AMEX Headquarters

Delivering happier workplaces through collaborative teams

Designs of commercial buildings are shifting towards improving employee health, moods and performance, the effect of lighting choice is paramount in achieving this. Light quality becomes critical to the effectiveness of a space, get it right and the result is a healthier and happier workplace. The new American Express (AMEX) headquarters in Australia has been designed with this in mind. The overall aim to provide a functional, professional space that promotes the best for those that work within the space. Located on Shelley Street in Barangaroo, Sydney, this building includes office workspaces, conference rooms, a ground floor retail and underground parking for its staff and visitors.

The brief

Working closely with DSA Consulting, Buildcorp and PM Electrical, we were thrilled with the opportunity to complete a 10 level commercial building for the AMEX headquarters. Buildcorp approached us to redesign the lighting plan to meet new design concepts for the project. Our proposal included lux level calculations and a lighting redesign across every level for the building including the lobbies, offices, meeting rooms, kitchen, amenity and break out rooms.

Project challenges

• Multiple teams working to multiple schedules. Timing for delivery and installation had to be precise as to not interfere with the overall construction schedule.
• Lighting design had to meet relevant lux levels to work with the natural daylight changes throughout the day.
• The biggest challenge was the technical complexity required for the video and audio system in the conferencing room.

Our solution

Our project schedule was broken into three stages to ensure to align with the various project timelines. Working with DSA Consulting, Buildcorp and PM Electrical we coordinated each stage with the teams ensuring communication, planning and approvals were clear and precise. The coordination of the manufacturing and delivery of the lighting had to be carefully executed to ensure there would be no impact to the building schedule. We provided detailed lighting plans and lux level calculations for all areas to ensure to meet building construction codes as well as to provide the correct result for a healthy, happy workplace. The conference room required the most attention due to the complex technical requirements in meeting the guidelines for video conferencing. The lighting had to be exact to ensure that peoples faces were easily viewed when on conference. We provided several calculations and worked with all the teams to ensure not only the designs met the requirements but also to ensure the installation was exact for the ceiling panels that are specifically designed for conference rooms. Dali control systems were incorporated throughout the building, specifically in the conference room where it needed to be carefully coordinated to work from the screen control system.

Design specifications

A selection of downlights, linears and custom feature pendants were used for this multi-level building. All the luminaires were selected in Warm White and in Dali dimmable.

Customised drum pendants positioned five by five in a square were suspended above the entrance of the foyer to create a large impact when walking into the office. Accompanying this feature, surface mounted linears were selected to fit in seamlessly between the ceiling panelling providing brightness to the open floor space.

As you walk further into the building, the Dora track lights were used to provide directional accent lighting in the corridor. Illuminating directly above the reception desk is a customised suspended ring pendant with an opal diffuser.

For the lift areas, we selected long lengths of LED strips to fit in seamlessly between the panelling of the wall. We also used LED strips to pelmet under the handrails on the staircases and ramps achieving security lighting particularly for anyone using the facility during night.

With the flexibility of the Dora, we used the suspended format in some of the huddle areas on certain levels of the building. Equipped with technology, we took into consideration how the luminaires would work in these areas. The luminaires offer an intimate illumination over the collaborative workspace to entice collaboration and task flow.

In the large open space of the main foyer area from Levels 2-9, custom tube pendants housed within an LED strip were used. The pendants used an opal diffuser to distribute the light evenly and effectively with a limited amount of luminaires.

Custom wall pendants with a brass metal finish were distributed evenly alongside the waiting rooms for clients before their meetings. Accompanying this we used the Isabel and Visi downlights across multiple lobby and amenity areas.

In the various meeting and conference rooms, we keep the design cohesive with a suspended linear to illuminate the table workspace include supporting downlights around the room. We selected the Zoe downlights in a wall washer version to achieve a scalloping effect on the walls. Its subtle wall washing creates a simple and uniformed design feature.

Video Conferencing Room

Performing to Australian building standards, we worked collaboratively and took the design initiative to fulfil the precise technical requirements and coordinate all the aspects of the lights to work in conjunction with each other. The design was similar to a TV studio ensuring illuminance and light uniformity could pick up people’s expressions. Two calculations were completed; one with the people facing into the table and another at a 90 degree angle of them facing the screen. We had to adhere to the lux levels on the horizontal and vertical planes to accurately ensure all light sources were factored into the output of the room. Taking into consideration the reflective surface and where the light would fall on a person’s face. The intensity was controlled through the Dali Dimming on the video conferencing screen.

The set out for the ceiling service had to be carefully integrated with the lighting being one part to incorporate into the speciality perforated ceiling tile. The coordination between the design manager at Buildcorp, the interior designers, electricians, AV and air-conditioning contractors was the key to being able to complete these areas successfully. We provided an AutoCAD drawing to the exact millimetre for the cut outs required to install. These had to be precise as they couldn’t be cut out again.

The result

This project required consistent coordination of all teams involved, to ensure to match building schedules and requirements. Over the period we have successfully met all requirements for the project, including the complexity of a conference room lighting solution. The staff working at AMEX in Barangaroo have a functional, professional space that promotes a productive, happy and healthy environment for staff and visitors.