| 75 DESIGN Qb Studios Breathing new life into city The overall complex will blend the character of a century old building with a modern cutting-edge design. T T Karen Phelps Flexible office space is the way of the future and Qb Studios is meeting demand with a new project at High Street in Christchurch. “Work styles have changed and it’s still not clear what shape the workspace will have in five years time. Employers need flexibility and agility to adapt,” says one of Qb Studio’s founders Alex Brennan. The project at 235 High Street incorporates a formerly derelict building which was named as one of the ‘dirty 30’ that council identified had been left untouched since the earthquakes. Qb Studios has breathed new life into the building, renovating it and opening it for business in late 2023. It is now fully occupied with Akin Café operating from the ground floor. Stage two of the project will be a new build adjacent so the overall complex will blend the character of a century old building with a modern cutting-edge design. Construction of phase two has been underway since late 2023 and is due for completion late 2024/early 2025 when both building phases will form one larger complex which will ultimately be the biggest purpose-built flex-office complex in the South Island. In-between the two building will be a five-story atrium creating a unique design for Christchurch to connect the new building with the older heritage building. Alex says the overall atmosphere of 235 High Street will be like a boutique hotel where businesses have their own private office areas, suitable for single workers to teams of up to 30, but can spill out into expansive shared areas as well. For example Akin café opens out into a member’s lounge with casual breakout spaces, a member’s bar and areas for quiet work and meetings. “We offer the office spaces as a service, almost like clubs where businesses pay a membership fee and we curate and manage the spaces for them.” Alex says the project, located in the centre of Christchurch’s retail and fashion precinct, will help to further breath new life into the city. Fittingly 2024 is also the 10-year anniversary of Qb Studios owned by friends Alex Mike Fisher and Tom Harding. Qb Studios has consistently grown year on year, expanding and opening new locations in Christchurch and Auckland. “We design all of our spaces ourselves,” says Alex. “We offer the office spaces as a service, almost like clubs where businesses pay a membership fee and we curate and manage the spaces for them. To reach ten years is a real milestone as it means that the market and clients have decided what we do is of real value.” Alex says some reasons for the rise in flexible office spaces include accelerated pace of change for businesses and the popularity of the hybrid work model post-Covid. “If you have a hybrid team - sometimes at home, sometimes in the office - your workspace can feel dead. Being in an environment with many other businesses means that the office always feels vibrant for those that have come in. New is technology is opening and closing windows of opportunity for businesses and this means that they need to be more agile than ever. Signing long leases based on a stable future is just not possible.” He says it’s been an employee’s market over the last number of years, so businesses that want to attract good staff can’t afford to be complacent with their office. “Many employees will prefer to have an office environment that feels like a club or hotel, with good hospitality and a sense of community rather than being a quiet private office.” Qb Studios is looking at opening other locations around the Auckland city fringe as well as growing into the regions. architecture studio architecture | interior design 181 Victoria Street PO Box 681 Christchurch 8140 03 377 9893 info@astudio.co.nz www.astudio.co.nz Proud to the chosen supplier for office furniture to QB studios. 03 595 1356 | www.cgofficefurniture.co.nz
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