Bicycle Network: Our Organisation

Bicycle Network offices win design award

Bicycle Network’s new offices on the corner of Bourke and Swanston streets has won a design award from the Building Designers Association of Victoria.

Designed by Carlton-based interior design firm IN2 Space, our office was named as joint winner of the Interior Design - Non Residential in the BDAV 2012 Building Design Award.

IN2Space described the challenge of creating an inspirational office space for Bicycle Network like this:

“The brief was to create a space which reflected and embraced the organisational culture of the company, with a focus on creating a vibrant and dynamic workplace that has a strong sense of community. The interiors were to ensure that the open plan spaces supported and fostered the company’s core values.

“Situated on the upper level of a multi-storey building in Melbourne’s CBD, and with ceiling heights of 4.5 metres, the concrete floors and large windows make this the ideal back drop for a ‘less is more’ design solution.

“The use of recycled materials, low VOC paints, raw industrial finishes and scaffolding pipework were used to create a contemporary yet functional work space. In contrast, the modular workstations and ceiling hung screens offer flexibility and long term adaptability of the culture.”

All good, but what do the office users think? We ran a quick online questionnaire of Bicycle Network team members and here’s a smattering of what they said:

• “It has a great feel, and it makes everyone open and accessible. As a newbie, it was one of the (many) things that attracted me to the role - I assumed (correctly) that it would have a good vibe.”
• “It shows passion for bike riding and success as an organization.”
• “It’s modern, forward thinking, creative, inspired.”
• “We're a perfect match. We're uncomplicated and modern. The overall cleanliness reflects our good health.”
• “A space that provides an area for innovation and working together.”

 Our new home

In 2011 we made a big move to 4/246 Bourke Street (on the corner of Swanston) in the building with the big Telstra symbol. We had been at 446 Collins Street for 10 years.

Our new office couldn’t be better located. It overlooks Swanston Street: Australia’s busiest bike street. We’ve negotiated a great deal and made the move as cost effectively as possible. It sets us up for the next 10 years.

The Bourke St office has 6 showers and 100 lockers for our team members to get ready after their ride to work. The new bike parking facility can park 3 times as many bikes as our old bike parking garage at Collins St.

Our team members will be able to achieve more and we’ll attract more partners to help us get more people cycling more often.