Fisher & Paykel Global Headquarters

Much like Fisher & Paykel’s appliances, the brief was to create a space built to last and engineered for life. The Architects at RTA Studio wanted to design an office for a changing world, supporting Fisher & Paykel’s legacy of innovation.

A strong commitment to sustainability was a key part of the brief, resulting in a net energy-positive, embodied carbon-negative mass timber solution. The development includes the mass timber Home Building, a three-level LVL diagrid and CLT slab superstructure. The Home Building comprises collaborative open-plan offices, meeting spaces and at the heart of the building, the Social Kitchen. The project’s mixed-mode ventilation strategy, integral to its sustainability goals, required careful management of noise from natural ventilation openings while maintaining a comfortable indoor soundscape.

The campus also includes the Shed Building, a two-level research and development facility. A key requirement for the The Shed Building was the design of a certified hemi-anechoic chamber (a specialised acoustic testing room designed to eliminate sound reflections from walls and ceilings while maintaining a reflective floor surface), demanding exceptionally high levels of sound isolation and reverberation control.

Acoustic performance was also a critical consideration throughout the wider campus. The facility encompasses a diverse range of spaces, including offices, meeting rooms, boardrooms, auditorium and four atria, each with unique acoustic requirements. Combined with large open-plan volumes, extensive glazing, and high ceilings, these environments presented significant potential for sound reflection and reverberation. Meeting these challenges required carefully integrated acoustic solutions that supported both occupant comfort and the project’s architectural vision.