Government Agency refresh in Newcastle
A coastal refresh built on reuse, not replacement
CoDesign + Sheldon was engaged to refresh this Newcastle based Government Agency’s tenancy, working across breakout spaces, collaboration zones and support areas within the existing office. Refurbishment over replacement was the guiding principle: rather than starting from scratch, our team retained and refreshed existing furniture, joinery and architectural features wherever possible, cutting waste while still delivering a meaningful uplift for the staff who use the space daily.
Spaces for every way of working
Collaboration zones and quiet rooms once overlooked by staff now support a wider range of work styles, with added screening, greenery and softer finishes. A booth-style setting gives staff a private spot for focus work or an informal meeting, and phone booths handle calls without disrupting neighbouring desks.
Local design language
Newcastle's relaxed, coastal identity shaped the new palette. Natural textures, soft tones and organic forms replaced dated finishes throughout the tenancy. Kitchen breakout areas were transformed with café-style and booth seating, positioned to make the most of natural light and views, and the tenancy's existing surfboard partitions were reworked from bright primary colours into muted coastal tones, a small change that ties the whole space together.
Reused and refurbished, not rubbished
We identified opportunities to retain and refresh existing furniture and joinery rather than replace it outright, supported by in-house joinery manufacturing and kept modular for future fitouts. It's a workplace built for People, through more considered spaces; for Performance, through smart use of a constrained budget; and for Planet, through genuine reuse.
