FNZ Wellington

FNZ Wellington

FNZ are an organisation that is focused on helping people achieve their financial goals. They partner with major financial institutions to enable them to provide multi-channel wealth management services to their clients across direct, intermediated and workplace channels.

In September this year, FNZ relocated from a very outdated fitout and premises to 29A Brandon Street in Wellington’s Lambton quarter. This fast-growing company was running out of space, and 29A Brandon St offered up 2900sqm over 3 levels with room for flex and growth

The project was put out for tender in July 2018 by FNZ and Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects (HMOA). The respondents were visited and had their offerings put to the test. Europlan carefully considered the immediate need to provide 250 staff a fresh new work space while allowing for future growth throughout the 3 floors.

We were awarded the project in August 2018. Our Wellington team successfully demonstrated our understanding of the project and our ability to create a corporate office work space that delivers now and into the future.

Working with Max Herriott, Oliver Markham and Karin Thurston from award-winning architectural firm, HMOA, FNZ have delivered a fresh and premium new home for their 250 staff. An open environment with no privacy screens and generous clusters of soft seating to encourage collaboration. The 2900sqm space blends art, function and soft edges.

The new internal stairwell is an unquestionable success, stunning natural light flows through the core of the building, spilling brightness and warmth onto each floor. Functionally it visually and physically connects FNZ as one organisation and paves the way for improved communication and legibility.

The spacious terraces at the North and South ends of Level 3 provide access to fresh air, more natural light and healthy doses of vitamin D.

Each floor features artwork by three Wellington graffiti artists, a clever and successful juxtaposition to the carefully retained character features. Notably the stained-glass windows that date back to the early 1900’s.

Project Management

Our project management approach is highly collaborative, and we
communicated effectively with the HMOA, FNZ and the main contractor
project team to ensure we delivered on key milestones and the brief.
HMOA and FNZ worked with a keen sense of organisation and were decisive and focused in their approach.

This allowed for smooth execution of each stage and let us effectively manage our supply chain to meet delivery milestones and key dates with ease. The completion date of the building refurbishment was a moving target and we countered this by storing the furniture for FNZ locally for 2 months prior to go live. This meant we were ready to deliver on all stages of the fit out once we got access to the building and each floor.

Delivery took place while the main contractor was still onsite. This involved focused attention to health and safety and limited access meant each piece of furniture was literally ‘hand delivered’.

The time frame from first delivery to project sign off was four weeks, with an overall timeframe of five months from order placement to completion.

Project Completion

Early engagement put us in the best position to provide solutions to FNZ that were flexible, functional and future proof. We delivered a portfolio of product that was fit for purpose and easily reconfigured should the needs of the space change. The space is fresh and intelligible, moving between floors and around the floor plate is easy.

We have helped FNZ create an environment that drives engagement, both internally and externally and provides facilities that cater to a broad range of interests and needs.

The fit out achieves great balance across each floor plate. Ample flexible meeting space, plentiful soft seating and breakout areas, accessible refreshment zones and sufficient storage.
Utility areas are tastefully located on each floor and the expansive windows at the North and South ends of the building ensure nobody is left sitting in the dark.

Within a couple of weeks post occupancy, it was noticed that staff are eating lunch together more often than they used to. The kitchen and cafe zones encourage staff to take time away from their desk to socialise with their colleagues.

HMOA Q & A

Designer Karin Thurston from HMOA shares insights on the 3 year refurbishment and seismic strengthening programme at Wellington’s Harbour City Centre and talks about delivering the FNZ project.

Level 1 Art

Gina Kiel

Level 2 Art

Dside

Level 3 Art

Sean Duffell

Jo Sawyer from FNZ and Max Herriott, Oliver Markham and Karin Thurston from HMOA were an excellent team and made this project an absolute pleasure to work on.