Leading coworking operator WOTSO has opened its latest flex working space in a blaze of colour at Macquarie Park, north-west Sydney.
Macquarie Park is one of Australia’s largest office precincts, home to numerous multinational businesses, and WOTSO wanted to make a splash by creating an inspirational work environment for local and visiting members.
To achieve this, WOTSO turned to Jen Kavanagh, artist and creative director of Colourgyp, to transform the 1000sqm shell into a vibrant workspace though art and colour.
Kavanagh had impressed with her work on WOTSO’s Kogarah space and pitched three concepts for Macquarie Park.
“Concept one was shadow work and block colours, design concept two was line work and landscapes, concept three was playful still life, which is what we ended up deciding on,” Kavanagh says.
“The concept itself was about using everyday objects and how you can get creative and make it something extraordinary.
“Creativity is found in the everyday and I feel that really transfers to the workplace.
“The idea is that it could help members think outside the box in whatever field they’re in. I really wanted to make it familiar for members.”
Flowers and botanical arrangements are recurring themes and the impact is bright, happy and creative.
Regional Manager Tilly Eder says the murals have exceeded expectations and members love the space, which before the fitout was a bare shell with white walls, ceiling and furniture.
That’s no longer the case.
“WOTSO is bright, colourful and creative,” says Eder. “That’s one of our big points of difference – it’s not a stale working environment and we wanted the murals to be really bright and pop colour into the space.
“I had presold much of the space so a lot of the members didn’t see it until they arrived for their first day on July 1st and everybody loves the murals; everybody loves the colour in the space.”
Eder says it’s been tough for sole traders and small businesses to break into Macquarie Park, traditionally the domain of large companies occupying substantial commercial and industrial buildings with big floorplates and long leases.
“Typically, it’s very corporate and if you don’t fit that box there wasn’t really a space for you in Macquarie Park,” she says.
“Now that we’ve brought our brand of coworking to the area I feel that we’re delivering a space where sole traders and small businesses can get into the Macquarie Park/Ryde market.”
She says the arrival of a Sydney Metro station has been a game changer for Macquarie Park, putting surrounding areas such as Epping and the Hills District within easy reach by public transport. “People are really keen that we have the Metro.”
WOTSO Macquarie has 28 offices, 60% of which are already leased, an expansive coworking area, brand new facilities including a stocked communal kitchen, fresh furniture and fittings, three meeting rooms, breakout areas, secure internet, admin services and printing.
Monthly membership costs from $330 including gst for a coworking desk membership while single day passes start at $66 including gst. Offices can be leased by the day or month with no lock-in contracts.
Macquarie Park, located at 22 Giffnock Avenue, is WOTSO’s 40th flexible workspace. A WOTSO member can work without restriction at any WOTSO location throughout Australia.
Queries: email macquariepark@wotso.com or call (02) 8035-2272
