As a multinational consulting firm, Accenture offers management consulting, technology and outsourcing services. The majority of staff work at client sites and require a home base for meetings, workshops and hosting clients. A front of house facility provides a variety of flexible spaces for meetings and collaboration/workshop sessions, incorporating a high level of ICT capability. It also includes a work area with 12 hot desks, a build room, kitchen and breakout space. Despite being a multinational company with a corporate positioning, Accenture has a start-up culture. The new office needed to respond to this and align with their brand identity; a clean, light, airy, professional space that inspires innovation.

Accenture selected an L-shaped space in Central on Midland Park comprising of 140m2 in the historic 40 Johnston St. building with a narrow link leading to 200m2 in the Podium of the Vodafone on the Quay building. As each space differs distinctly in terms of quality and character, the design seeks to highlight and unify them while addressing issues.

Upon entry, the facility opens into a front of house and collaboration space within the Johnston St. heritage building. Hanging decorative acoustic panels can divide or open the flexible space as required for collaboration/workshops. Full-height magnetic whiteboard walls and sophisticated AV equipment can support teams both on and offsite. Also within the historic area, a glazed partition separates the meeting rooms from the open space. Operable walls between meeting rooms along with flexible furniture allow for a variety of settings, while upholstered wall panels provide additional acoustic pick-up. Originating as essentially an empty concrete box, the Johnston St. heritage space proved challenging in terms of accommodating full mechanical, plumbing and acoustic services without compromising the historic features. The glazed partitions forming the meeting rooms are set back from the column line, preserving the character of the column heads and beams and leaving them free from interference. Mechanical plant and services are delicately concealed behind floating acoustic panels.

Transitioning into the newer portion of the office, the Podium, a general work space holds a total of 12 hot desks, a utility area, locker bay, build room, small office, kitchen and breakout space. A large B&W photographic mural features an aerial perspective of Wellington, while a selection of artworks and framed photographs taken by Accenture staff ensure a local feel. Cohesion between the buildings is further accentuated through a balance of colour and texture.