WSP, Sydney
The new Sydney workplace of WSP focuses on sustainability and connection to Country, meeting their company mission to create “healthy places where country, community, and people thrive” (WSP, 2024).
Eighteen months after our initial conversations, WSP’s Principal of Building Services, Dan Cunningham, stands in the company’s reimagined workplace at World Square, a living testament to this ambition brought to life. “It was no easy feat for designers, managers or the builder, but the resulting space is fantastic. A true investment in our staff and client experience” – Dan Cunningham, WSP.
But what does it mean to cultivate "healthy places" and connect with Country in a workplace environment? We will explore the tangible outcomes of this vision in our next three posts.
Connection to Country
At the outset of the project, WSP sought to establish a deep connection with Country. Bringing together First Nations wisdom and modern design principles, the concept of an ‘Enduring Pathway’ was developed to reflect the journey of First Nations people, past and present.
A new interconnecting staircase serves as a storytelling medium for Dharawal artist @Shane_Youngberry, depicting the saltwater and freshwater marine life that sustained his ancestors. Other visual elements reflect the power of fire, the regeneration of the bush, and the return of black cockatoos - a celebration of renewal and resilience.
The workplace became a canvas for First Nation’s philosophy and Sydney’s cultural heritage to intertwine, and the result is a workplace enriched with stories of the land and its people.
Sustainability: Less is more
For WSP, the challenge was to embrace the circular economy by crafting a workplace with the smallest possible environmental footprint. In 2023, KPMG reported that 50 billion tonnes of carbon emissions are released globally each year, with 40% stemming from the built environment. The solution was simple - building less is better.
WSP’s carbon reduction studies demonstrated that the key to meeting their sustainability goals lay in staying put, reusing, and repurposing the existing fitout. By seeking construction methodologies to minimise waste and landfill in their construction methodologies, we are proud to celebrate WSP’s achievement of 213,879kg of upfront carbon saved, 75,999kg of landfill avoided, and cost savings of $1,000,000.
Signage & Graphics
Working with WSP’s strong brand guidelines, our signage and graphics team took inspiration from the distinctive red angle of the logo, creating a suite of graphics that communicate WSP’s identity and complement the workplace design. We also showcased the animal portraits of First Nations artist Shane Youngberry on the Room Plaques, alongside glazing graphics and wayfinding elements.
