Known for their high-profile projects such as the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics, ARUP is a global firm of designers, planners and business consultants with a multi-disciplinary approach across buildings, infrastructure and consulting. 

The last two years has seen Arup experience significant growth in the Australasian region and their communication to ISIS was that they needed their new Queensland headquarters to reflect not just their corporate capabilities but also their attitude to work in the wider sense. 

On a practical level, they were looking to house over 350 staff at their Fortitude Valley premises. They also wanted uninterrupted, open-plan workspaces with ample natural light. A Green Star design, with emphasis on excellent acoustics and sustainability, was also part of their communication. 

The transformation took place over a 17-week timeframe and ISIS worked in partnership with architects HBO EMTB to resolve many complex design and program issues. Of particular note was the resolution of the internal timber, stainless steel and glass staircase, which became a showpiece for the customer.

By maintaining a close relationship with the customer throughout and with a clear understanding of their needs, we developed creative solutions and hoarded off sections so that they could move into the building on time and uninterrupted.