8 Willis Street, the new workplace of Stats NZ and the Ministry for the Environment (MfE), has been awarded 6 Green Stars for Interiors by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC), placing the fit-out in the ‘world leadership’ category.

Leading the project’s interior design, wayfinding, and cultural engagement, Jasmax worked closely with Stats NZ, MfE and Mana Whenua representatives to develop integrated design concepts that reflect the culture and values of both organisations, and to create a workplace identity with meaning.

Through a number of hui drawing on Te Aranga Māori Design Principles, the client teams identified manaakitanga (hospitality), kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and whanaungatanga (connection between people) as shared values. These principles underpin all aspects of the design and, as a result, have been key to achieving 6 Green Stars.

Supporting the health and wellbeing of employees is an important criterion in the Green Star assessment and the building’s central atrium has been key to supporting social and collegial connections. The atrium helps visual connection across levels and draws daylight through all 11 levels of the interior. The light-filled space has been key to reinforcing connectivity between cohorts working on different levels.

Jasmax Principal and Interior Design Lead Anna Hill says: “This exciting achievement underscores Jasmax’s efforts to deliver sustainable workplace solutions of the highest quality for clients, ensuring our projects have longevity and the wellbeing of employees is baked in.”

The inclusion of low VOC and environmentally certified products and furniture, as well as energy-efficient lighting, also contributed towards the 6 Green Star achievement.

The highly flexible new workplace for Stats NZ and MfE gives staff the choice of how and where to work, embedding cultural narratives and fostering interconnectivity. The space supports public servants in carrying out their respective commitments to protecting and processing critical data and managing the health of the environment in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Read more about the project here.