Plus Architecture, Melbourne: Opportunity, Fun, Passionate.

The fit-out of Plus Architecture’s office on the leafy fringe of Melbourne was designed by one if its students. When they decided to move there seven years ago, the firm held a competition for the office’s design with the winning concept built. 

“It’s a real representation of the brand,” says Studio Manager Amy McArthur. “The design is fun and individual.” 

The office of 65 people, which has a 50:50 gender balance, works like a family with staff encouraged to bring children and pets into the office. 

“We have the attitude of a family business but in a big business structure,” says McArthur. “We treat having children as a normal thing. It is our aim to lead by example and prove that you can have a baby and don’t have to give up on your architectural career. We all pitch in and help each other out.” 

Plus Architecture invests heavily in the training and development of its staff, ensuring employees feel empowered to pursue the career they want, through flexible hours, ongoing training and opportunities for secondments to one of Plus Architecture’s five other studios around Australia and New Zealand. According to McArthur this creates a culture of opportunity where everyone is encouraged to give feedback and take on new challenges. 

“Our expectation is that everyone contributes to the culture of the workplace – but we don’t say how,” adds McArthur. “For those with big personalities this can simply be by coming to work, for others it is by joining the CAD group or baking a cake.”