
Pacific National Offices – Sydney
Spaceful redesigned Pacific National’s office in Sydney with a focus on fostering collaboration, team wellbeing, and workplace improvement, incorporating elements inspired by freight train transport and the Australian outback.
Headquartered in Sydney, Pacific National is Australia’s largest private rail freight operator, running 24/7, every day of the year. After having occupied four floors previously, Pacific National sought a smaller space to foster collaboration among its team members. By drawing inspiration from their unwavering commitment to safety, well-being, and continuous workplace improvement, Spaceful designed their new office with these principles at its core.
The overarching concept was to “spark” a renewed sense of enthusiasm and connection amongst teams with a more dynamic and productive work environment. This involved creating a workspace that: encouraged collaboration, created a sense of belonging, attracted top talent and celebrated the company’s history.
The front-of-house features a spacious seating area centred around the Pacific National logo, which is framed by an open-grid structure adorned with planters and rich cobalt-blue panelling. Aluminium glass-glazing in the client meeting rooms provide privacy and focus, while exposed ceilings throughout the workspace maximises openness and light.
Inspired by the dynamic nature of freight train transport, the workspace features a continuous walkway that echoes a railway track and envelopes both floors. This walkway creates a pathway that connects various collaboration spaces and encourages team interaction and segments the workplace into distinct neighbourhoods. Feature ceiling lights serve as a wayfinding guide, leading from the reception area to the workstations. This design not only enhances spatial perception but also honours the company’s heritage by integrating elements that reflect its legacy.
Pacific National’s brand colours, along with earthy tones inspired by the Australian outback, are used to identify meeting rooms based on capacity, adding both vibrancy and functionality to the environment.
The café-inspired breakout space boasts spectacular views of the city skyline and is purposefully designed to encourage socialisation beyond desks and offer a relaxing environment for restful breaks.
Because Pacific National operates around the clock, it was crucial to incorporate retreat spaces where employees could step away from their screens and recharge. Various breakout areas were strategically placed throughout the perimeter, enhanced by natural light and biophilic elements, creating a harmonious connection between the workspace and nature. Dedicated wellness rooms offer staff a serene environment for relaxation and rejuvenation.
To accommodate diverse work styles and encourage movement, the workspace features a range of workstations. These include quiet pods for focused work, collaboration benches for team meetings, phone booths for private calls, and open-plan areas for social interaction.
Their transition into a more open space facilitated a greater interaction among their team. Spaceful enhanced this by creating multiple areas for spontaneous and informal connections, featuring high bench tables for quick conversations, a variety of breakout spaces and an open interconnecting staircase between the two levels.
In alignment with Pacific National’s commitment to sustainability across all operations, it was essential to design a workspace that minimised the company’s environmental footprint. Spaceful, in conjunction with the building management team, conducted a comprehensive ESD peer review of the fit-out design to ensure that it aligned with the base building’s impressive 5 Green Star and 5.5 NABERS energy rating.
Design: Spaceful
Senior Interior Designer: Vanessa Stapleton
Photography: Adam McGrath