Commercial Building Renovation | 28 Neil Street
Our client engaged VHD Studio to undertake a renovation of the historic building located on Neil Street, Toowoomba CBD. The building is a single storey Class 5 Commercial Building with external masonry walls, a single ridged concealed roof with internal gutters and ‘pop-up’ high level Celestry windows.
The tenant – a large accounting firm – required a modern, open office fitout, with managed acoustics for privacy, a foyer, and an adjustable meeting room to encourage client engagement and provide flexible arrangements.
The existing structure had numerous challenges; leaking roof drainage requiring redirection, existing walls that needed support, and roofing that had to be replaced. The floor level didn’t connect well with the existing street level and some internal slabs needed replacing. The existing boundary locations caused issues with external glazing due to the exposure to fire source features – amalgamation was required to alleviate this. Fire hydrant coverage was also required which needed to be carefully complied with from street hydrants.
The renovation includes a large open welcoming foyer and reception with clean lines, timber veneer, stone counter and sheer curtains. The foyer transitions to the meeting space with numerous operable glazed walls to allow different scaled meeting spaces including the largest of which for lecture theatre style presentations. The main office area has numerous print & coffee areas, desks with acoustic partitions, wall & ceiling finishes. Private offices with glazed walls run along the external edges to allow light to penetrate through into the central areas. The lunchroom is at the rear, breaking out onto the external covered deck.
The existing external brick facade was embraced to give the building a sense of connection with its historic context. A long sweeping facade is articulated with commercial glazed elements framed with structural steel, a covered outdoor area at the rear and the awning to the street. The original paint was removed to the extent available leaving a very cool textured finish. The industrial styled external masonry contrasts with the modern glass and steel elements.
Existing internal high-level windows have been retained with a high ceiling and new windows – creating vibrance to the large internal zone with changes of scale throughout. Existing roof framing was retained with a new suspended ceiling below allowing for the concealment of mechanical services and rainwater manifolds. Traditional CBD awning facade addresses the street with modern internal 3D signage.
If you’re considering renovating an existing building for a commercial office or health facility fitout, then reach out. VHD Studio handle all phases of the building & interior design process from Schematic Design through to Construction Documentation.
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