Plants pay: The commercial case for greening your space

For many years, commercial planting has been largely approached as decoration. GreenAir sees things differently.

“What we’re trying to create are environments people genuinely want to spend time in,” shares Simon Chamberlain, GreenAir Director. “Nature and light allow people to pause instead of simply moving through a building.” 

That shift is increasingly valuable in commercial spaces today. In today’s market, every investment is carefully considered. Building owners, facility managers and corporate tenants are looking for commercial justification and there’s a growing focus on improvement over total refurbishment. At the same time, employers are continuing to ask the question: how do we create spaces people actually want to be in? 

“When we first walk into many buildings, the atrium or foyer is often just a space people move through,” says Simon. “They’re underutilised areas that have enormous potential.”

By treating planting as part of the architecture, instead of simply as decoration, GreenAir changes the way buildings are experienced. The foliage softens hard surfaces, defines zones and creates spaces that encourage people to pause. 

“It’s about making a building feel cared for. Nature is quite an easy way to do that.”

The ANZ Centre demonstrates just how much impact planting can have when it’s treated as part of a building. 

When GreenAir first arrived at the ANZ Centre, it wasn’t devoid of plants, but the few that were placed at random did nothing to change the feeling of the space. Individual pots sat in corners and the atrium felt cold with tiled surfaces. Occupants moved through the space without stopping, and outside, there was little reason to stay close by. 

To create somewhere people wanted to be, GreenAir developed a layered planting scheme built around volume. Large groupings of foliage were used to soften the space, define quieter breakout zones and create a sense of retreat around existing seating areas. Instead of feeling exposed in the middle of an open foyer, people suddenly had places where they could comfortably meet with colleagues or simply take a moment away from their desks.

Outside, the same thinking shaped a new experience. Twenty-five large planters were positioned throughout the forecourt to create informal destinations, with seating woven throughout to encourage people to stay within the precinct instead of crossing to the green space across the road. 

GreenAir completed this transformation months before the atrium itself was then refurbished, but the way people were using the space had completely changed. “The greenery made a huge difference,” says Simon. “You could see people using the space more. We created private breakout areas where people could disconnect and take a moment to breathe.”

After seeing the value this has created, the building’s managers have continued to have GreenAir add greenery, with the fifth phase of planting throughout the property now underway.

When people remain in a space rather than moving elsewhere, cafes see more customers, informal meetings happen naturally, and shared spaces become genuine workplace amenities instead of circulation zones. Even something as simple as choosing to have lunch downstairs instead of leaving the building contributes to a stronger sense of community within a workplace. 

There’s also growing evidence that interior planting supports how people perform. Research has shown that people working in environments containing plants experience lower stress levels while completing cognitive tasks more efficiently than those in more sterile surroundings. Other studies have linked natural environments with greater workplace satisfaction, improved concentration and higher levels of employee wellbeing.

“People often tell us our spaces feel good. They don’t necessarily realise it’s because of the planting. But when greenery is done well, particularly at scale, it changes how a place feels.”

While permanent commercial planting can mean significant upfront costs, followed by ongoing care and maintenance, GreenAir’s rental model offers an alternative. 

“Many clients don’t have the capital available for large fit-outs,” says Simon. “Our rental model allows them to transform the space now rather than waiting several years.” 

With a set monthly cost, clients receive professionally designed planting, installation, ongoing maintenance and plant replacement where required. It means businesses with two- or three-year leases can create high-quality workplaces without investing in permanent design that may not suit their next office. 

The New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) uses this model to its advantage. Unlike a traditional office or commercial space, the NZICC is constantly evolving. Conferences, exhibitions and international events each place different demands on the building, requiring spaces that can adapt quickly without compromising the visitor experience. 

“The venue is hosting international events all the time,” explains Simon. “We needed solutions that would move with the space.” 

Working on a full rental model means the planting isn’t a fixed installation. Displays can be repositioned and reconfigured when needed, allowing the venue itself to adopt a new identity for each event.

In a market where every capital decision is scrutinised, the value of commercial planting can no longer be measured by appearance alone. The stronger case lies in what it enables: buildings used more effectively, shared spaces that attract people to do more than simply move through them, and workplaces that deliver greater value from their existing footprint. For organisations looking to improve existing assets without undertaking major refurbishment, that’s not an aesthetic investment. It’s a commercial one.

Discover the commercial buildings GreenAir has helped transform and see how strategic planting is changing the way New Zealand’s workplaces are experienced. 

On ArchiPro, these spaces can be explored as completed design projects with the architects, interior designers, builders and brands behind them brought into view.