Selected Project
McDonald's Head Office
This is a new corporate Head Office for McDonald’s. It accommodates around 120 people who are contolling the restaurant and franchise operation in New Zealand. The site has been occupied by Mcdonald’s for over 20 years, during which time they set up their staff training operation in the old Saint Patricks school building on Wellington Street. A key component of the brief for the new building was to integrate the old and new buildings together. This is the origin of the courtyard linking the two, creating a campus style feel to the building group. There are two layers of carparking concealed below the courtyard level, with parking for 125 cars. The three floors [1000 square metres each] of office accommodation extend from the entry atrium along the motorway on-ramp to the south-east corner. In general, the enclosed rooms are along the centre of the floor, leaving the two window facades free for workstations. A staff café on the ground floor opens to the courtyard, and there are generous time-out areas throughout the building. Colour and texture, both inside and out, is intended to portray a warmth and friendliness, which McDonald’s feels comfortable with, as opposed to a stark minimalism, The use of colour internally is strong, combined with natural timbers and white. Kim Smith, the property manager for McDonald’s describes “the space, light and colour bringing a special feel to the place. I love bringing visitors here, because it just feels good” she says.
- Category
- Commercial & Industrial
- Location
