Zürich Insurance HQ

ABOUT Zürich Insurance HQ

• Location
  North Sydney
• Designer / Architect
  FJMT
• Completion
  October 2020

Zurich Tower is the latest addition to North Sydney’s flourishing skyline.  A result of the revitalisation of North Sydney, one of Australia’s fastest growing CBDs, there has been a significant rise in infrastructure spend and an influx of investment in commercial schemes from Singapore, USA, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and China. The Zurich Tower is the most recent result of this expanding metropolis.

Zurich Tower rises 29 storeys high and has 20,000m2 of PCA A graded space. Designed by FJMT, with services by AECOM, structure by Northrop and built by Roberts Pizzarotti, the tower has been described as a “destination of choice for global capital” by Mark Hansen of Cushman and Wakefield.

Maxton Fox was engaged to create bespoke joinery for the reception area and upper lobby of the Zurich Tower. The scope of which included a leather and bronze reception desk, banquette seating, bench seating, lobby lounges and tables with fully integrated power.

The refined palette and high-end finish on this project introduces an ambience of calm, and makes the space leader in design within the global financial workspace market.

The bench seating in the main reception curves gently and a bronze chain drape forms private niches within the open plan lobby. High ceilings and large windows allow light to flood in over the cream, tan and gold finishes, generating a luxurious atmosphere.

The stitching detail on the bench seating was designed by FJMT. Each upholstered top had nine seam lines running through it. To make sure the detail and the fabric were suitable Maxton Fox’s upholstery team created wooden stencils and test swatches for the architect. Creating a 1:1 scale exampled allowed the team and the designers to understand what the drawings would look like insitu.

These banquette seats also had 5 individual back rests – each fixed to a curved panel. The upholstery team created a larger lumbar support backing and then 4 smaller strips running up the length of the backing. Our carpenters then ensured these were fastened to the timber with no stitching visable.

Every part of these seats had a curve to it. Getting the soft leather to sit taught to the curved forms was the most challenging aspect of the joinery piece, which Maxton Fox’s highly skilled upholstery team delivered on. Our carpenters  set the ply into a curve as each bench backing bent in multiple directions, to create an open figure eight and stained it a mocha colour.

The tables in the upper foyer have tapered cylindrical bases. Our carpenters used multiple slices of timber to wrap the bases evenly, giving them a smooth finish. The veneer for the top was then matched and power units (three GPOS) were integrated into them.  The power source ran through the floor, so the Maxton Fox team connected these tables during install.

The mobile concierge desk was a completely customised piece. Our upholstery team covered it in a soft leave containing platted weave pattern, which presented a few challenges during the final stages due to the nature of the material. The brass strip that wrapped around the desk was also laser cut with the company name, all made onsite at our Western Sydney factory.

Onsite our install team worked cohesively with the Roberts Pizzarotti team to ensure a quality install and delivery of the project, providing our signature end-to-end service for this magnificent project.

PROJECT DETAILS

• Space: 20,000 m2
• A Grade building
• 5 Star Green Star
• 5 Star NABERS Energy ratings

MAXTON FOX JOINERY SCOPE:

• Mobile Concierge Desk
• Reception seating
• Banquette seating
• Power integrated tables
• Bench seating