DNV GL, which is the world’s largest ship and offshore classification society, and also a leading technical advisor in the global oil and gas industry, wanted their new workspace in Singapore to express their heritage, key businesses, values and vision. In meetings with key members and business groups within the company, it became apparent to the Aedas Interiors design team that an inherent part of their client’s social culture was the morning arrival process, which was to be lost in their new office building as staff would be able to go straight from the internal carpark to their respective floors, bypassing reception where they used to socialise in the morning.

To retain this social practice, the arrival and base building lift strategy has been rethought. Along with the insertion of a void and stairs to socially link staff across the four floors of the 9,600 square metre office space, a second set of lift doors has also been added to open directly onto reception. In addition, the lift has been programmed such that all staff and visitors will arrive at the main reception on Level 5, before making their way through the workspace via the stairs in the atrium, thus capturing a sense of community.

The choice of colours, graphics and furniture reinforces the company’s Norwegian heritage. Low partitioned workstations create an open plan workplace, and the decision to have 120-degree workstations instead of benching systems also help define individual work areas while fostering collaboration and teamwork amongst groups.

Meeting rooms, quiet rooms, print rooms, pantries and storage units are positioned at the core of the workspace to maxmise natural daylight streaming into the office. Breakout areas are located on each office floor in close proximity to the atrium, and with a variety of spatial types for dining, coffee breaks, working and informal meetings. More formal meeting rooms are easily accessible to all, with Level 7’s staff area located at the top of the void and connected to an outdoor terrace and garden where employee and client functions can be hosted.

While the upper floors are dedicated to internal staff work areas, the ground floor serves mainly as a place for external training programmes for clients. This area is supported by break out spaces for group coffee breaks and lunches. The training rooms can also be easily converted into one large room to accommodate more people. The graphics on this floor express the company’s four key business groups: Maritime, Oil & Gas, Energy and Business Assurance. Super graphics and a video wall are visible from the outside, acting as a giant billboard.

Sustainability forms part of DNV GL’s core corporate vision. To communicate this, the new facility has been designed to achieve BCA Greenmark Platinum for office interiors through planning efficiency, the use of environmentally friendly materials, the installation of a green wall, and the creation of a central waste management recycling collection area.

Photos © Owen Raggett

Aedas Interiors
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