Atria
Atria are the social heart of many of our buildings. fjcstudio designs atria that bring daylight deep into large floorplates, connect people across levels and create places for gathering, interaction and informal exchange.
Across workplace, research and civic buildings, our atria are edged with stairs, bridges, breakout areas and glazed lifts that turn circulation into a collaborative environment.
Darling Quarter, Sydney
Workplace floors centre on day-lit atria edged with stairs, bridges, breakout areas and glazed lifts, creating a collaborative campus environment.
Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney
A large central atrium is the social heart of the building, its sculpted ribbons linking balustrades, stairs and screen wall from floor to floor.
Ben Chifley Building, Canberra
A central atrium connects the levels of the building, anchored at its base by a large staff cafe and seating area.
The Foundry, South Eveleigh
Structural steel to the atria roof and bridges evokes the red tones of industrial red oxide primer.
Axle, South Eveleigh
Curved concrete bridges cross the atria, linking north and south, with social hubs, meeting rooms and oversized stairs along their edges.
Our Approach
Daylight Deep into the Plan
Atria bring daylight to every part of a large floorplate, as at Axle, where a central atrium ensures high-quality daylight across each level. Daylight reaching deep into the plan improves comfort and wellbeing, reduces reliance on artificial lighting and gives every workspace a connection to the sky and the life of the building.
Connecting Levels
Stairs, bridges and glazed lifts make movement between floors visible and inviting, connecting teams and encouraging people to use the stairs. An atrium turns circulation into a shared experience, so that moving through the building becomes a chance to meet colleagues, see activity on other floors and feel part of one organisation.
A Social Heart
Cafes, seating and breakout spaces at the base of an atrium give a building its centre of gravity, as at the Ben Chifley Building and the Charles Perkins Centre. These social spaces bring people together across teams and disciplines, and give visitors a welcoming first impression of the organisation and its culture.
Collaboration and Visibility
Views across and between floorplates create a sense of openness and connection, without compromising security or the needs of specialist spaces. Careful planning of edges, balustrades and glazing balances transparency with privacy and acoustic separation, so teams can see one another’s work while keeping the focus and confidentiality they need.
Character and Materials
Each atrium has its own character, from the sculpted ribbons of the Charles Perkins Centre to the red oxide steel of the Foundry. Form, structure and materials are developed for each building and its users, so the atrium becomes a memorable, identifying space rather than a generic void at the centre of the plan.
Environmental Performance
Atria support daylight and environmental performance in buildings such as Darling Quarter, Sydney’s first 6 Star Green Star workplace. Designed with the facade and services, an atrium can assist natural ventilation and reduce energy demand for lighting and cooling, lowering operating costs over the life of the building.
For further information about our atrium capability, please enquire by email. You can also explore our campus workplaces.
Related capabilities: commercial foyers, commercial towers and campus workplaces.