The new Burgtec showroom in Civic features the latest designs in office furniture. Photo: Burgtec.
Forget the pre-COVID-19 days of shared hot-desks, with flexible working and work-from-home arrangements now the norm, it’s state-of-the-art mindspaces, silent rooms, hexpods and suspended sling chairs that will entice employees back into Canberra offices.
Specialist office space business Burgtec is changing the way offices look, feel and operate with an exciting range of Australian-designed and manufactured workspace furniture now on display at a new showroom in Civic.
Burgtec director Joel Kennard says Canberra employers are embracing the latest office design trends that are a direct result of staff working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He says large corporations and government departments are looking to provide flexible working conditions as well as create workspaces that are more homely and enhance staff wellness.
“As staff return to work, designers are reflecting the needs of employers to make their workplaces attractive,” says Joel.
“We’re starting to see some really novel ideas coming into workplace furniture, such as the Silen Mindspace booth, which is a moveable soundproof pod with a massage chair where employees can take time out and relax during their workday, and unique pieces such as the South African-designed hanging sling chair.
“A lot of these concepts have really taken off in European and Scandinavian countries, as well as the US.
“It’s furniture that inspires people to bring their best self to work every day.”
Joel says the future of office furniture is changing direction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s about companies showing they’re committed to employee wellness,” he says.
The pandemic and associated impact on the furniture and building supply chain means Canberrans are also looking to source Australian-made products, with Burgtec boasting a four-to-six week lead time.
“We custom design and manufacture our furniture here in Australia at our factory on the NSW Central Coast so we can offer the benefits of quick lead times, value-driven solutions and, most importantly, client confidence,” explains Joel.
Burgtec has been fitting out ACT offices for the past five years, and recently teamed up with established Canberra industry veteran Valia Palmer from Ino Interiors.
“Valia will be the face of our business in Canberra,” says Joel.
“Valia has been a major player in the Canberra market for 30 years and she will be available to help businesses design a workspace that will take them into the future.”
Social distancing has inspired the introduction of a range of movable desks and acoustic meeting rooms with air filtration systems, as well as a host of wrap-around workstation screens that make open-plan offices more COVID-19 safe.
These new products will be launched during the coming months.
The substantial showroom in Civic displays state-of-the-art settings for fresh new workplace designs, from soft seating and upholstered booths to modular storage solutions.
Joel says office managers and business owners based in Civic can walk into the showroom, experience the quality of the products and how they can be customised.
“They can touch and feel the products and can talk to our consultants about their custom needs, whether it’s a retro-fit or brand new office space,” he says.
Valia Palmer has teamed up with Burgtec to create workplace designs. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
“We work with clients to design workplace solutions that are truly fit-for-purpose, coordinating each and every piece of the puzzle ourselves from concept to installation, which means we’re accountable.”
Recent Burgtec end-to-end fit-outs have included a number of government office buildings such as the Department of Health Sirius project in Woden, a sophisticated, multifunctional space by Cox Architects, AMA Projects Australia, and Burgtec that promotes social and casual interactions between staff and clients.
Burgtec also fitted out the Lockheed Martin Australian and New Zealand headquarters that was designed by AMC Architecture.
Lockheed Martin is a complex corporation, providing military services to government bodies all over the world, and given the sensitive nature of the work, the office furniture and facilities for the 3500-square-metre fit-out needed to accommodate high levels of security, data integrity and a global workforce.
Working with the client, Burgtec designed a solution comprising executive and open-office workstations, as well as operative, boardroom, conference room and breakout seating, plus outdoor furniture, custom storage and soft furnishings for the Canberra facility.
For more information, visit Burgtec.
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