With skills shortages occurring across a range of sectors, talent retention has never been more important. Ensuring that employees have a comfortable, aesthetic, high-quality space to work could be the key to attracting and retaining staff.
An increasingly high portion of Australian employees now spend their full working hours indoors, resulting in limited interaction with natural environments. This holds true for many council staff, particularly administrative staff working in government facilities and offices.
Recent evidence has shown that a lack of natural elements in the workplace – such as windows for natural light, plants, nature views, water features and wooden materials – can have a negative impact on worker satisfaction.
Studies have long shown the link between worker satisfaction and productivity, with staff that are unsatisfied with their workplace found to be more likely to take unplanned leave days and generally be less productive. Additionally, unsatisfied employees are much more likely to search for other places of work.
These factors are why many councils are looking to develop new, modern facilities using timber and natural aesthetics to ensure the retention and productivity of valuable staff.
Case study: Galkangu – Bendigo GovHub
One such facility is the Galkangu – Bendigo GovHub, a $90 million construction project that provides a centralised location for the delivery of government services in the Bendigo region.
The hub brings together around 900 City of Greater Bendigo and Victorian Government workers in a central facility in the heart of Bendigo. It is one of three recently constructed regional council offices to co-locate Bendigo City council officers.
The project brought 200 jobs to the local community, a $131 million boost to the local economy and provides a healthy environment for occupants and visitors.
The name of the hub and its front facade – which features the shield of the Dja Dja Wurrung Traditional Owners – are designed to evoke Bendigo’s rich Aboriginal heritage.
In 2021, then Premier Daniel Andrews, accompanied by Rodney Carter, CEO of the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, announced the buildings name; Galkangu, which means ‘we make things happen together and are more connected to Country’.
Timber construction
The facility’s timber elements were delivered in partnership with XLAM, a manufacturer and supplier of sustainable, high quality, prefabricated Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) structures for Australia and New Zealand.
Sean Bull, Technical Sales Engineer NSW for XLAM, said that XLAM supported the project’s outcomes, supplying a total of 2,733m³ of XLAM CLT to the project along with its expertise, technical advice and support.
“As part of this support, we supplied the Galkangu – Bendigo GovHub with Victoria’s largest timber frame, an architectural landmark in the region,” Mr Bull said.
The sustainable mass timber design using XLAM CLT met key project drivers including:
- Environmentally conscious construction, using carbon reducing materials and methods
- Largest timber framed building in Victoria
- Cost reduction from XLAM mass timber design expertise reducing expensive fixings
- Aiming to achieve six-star ratings for Green Design & As-Built Ratings and Nabers Energy Rating
- Exposed timbers with a Fire Resistance Level of 90 minutes
- Design reflecting Dja Dja Wurrung Culture
Celebrated as the largest timber framed building in Victoria, the hub is a landmark project that centralises the delivery of first-class government services to provide greater amenity to the community.
“People have an affinity for timber and natural aesthetics, something that is known as biophilia. Biophilic design is an approach that integrates natural elements into built environments, creating spaces that foster connection between people and nature,” Mr Bull said.
“Research published by Social Ecologist, Stephen Kellert has shown that workplaces that incorporate biophilic design principles experience improved performance, cognitive function and motivation, as well as reduced stress levels in their workers.”
Not only does the building’s timber construction and natural aesthetic contribute to a more comfortable workplace for hundreds of government staff, but the facility also provides a more attractive location for constituents, delivering a better connection between council and community.
Renewable resource
“XLAM’s CLT is manufactured locally from plantation pine grown right here in Australia. Endlessly renewable, the replanted trees also contribute to environmental goals by absorbing carbon from the air and locking it in the wood fibre,” Mr Bull said.
Timber has the lowest embodied carbon rating of all building materials, notably lower than steel and concrete. Timber locks more carbon in its fibre than is produced during its entire production process from forest to build site.
“For every cubic meter of XLAM CLT delivered to a construction site, approximately 492kg of carbon is removed from our atmosphere.”
By working with XLAM, councils can guarantee their facilities will be comfortable and pleasing to the eye, and improve the productivity and retention of their staff, all while contributing to greener building practices.
To learn more, visit xlam.co
