Skm Architects

Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies
© Peter Bennetts

Agilent Technologies 

SKM

ARCHITECTS
Skm

INTERIORS
Maria Panetteri

DESIGN DIRECTOR
Clinton Murray

QUANTITY SURVEYOR
Dcw

PROJECT ARCHITECT
Anna Maskiell

MECHANICAL SERVICES
Skm

CONTRACTOR
Wilkore

PROJECT MANAGER
Dcwc

ELECTRICAL SERVICES
Skm

DOCUMENTATION
Peter Blair, Ashley Fraser, Tom

ACOUSTIC
Marshall Day Acoustics

BUILDING SURVEYOR
Plp

DDA CONSULTANT
Architecture & Access

TECHNICAL SUPPORT
David Fletcher

PROJECT DIRECTOR
Andrew Kings

HYDRAULIC SERVICES
Cr Knight & Associates

WORKPLACE STRATEGY + PROJECT DIRECTOR
Philip Ward

STRUCTURAL + CIVIL ENGINEERING
Bonacci Group

PHOTOGRAPHS
Peter Bennetts

AREA
4200 M²

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Mulgrave, Australia

CATEGORY
Research, Institutional Buildings

Agilent Technologies wanted us to design a built environment that would change how their people work: to help them invent, test and refine ideas more consistently and quickly.

Agilent Technologies
© Peter Bennetts
Agilent Technologies
© Peter Bennetts

They also wanted the building to represent spectroscopy – the study of light. Every aspect of the STIC – the spatial qualities, façade design, detailing, furniture specification, lighting and even ventilation design – has been designed to disrupt ‘business as usual’ and provoke innovation.

The building is a series of micro-environments for thinking, testing, knowledge sharing and production; wrapped in a ‘veil’ that offers constantly shifting experiences of light and shadow to employees, collaborators and the public.

Agilent Technologies
© Peter Bennetts
Agilent Technologies
© Peter Bennetts

The design reflects Agilent Technologies’ team sizes, disciplinary mix and organizational culture. The multi-layered, habitable facade creates alcoves for small team and individual work.

The open-plan research space is gently divided into small neighbourhoods by the careful placement of pods which are technologically rich environments for virtual teaming, stand up meetings, small group work or focussed individual production.

Agilent Technologies
© Peter Bennetts
Agilent Technologies
© Peter Bennetts

Directly adjacent and visually connected to the open-plan research spaces are a series of highly flexible laboratory environments. The bespoke adaptable furniture and servicing systems can be transformed as inventions develop; transferred to specialist laboratories for testing; and even come into the workplace where safety allows. The ‘Town Square’ is the social heart of the building and connects it to the broader campus.

Containing a museum stair, cafe, sunken courtyard, Gen-Y space and clustered formal and informal meeting spaces, the Town Square employs a more richly textured material palette and geometry than the research spaces to create a sense of permanence and monumentality.

Within the three-storey volume there are small spaces for individuals and groups to collaborate, relax and meet whilst also offering a rich social space for the entire campus to come together to celebrate past and future successes.

Agilent Technologies
© Peter Bennetts


Agilent Technologies
Ground Floor Plan
Agilent Technologies
First Floor Plan
Agilent Technologies
Second Floor Plan

Skm Architects
T +82 2 5432027
Skm Architects
33 Samseong-ro 122-gil, Samseong 1(il)-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea