Insights from the forefront of future of work thought leadership

Axis Communications is an integrated technology solution provider that manufactures network cameras for the physical security and video surveillance industries. They offer solutions based on sight, sound and analytics to improve security and optimise business performance for their customers.

Before Axiom…

Axis is in the process of shifting their brand from being a security hardware provider to a company that provides integrated technology solutions. With a 10-year lease in their large space, Axis was ready to transform their workplace to align with their new vision and direction.

The brief was a high-energy workplace that seamlessly connected staff inside and outside the local office with collaboration spaces and best-in-class communications technology. All of this was to happen within an expansive, yet personalised, experiential environment. 

The business had a unique opportunity to create an Experience Centre, a multi-purpose space that showcases leading-edge technology to clients as an experiential journey. The brief was to use design to finely balance seemingly opposing constructs of cutting-edge technology with a welcoming, friendly feel.

After Axiom…

With the journey as the central design concept, we designed the Axis Experience Centre as a sequence of client experiences that visually guided clients. 

The experience begins with the arrival – an energetic welcome, with a dramatic and tech-inspired back-lit foyer. As the explorer proceeds throughout, they find the showcased technology embedded in softened colours, textures, and environmental graphics. The Experience Centre enjoys natural light and the space features a prominent social gathering area, instilling an immediate connection with both people and the outside environment. 

“The Axis team wanted its front-of-house showcase to be experienced as a journey – one that finely balanced the seemingly opposing constructs of cutting edge technology with a welcoming, friendly feel”. – Annelie Xenofontos, Senior Associate Strategy

Based on the concept of The Golden Mile, we deployed a range of integrated design techniques to guide the journey including colour-blocking to highlight different aspects of the narrative, backlighting for visual effect, angled linear lighting for dramatic effect, reflective finishes and textural play for interest and energy, as well as 3d wayfinding.

An equally inspiring journey has been created for staff. The team space features a large break-out space that capitalises on the view (with the hallowed MCG to the left and Port Phillip Bay to the right) and offers ample amenities while featuring varied work points, focus spaces and collaboration spaces. 

“Meanwhile, back-of-house was endowed with diverse yet well-connected work points, multiple collaboration areas as well as access to the view and all amenities”. – Annelie Xenofontos, Senior Associate Strategy

This was a job of balance and connection, bringing function and design together into a seamless journey for both clients and staff. 

At a glance

• Two spaces, distinct, yet connected, technologically enabled, yet welcoming
• Simple Scandi-style design, consistent and complementary to their headquarters in Lund, Sweden
• Longevity and low maintenance in both design and materials
• Used sustainable products and materials to complement their  6-star green building and a 5-star NABERS rating

Ready for Axiom to work their workplace strategy and design magic on your current or new office space? Book a free virtual consultation today to see what we can do for you.

Axiom Workplaces combines your commercial fitout and workplace design goals with our experience and expertise in evidence-based office design to create a thriving workplace for you and your workforce.

“This is an amazing space where everybody can come together in all sorts of different ways. This is how we created real buzz and energy in the organisation through the design and layout.” – Karen, Interior Designer, Axiom Workplaces

Founded in 2006, Cisco Meraki is the industry leader in cloud-managed IT. With more than two million active networks and 5.7 million devices online, the company develops simple yet powerful solutions that help businesses worldwide save time and money.

Before Axiom…

The project focused on Cisco Meraki’s desire to combine US and Australian office cultures into an efficient and productive working environment. The company wanted to build a workplace that effectively blended the best of both worlds. “One of the main challenges was bringing together a San Francisco-based company and a Sydney-based company – asking ourselves: How could we integrate them subtly and intelligently?” explained Karen, an interior designer with Axiom Workplaces.

Cisco Meraki also wanted to create a strong sense of culture and community within the organisation, a goal that was especially important because they were amalgamating two different companies.

Finally, the company needed to address the lack of appropriate meeting rooms and collaboration spaces.

After Axiom…

The team at Axiom did significant research and planning on how to integrate the cultures of the two cities in the colour scheme and design. They studied iconic aspects of both areas, including the shapes and forms of each city and how they could be expressed within a workplace environment.

In the final design, Sydneysiders’ love of fresh air, greenery and sunshine guided the overall palette of natural tones. From the San Francisco side, the team focused on architectural icons, such as the Painted Ladies’ zigzag rooflines and Lombard Street’s famous switchback road. This inspired the angled workstations that reflect the zigzag typologies and create private spaces where people can breakaway and experience a more relaxed work setting.

“The soft colours we found on the Painted Ladies – soft pinks, terracottas and sage greens – integrated beautifully with that Australian aesthetic that we were trying to achieve.” – Karen

A fully functioning commercial kitchen was also designed to hold large breakfasts, lunches and dinners for all staff and visitors. The kitchen opens up to a large breakout area that can facilitate all types of events and conferences.

“We created a workflow that allowed for servery, benches and a coffee area where a barista could come in,” said Donna, another interior designer at Axiom Workplaces.

The kitchen workflow starts with food coming out of the kitchen. People then pick up a plate and walk through the serving areas, reflecting the zigzag configuration. Once done with their meal, everything goes back to the kitchen for cleaning and washing using the commercial equipment. The layout was intended to streamline the process and increase efficiency, especially for large events.

To help build a sense of community within the organisation, Axiom designed workspaces that bring people together, including a coffee bar area and tiered seating purpose-built for the monthly dial-in with San Francisco. Karen described these as “small areas where people can find their individuality among the greater, larger community. We’ve now got an area where everything comes together.”

“Every spot is utilised. There’s somebody in every corner and in every type of furniture. There are people everywhere and they’re really using the space – so that to us is the result that we’re after in the end. That’s the achievement.”

At a glance

• Integrated two cities through colour scheme and design
• Angular workstations to create breakout areas in between
• Fully functioning commercial kitchen and efficient workflow to facilitate large events and meals
• Breakout area that brings people together, enhancing office culture and community

If you’re growing, downsizing or simply need an office refresh, now’s the time to design a workplace that fits your company’s brand and needs. While your staff work remotely, you can refurbish your workspace so it’s ready for their return. Book a free virtual consultation today to see what we can do for you.

Axiom Workplaces combines your commercial fitout and workplace design goals with our experience and expertise in evidence-based office design to create a thriving workplace for you and your workforce.

“A direct impact on productivity, engagement and people’s happiness coming to work”
– Lauren, HR Manager, 1-Stop Connections

A global leader in port logistics solutions, 1-Stop Connections creates innovative products for the global market. From shipping and ports to road and rail, their suite of integrated products and tailor-made solutions aim to maximise operating efficiency throughout the supply chain.

Before Axiom…

Global logistics is fast-paced. 1-Stop are true innovators in the field and has rapidly outgrown their premises, taking on additional team members at an exponential rate. This is not set to slow down. Beginning with a staff of under 20, their team in 2018 comprised over 100 individuals with this figure set to double in the next five years. As such, they needed a space which would highlight their innovative spirit, spotlight their efficiency, facilitate collaboration and provide the scope to grow with the business.

Split across 4 floors, collaboration was waning, and the company looked to secure new premises where the connection between teams could be more readily fostered.

Axiom was invited to present their vision to 1-Stop decision-makers and was almost immediately engaged. Through a series of briefings, we brought together a team of designers, estimators, project managers and construction experts to create a visionary workspace.

With 1-Stop Connections, our team enjoyed the benefit of developing the workspace from a minimal blank canvas. We were presented with the new Redfern premises as a refurbished but older building complete with polished concrete floors, an open ceiling and industrial/warehouse vibe, all of which highlighted the initial acoustic challenges.

When collaboration is key, we need to manipulate space to provide areas which buzz and others where there is a possibility for quiet interaction. Installing the right materials to balance the environment’s sound was a challenge we addressed instantly. Part of the solution was to include a central breakout area, smaller one-on-one meeting rooms, shared spaces and 100 workstations which treated the acoustics uniquely in each area.

After Axiom…

“Already connection is felt across the business”
– Michael Bouari, CEO 1-Stop

From inception through to the ideation and implementation of the project, the Axiom team successfully transitioned 1-Stop from their previous premises into their exceptional new workspace.

Interior design, concept development, construction management, electrical and lighting solutions, furniture & workstations and project management were all within the brief and delivered within a 12-week timeframe to budget.

The creative vision was realised as a sleek, bold, modern and dynamic space. Careful, creative and considered, we approached the project as an opportunity to sculpt a unique space. Elevating the working environment, our design incorporated leading technologies and finishes as well as beautiful natural elements to increase workplace wellness.

Working with a progressive and innovative client, Axiom was able to push boundaries and arrive at meaningful, sometimes playful design decisions to achieve a space in which the team thrive.

“A deliberate process which delivered what we wanted”
– Tony Payn, GM Finance, 1-Stop

The concept rested on weaving the company’s story into every possible aspect of the fitout. Shipping containers were recycled and used as wall finishes. Aerial views of shipping ports were referenced in flooring patterns, and graphic elements throughout the workspace paid homage to the logo.

Bright blue cables were featured throughout the space – overhead, along walls and throughout breakout spaces to encourage the idea of constant movement. A playful take on tracks, shipping lines and journey maps – these features underpin the company’s ethos of progression and dynamism.

Largely open plan, the space caters for team discussion, high-level presentations and more private consultations. A creative core was constructed in the form of a communal kitchen/breakout space and an innovation lab was created which provides the opportunity for the team to share ideas and inspiration.

Ethical, energy-efficient and low carbon footprint options were also addressed as part of the design. Throughout this project, we had sourced many local materials, used existing fittings and applied a stringent vetting process to use suppliers who worked with a considered environmental approach.

We tackled the project with a mandate to re-purpose and re-invigorate as much of their current workspace as possible. By surveying their fixtures and fittings, we were able to bring into the new space a range of furniture that we upcycled and appropriated – thus reducing waste, maximising budget and removing the need to purchase more occasional furniture. Finally, our team ensured that the space provided exemplary abilities to recycle its own waste.

“Pretty much perfect”
– Michael Bouari, CEO 1-Stop

Pumping with enthusiasm, primed for spontaneous collaboration and right at the forefront of innovation – 1-Stop Connections now have a workspace which keeps pace with their energy.

Adaptable, dynamic and providing the flexibility to grow, Axiom has created a workspace which not only fulfils the current needs of the client but nurtures them towards the future as well.

Find out how Axiom can transform your current or new office space. Book a free consultation to see what we can do for you.

“ELMO HQ has realised more connectivity and community engagement than I had ever hoped for.”
Monica Watt, General Manager HR and Admin, ELMO

As one of the fastest-growing HR tech companies in the region, providing innovative cloud HR and payroll technology to more than 1000 organisations across Asia-Pacific, ELMO were quickly outgrowing their space. As well as moving to a more centralised location in the Sydney CBD, ELMO wanted a fit-for-purpose space that would re-energise their employees (or “ELMOnians”, as they’re affectionately called), and help keep the company on its path to growth.

Before Axiom…

Having experienced exponential growth over the past few years, ELMO were fast outgrowing their original headquarters in Bondi Junction. But ELMO didn’t simply want a bigger space – they wanted a space that would truly reflect their personality, culture and values. They wanted a space that would foster connection and collaboration, increase engagement, and also be highly adaptive to each ELMOnian’s preferred way of working.

There was also the added challenge of a relatively short lead time – with ELMO growing so quickly, they only had a timeframe of 12 weeks in which to bring their vision to reality.

Axiom worked closely with ELMO, conducting in-depth workflow and organisational studies to fully understand ELMO’s needs and help them achieve their objectives.

“The Axiom team was great to work with from the commencement,” says Monica Watt, General Manager HR and Admin of ELMO. “They were engaging and responsive to our needs … [and] honest about what they had and had not done. Once they captured our thoughts and concepts … we then worked together to continuously evolve the design. The space is a combination of our ideas and their design magic coming together.”

After Axiom…

One of the most important traits ELMO wanted to cultivate in their new space was connectedness and collaboration. With this in mind, the Axiom team designed a central town hall at the very heart of ELMO’s new home, with tiered seating where employees can gather. This space is connected to a breakout zone on another floor by a staircase, further emphasising the idea of connectedness.

Annelie Xenofontos, Axiom’s Senior Workplace Strategist, explains the team’s approach: “We wanted to connect the Elmonians by creating a vertical village through the two floors. The continuous louvred finish across the two floors achieved that visual connection and was accentuated with the larger cutout in the concrete slab.”

Employee wellbeing was also highly important to ELMO, with the attraction and retention of top talent being a key objective of the new office. To that end, the design included a café and community space where staff can relax and socialise, and a wellness room where they can practise yoga and meditation. As per ELMO’s request, the meeting rooms were also placed at the core of the design, to ensure that employees could be seated close to natural light.

“I love that every day from morning through to afternoon, I see our people enjoying a cuppa, working, talking, and sharing the space. There is a spot for everyone and everything,” says Watt.

To reflect ELMO’s growth and maturation, a new colour scheme was devised, keeping true to the company’s history and evolution while showing the company’s progressiveness and innovation. The use of green and greenery throughout makes the space feel calm and inviting.

Axiom also future-proofed the new HQ, ensuring it is flexible enough to incorporate more employees as the company continues to go from strength to strength.

“The greatest success was hearing the oohs and ahs from our people. I will be honest, I was overwhelmed with various emotions on day one – I sat on the tiered seats and just watched the people enjoying their new space,” says Watt. “I am in awe of what we have created and the opportunity it presents.”

At a glance…

• Increased connectedness and collaboration achieved
• Emphasis on employee wellbeing
• Flexibility to adapt to continuing growth
• Design successfully developed and implemented in just 12 weeks

Ready for Axiom to work some design magic on your current or new office space? Book a free consultation to see what we can do for you.

“We should pay homage to our tradies.” 
Jodette Cleary, Chief People Officer, hipages

As Australia’s number one site for hiring tradies, hipages wanted to redesign their Sydney-based headquarters to make it feel like a second home to their staff. A typical corporate space, the office needed a homely readjustment to bring the aspects of home and work together and optimise employees to their fullest.

Before Axiom…

The original hipages office space was a traditional corporate space that lacked natural light and distinctly felt like a place away from home. With the goal of creating a sense of home, the hipages headquarters provided the perfect canvas for the Axiom Workplaces team to employ creativity and think beyond the usual design for corporate spaces.

Axiom’s Managing Director, Shane Hales, describes the undertaking as “applying creative thinking to not only align with our client’s commercial objectives but to create that unique environment of an unconventional workplace design.”

First impressions are important and, in keeping with this philosophy, Axiom wanted to create a memorable experience for hipages staff, clients and visitors when entering the main floor.

Axiom’s Senior Workplace Strategist explains the team’s approach: “We had to ‘de-corporatise’ the space to get that homely feel. The most important thing was in the selection of the details – things that you would see at home. All the little details came together to make up the full picture.”

“You don’t often see this attention to detail in corporate projects, and it’s usually a removed decision-making process. But not with this project.”

The structure of the building had potential, already standing head and shoulders above most corporate spaces in Sydney. It housed a balcony, with ability for a second one. But the existing balcony was a sorry sight, in desperate need of a makeover. This was a challenge relished by Axiom’s design team.

After Axiom…

The team drew design inspiration from the exterior of a typical house – with brick cladding – but combined it with state-of-the-art technology. The lobby was stripped-back to project the hipages logo onto the floor, to signal innovation but also authenticity. The colours echo those in the hipages corporate palette. The entrance is a typical domestic front door, beginning the immersive experience and reinforcing the feeling of having arrived at home.

“Even the door framing was chosen for domesticity, rather than the typical aluminium framing, And the choice of carpet was soft and luxurious, the kind of carpet that makes you want to throw off your shoes and sink your toes into it.”

The real heart of the project and hipages home was the kitchen and adjacent ‘family’ rumpus room, together making it the team’s ‘town hall’. The area has multiple access points to avoid congestion, and an extended island bench ensures there is sufficient space for catering during hipages’ famous team functions.

Both of these casual time-out spaces are positioned away from general work areas to provide staff with the permission to truly relax, while not being concerned their actions and conversations may be distracting co-workers.

Axiom was inspired to create a piece of wall art with the hipages team as artists, something that is visually interesting but does not dominate the space. This artwork is also a sneaky method for concealing a base building services door, while having some abstract fun.

On hiding other unsightly and high-rise sights, “We hung curtains over the building services cupboard so instead of being greeted at reception with the firedoor and hydraulics, it’s all covered up with a floral curtain. That also helped to soften everything.”

To bring in natural light, Axiom took advantage of the balcony, terrace and deck area to provide a softer visual impact. It was decided to cover the side walls in murals that reflected the workstation screen colours, effectively melding the outside and inside to make it feel like one seamless space, and to extend the office outwards and provide an opportunity for staff to work in the fresh air – weather permitting.

Centralised recycling stations were installed alongside the hydration stations and printing facilities. Existing furniture and partitioning was all re-used where it was feasible to meet the requirements. Bringing fresh, green plants into the space is yet another homely touch that invigorates and provides health benefits for everyone.

When asked for the most satisfying element of the hipages project, the Axiom team says, “Reflecting the client’s personality. You walk in and it really feels like hipages home.”

At a glance…

• • Designed to visually reflect brand
  • Homely integration to a corporate space
  • Green elements to emphasise natural element
  • Sustainable practice

Finding potential in the impossible.

“Given the limited supply of space in the CBD of Sydney, tenants can’t afford to wait to secure their ideal office spaces so they are starting to create their own instead. Axiom is an example of those who have taken on the fitout themselves to create a workspace to their own standards.”

– Dean Bracken, Colliers International

As one of central Sydney’s older hi-rise buildings, but without any heritage appeal, 6 O’Connell Street was considered a B-grade space, offering tenants very little in terms of design and modernity. Yet, with unfettered views of Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge, the building’s location is one of the best in the world, which simply cannot be ignored.

Before Axiom…

The uninspiring interiors of 6 O’Connell Street did not deter Axiom. As a progressive workplace transformation company, the team saw this building as a blank slate that opened up a plethora of possibilities for creating a work environment in Axiom’s own vision – to walk the talk, as the saying goes.

Axiom was eager to use this move to showcase the company’s approach to workplace design. The fitout would act as a functional example of the more futuristic elements of office transformation that are now implementable and available internationally, as well as demonstrating to clients what can be realistically achieved, even within restrictions.

As Shane Hales, Managing Director of Axiom, admits, “Similar to our clients, moving office was a huge undertaking for us and we wanted to seize every opportunity that a move like this presented. This meant not only walking in the shoes of our clients and solving their problems via our own experiences but also putting into practice the kind of workplace transformation that we can proudly say is ours.”

After Axiom…

The three tenets of brand, wellness/wellbeing and the attraction/retention of staff are fundamental to today’s workplaces. Accordingly, the implementation of design features that honour these motivating tenets underpin every aspect of Axiom’s fitout at the new O’Connell Street headquarters.

The new Axiom brand was launched simultaneously as the new office, revealing a compass motif that visually and directionally reflects Axiom’s positioning as ‘change navigators’. Consequently, the updated office fitout physically emulates a compass in its structure and in the way that ‘people traffic’ flows around the floor. Circles feature prominently in the design – even the incorporation of a gong – with a Hub and Virtual Reality Display as the anchor in the centre of this compass.

Other design embellishments include exposed ceilings, concrete treated flooring and terracotta plant boxes that frame entrances and windows and sit overhead, as a way of introducing a soothing aspect of green into the work environment without causing any obstruction.

The Hub is an enclosed workspace that offers seclusion and integrated technology solutions for collaboration but sits at the very centre of the Axiom ‘compass’. A touch screen desk allows for the placing of multiple ideas and can also send images to the screen on the wall for discussion. Glass set into the walls turns opaque at the flick of a switch to give occupants privacy from prying eyes and security to pursue brainstorming and idea-generation.

“We designed the Hub so it has two separate entries,” explains Shane Hales. “Occupants sit around a semi-circular table in bench-style seating, which we feel facilitates interaction. It is a very dynamic space. It’s really the perfect hub for closed-door collaboration sessions where everyone can feel comfortable in developing and discussing concepts, and really letting the creativity flow.”

Axiom uses the Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Display as a planning tool so clients can see into spaces that have yet to be created before costly choices are made.

“Elements such as seating, furniture coverings, wall treatments, lighting and furniture arrangements can all be brought into sharp focus, as if they’ve already been completed,” continues Shane Hales. “This is especially useful for clients who have trouble visualising what we are explaining to them. It’s useful for both us and for them because it enables us all to be on the same page before moving ahead with anything.”

Far from being reserved exclusively for internal staff, the Axiom team is forthcoming in inviting clients and interested parties into their new space to experience the future of workspace design.

As Shane Hales concludes, “We’re very happy with what we’ve managed to achieve. And we cannot encourage others to follow our lead unless they experience it for themselves. So pay us a visit.”

At a glance…

• Fit-for-purpose creative fitout of a B-grade space
• Designed to visually reflect company brand
• Technologically appointed central Hub for closed-door collaboration
• VR/AR Display to enable tactile experiences for clients
• Comfort and green elements at the fore