Tonkin Consulting

Tight deadline to ensure their office relocation would be completed over the Christmas period. This meant a substantial effort during the design
and documentation phase and ensuring all building works were completed by specific deadlines for full office operation upon staff return.

Tonkin Consulting design intelligent solutions for the buildings, environmental, land development, maritime and riverine, transport, waste and water sectors. Their clients include commercial and residential developers, construction firms, municipal councils and government departments.

The core idea was to create an environment conducive to ‘Building exceptional outcomes together’. The stereotype of Engineers was cast aside and instead a sense of Home prevails. Home is where the heart is, where our boundaries come down and we belong. The infinity symbol in the Tonkin Trust Mark represents the shared journey to connecting communities. Tonkin’s people are at the heart of that process.

Using domestic references unconventionally, we created a warm, welcoming space with an understated playfulness. We created flexible settings allowing employees to decide where and how they’ll work. The space has Open Plan Office, Quiet Rooms, Banquettes, plan tables and create stations, and Focus pods. The boardroom, with its curved glass partition, leather dado rail, modern pendant, timber lined ceiling and soft decorative voiles wrapping the interior space, creates a sense of the unexpected. In the breakout kitchen there is a hanging garden/lighting system suspended above the island bench.

The collaboration zone, an adaptable space with tiered seating and ottomans, was created for both work and play. The exterior side of this zone was wrapped with Tonkin corporate values on matte and gloss panels. The nature inspired carpet evokes a sense of calm while the soft furnishings are richly textured and comfortable. Lighting and furniture has rounded corners and smooth edges for a soft aesthetic.

The brief was to create a design to promote staff feeling a level of comfort, pride and trust within their workplace while enabling a casual and formal collaboration between staff and building a stronger work culture.

A core principle of this project was to improve innovation, collaboration and creativity across the Tonkin organisation. Drawing inspiration from Tonkin Consulting’s family-oriented culture, we have created spaces to further build close relationships and encourage communication. The floorplan allows for optimum natural light and abundant use of plants ensures we put the health and wellbeing of the occupants at the forefront of our design.