Client story

Buddle Findlay wanted to embrace the future of work

Buddle Findlay needed to consolidate with a fit-out that promotes new ways of working to drive collaboration and innovation in a flexible space.

Challenge 

With around 3000sqm of dated office space on levels 10, 17, 18 & 19 of the HSBC Tower at 188 Quay Street in the Auckland CBD, New Zealand law firm Buddle Findlay wanted to embrace the future of work in a more consolidated space on the correlating levels of 18 and 19. After a stringent request for proposal process, JLL was engaged to project manage the new fit-out for a modern office that promoted new ways of working to drive collaboration and innovation in premium surroundings. The project’s construction schedule happened right as the pandemic struck, which had the potential to put the project in jeopardy. 

Approach

JLL conducted a comprehensive procurement process to construct the core consultant team of experts, before managing and maintaining a live budget to ensure all members of the team were analysing the costs as the project progressed through to completion. With the lockdowns imposed as a result of the pandemic, JLL held weekly virtual meetings with the whole team not only to reassure the client but also to coordinate skillsets and optimise resources to ensure the project could hit the ground running once restrictions were lifted. Given the difficulties of procuring specialised materials even before the pandemic, JLL guided the client that it was best to order these before the contractors were determined. The circumstances also dictated how many people could be on-site so JLL alongside the Main Contractor worked together to agree on new construction health and safety protocols for the team to abide by, managing sub-trades and when they could be on-site to allow them to work within their own ‘bubbles’. 

Result

Given JLL’s proactive decision making and meticulously prepared team the project was able to be completed on budget and on time while Buddle Findlay continued occupation and full operation of the business throughout the refurbishment, with minor disruption. This required a detailed level of co-ordination including the utilisation of a decant space within the building. Buddle Findlay now has a stunning new fit-out for a modern office that promotes new ways of working to drive collaboration and innovation in a flexible space. JLL believes in sustainable operations that positively impact our people and our planet so all the furniture and materials that could be salvaged from the former office fit-out were donated to All Heart NZ to be repurposed and reused for communities in Tonga. The new fitout is based on sustainability, with features like energy-efficient lighting and eco acoustic panelling all the way through to staff wellbeing with collaboration areas, breakout rooms, and access to end-of-trip facilities.

Office design & build

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