistent aesthetic to the works.
At lower ground floor level unused meeting room spaces were reconfigured to create new office suites. The WC areas were completely refurbished including the creation of new wetroom shower areas. A disabled access WC was created where there was none before and a kitchenette complete the new tenant facilities. The building was occupied throughout the contract works and includes an embassy tenant that has members of the public visting on a daily basis. The building had suffered from underinvestment in recent years and the refurbishment works have not only provided a space for the tenants to be proud of but also assisted the client in consolidating the tenant profile and increasing the value of their investment.
Questions and Answers
What were the key challenges?
The building was occupied throughout the works and included an embassy tenant that had members of the public requiring access to the building on a daily basis.
What were the solutions?
Carefully managed workflows with the contractor and working closely with the managing agents who kept the tenants briefed on weekly progress and the upcoming works. Out of hours and out of sequence works were also utilised to minimise tenant disruption throughout.
What was the brief?
Strip out a poorly executed fitout and exploit the qualities of the original protected structure. Reinstate a sense of understated elegance throughout, created a sense or arrival with a new reception space, provide tenant amenities and reconfigure unused meeting spaces to create new office suite areas.
