Robert Bird Workplace

Fender Katsalidis was engaged by global engineering consultancy firm Robert Bird Group to design the workplace fitout at their new headquarters. The design showcases the DNA of the Robert Bird-engineered building and responds to the company’s ethos of connection, collaboration and productivity.

The interior planning delivers a mixture of collaborative spaces centrally placed within the floor plate with personal work areas laid out around the perimeter of the building to maximise natural sunlight. The breakout spaces are designed for flexibility, catering to large forum meetings as well as smaller capacities, encouraging Robert Bird’s culture of togetherness, teamwork and inclusivity.
The design of the workplace delivers transparent, light and bright spaces that celebrate engineering, structure and craftsmanship. The restrained palette of warm textural finishes of soft colours, steel and light timbers reflects Brisbane’s sunny and warm quality.

Exposed base build services and structural beams from the building’s diagrid are layered with softly muted coloured finishes and furnishings. Translucent fabric screens divide the spaces of the internal plan, creating visual transparency and cross-connection across the floor plate. Bold materials like waffled ceilings and terrazzo benchtops are complemented with blue hues, a subtle reference to Robert Bird’s branding.
Aligned with our dedication to sustainability, many furniture items were locally sourced and made in Australia. Tables recovered from former boardrooms were repurposed and refinished with car wrapping film to extend their lifespan.

