In 2020 Kimberly Clark, a multinational manufacturer and supplier of paper-based consumer products and medical instruments, moved into a refurbished 2200m² office space in Arthur St, North Sydney.

Having relocated from nearby Milsons Point, the company saw the move as an opportunity to create a modern, contemporary space; introduce a more open, fun, positive and collaborative environment; and transform the company’s workplace culture.

Kimberley Clark chose Gensler to oversee the refurbishment. Working to the brief, the designers delivered a striking open plan office, in which collaboration areas and meeting rooms are defined by colour rather than physical walls, seating options are mixed and flexible, and the presence of an integrated AV system and writable surfaces facilitate organic interaction and co-creation.

Beyond Chroma from Milliken-Ontera

From the outset, the designers understood that their flooring choice would play an important role in their plans. They knew they required carpeting that would not only complement the office’s contemporary, fun furnishings, but also assist in wayfinding and help delineate between collaboration and breakout spaces, meeting rooms, workstations zones, and so forth.

Having worked with Milliken-Ontera products previously, the designers were well aware of their extensive range of high-quality modular carpeting. They recommended the Beyond Chroma collection because of its wide range of colour options and because of the multi-dimensional pattern and texture of the range.

A collection that derives much of its energy and appeal from the emotional impact of colour, it covers 1200m² of the floorspace in the office. Seven warm and cool colourways were chosen, namely Coral, Auburn, Cool, Herbal, Charcoal, Brighton Beach, and Sea Blue.

As the accompanying images attest, Beyond Chroma was an inspired choice. It fits the Kimberley Clark office perfectly. Matched to various zones and paired expertly with the office furnishings, the seven colours are vibrant enough to evoke just the right emotional responses from those who encounter them. As per the client brief, they effectively set the scene for future collaborations and business successes.

But it doesn’t end there. Featuring a WellBAC™ cushion-backed construction, sustainably engineered for under-foot comfort, performance and ease of installation, the carpet tiles help improve acoustic performance by 50%. And, with their open-cell technology, they are well equipped to manage moisture migration, enduring all levels of RH and pH by eliminating any potential compatibility issues.

Customer relations and sustainability

The refurbishment of the new Kimberly Clark office was not without its challenges. Given that there are always several stakeholders involved in a project of this type, there is also always a range of opinions concerning design choice. For example, while the original plan was to specify nine colourways from the Beyond Chroma range, eventually just seven were used that would complement one another.

Milliken-Ontera, with its years of dedication to customer relations and practical material assistance, was able to help solve this impasse. Provided with visualisations and 2D floorplans, the stakeholders were presented with as realistic a representation of the various carpeting choices as possible. Subsequently, soon enough, they were able to agree on the right choice for the project.

For Cathy Jameson and Natalija Kokotovi, the leading designers on this project, this is just one example of Milliken-Ontera’s attention to detail and commitment to customer relations. They were happy to list off other factors, like fast responses to design requests and the sheer size of the Milliken-Ontera range as reasons to be confident with them as a supplier.

And the final attraction of working with Milliken-Ontera, according to Gensler, is the fact that they tick all the boxes when it comes to sustainability. For example, the company’s manufacturing facility in Sydney meets ISO-14001 and ISO-9001– the highest global standards for environmental responsibility.

To the casual observer, prior to the refurbishment, it may have been difficult to believe the space in Arthur St was in much need of any improvement at all. Situated as it is, in an A-grade building with harbour views and benefitting from recent upgrades of its own, it sounded about as good as office space gets.

Yet somehow, with the right amount of dedication and the assistance of quality modular carpeting from the Beyond Chroma range, Gensler has managed to create something quite special. They have delivered a space that sets Kimberly Clark up for many years of continued success.