⁴WoRK has designed and delivered all of the office accommodation for MOH for many years throughout New Zealand.  With a change in the government’s property strategy, ⁴WoRK was engaged to consolidate the Ministry’s five Wellington buildings into one new home.

MOH took the opportunity to refresh every aspect of their accommodation strategy.  We led them on the journey to create a new workplace approach, and become the first government department to become a 100% activity based working environment.

The process was complex, and included the construction of a short term 10 floor pilot site for 600 staff.  This enabled one of their existing buildings to be doubled in size, and integrated with high level disaster recovery features including base isolators and generator facilities.  Every area of the business was touched, moving from a traditional low tech / high paper environment, to a high tech / low paper / highly collaborative office.

An open central stair was incorporated, connecting the large floorplates at each floor’s social hub.  A café was incorporated within the reception area, servicing both MOH and off-street customers, bringing vibrancy and energy to the office.

The result has been a huge success for staff.  They now select from a diverse range of work settings throughout the working day, tailored to suit the needs of the moment, be it collaboration, focus, socialising or learning.  Productivity has been increased, and staff say they would never want to go back to their old ways of working.