Orion is one of New Zealand’s largest electricity distribution businesses, delivering electricity to over 235,000 homes and businesses across central Waitaha Canterbury.
Since 1903, Orion has played a vital role in the region's growth. It was important that this rich heritage was reflected in the refresh of Orion's Christchurch headquarters.
Unispace were engaged to provide workplace strategy, design and construction services for the 3,000sqm workplace. The team supported Orion's transition from assigned desks to a flexible neighbourhood workstyle, creating a more efficient use of space while enabling collaboration and supporting hybrid work.
Celebrating the company’s history, the headquarters incorporates elements of Orion's history throughout the space. Heritage electrical cables are on display, while original photographs from the 1900’s have been transformed into largescale lightboxes. These artifacts help tell the story of Orion and its origins, serving as reminders of the craftsmanship and innovation that has powered the region for generations.
The entry experience has been reimagined to create an open and welcoming first impression for Orion's visitors. The staff cafe has been transformed into a vibrant social hub, offering a variety of seating options and a seamless connection to an outdoor patio area, encouraging staff to come together throughout the day.
The entire floorplate was optimised to support meaningful collaboration across teams while ensuring noisy areas were shifted away from focus working zones. Amenities were evenly distributed across the large 3,000sqm workplace to ensure equal accessibility.
Delivered across two stages, the Unispace Christchurch project team delivered Orion's headquarter refurbishment on-time and on-budget.
