NAB 700 Bourke Street

Woods Bagot
Australia

700 Bourke Street in Melbourne’s Docklands is a globally significant workplace building for National Australia Bank (NAB) with architecture, interior design and workplace consulting by Woods Bagot. At opening, it was Australia’s leading workplace and one of the highest scoring from the Leesman Index global survey for user perspective. NAB set out to radically reimagine the workplace and achieve increased efficiencies and improved performance for the business. Woods Bagot worked collaboratively with NAB to design a building around the aspiration of the organisation, rather than adapting to the constraints of the building.

NAB offers 63,000 square metres of workspace positioned around a central light-filled atrium. The 5,000-square-metre triangular floor plate accommodates 5,900 staff and divides into eight zones that act as ‘Home Zones’ for approximately 50 people. Each of these zones is sub-dividable into social, shared, focused and learning spaces, allowing flexibility for 100 drop-in staff, community members and consultants.

The design language speaks of authenticity and transparency, providing a sense of community and connection and is reflected in the materiality of exposed concrete and timbers. The building has been raised from the ground plane to allow the public to utilise communal functions at concourse level.

Environmental sustainability and accessibility for the local community are key elements of the 6-star Green Star Rating achieved for design. Features include an energy-efficient facade, high-performance solar glazing, ‘small car’ parks and a black water treatment plant. Rooftop plant rooms and a garden terrace offer a green contrast to the urban setting. A continuous atrium from level 2 to level 14 allows natural light to permeate the design.

Furniture: Schamburg + Alvisse (Zenith); Derlot Editions and Tacchini (Stylecraft); Herman Miller and Andreu World (Living Edge); Jardan; Walter Knoll; Vitra (Unifor); Alias, Hay and Fritz Hansen (Cult); Ligne Roset; Moroso (Hub); Tom Dixon (Dedece); Koskela; Unifor; Wilkhan; Howe (Living Edge); Bene. Lighting: Koskela with NDY Lights, Darkon, ECC, Delta, Benjamen Hubert (Great Dane), Diesel (Space Furniture), LPA, Studioilse (Euroluce), Light Projects. Finishes: Sculptform, Armstrong, Envoy, Dulux, Hunter Douglas, Schiavello, Kvadrat Maharam, Tretford (Gibbon Group), Caesarstone, Interface, Signorino, Echopanel (Woven Image), Forbo. Fittings & Fixtures: Rogerseller, D-Line (Keeler Hardware), Caroma, Madinoz.

Photography: Shannon McGrath, Trevor Mein, Glenn Hester