Overview
The Hive: Fortescue’s Perth Operational Control Centre
Fortescue’s new Integrated Operational Control Centre was developed as part of the energy and metal company’s move to the heart of Perth at 256 St Georges Terrace. Named ‘The Hive’, the state-of-the-art facility brings together key teams to enhance safety, efficiency, and collaboration.
The Edwards Design Studio (TEDS) was guided by three core principles when designing the facility:
Sustainability & Innovation – The design incorporated Fortescue’s hydrogen research, using DNA-inspired elements and greenery to symbolize hydrogen bonds.
Company Values – Fortescue’s core values were embedded as operational foundations, ensuring the space reflected the company’s mission.
Flexibility & Functionality – The layout was designed to adapt to operational needs, promoting efficiency and collaboration.
Director at TEDS, Ellen Edwards says scalability and readiness for emerging technologies were at the forefront of the design process. This included balancing the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics while maintaining secure operations and reflecting Fortescue’s core values.
“Stakeholder workshops also played a crucial role in defining specifications, ensuring an optimal balance between focus, collaboration, and seamless service integration,” Ellen explains.
The Space
Putting wellness and refuge front and centre
Employee wellbeing was another central theme of the project, with the need to accommodate for the pressure of 12-hour shifts in a 24/7 live environment.
“A biophilic design approach was used to create a calming, human-centric space using colour, lighting, and textures to support comfort and mental health,” explains Ellen.
To support this approach, more than 220 of Schiavello’s Vertical Gardens were installed throughout the building. Creating eye-catching ‘green walls’ and a connection with nature, the columns also help softly separate work zones and deliver additional privacy.
Spaces catering specifically for wellness and refuge were also incorporated into the workplace, further highlighting the importance of relaxation and rejuvenation. “We drew inspiration from Le Corbusier’s Ronchamp Chapel, using ambient lighting and tinted windows combined with blue and green colourways to create a spa-like atmosphere and peaceful ambiance.”
Design Elements
Timeless designs with sustainable solutions
Ensuring meticulous attention to detail as well as curating solutions to go beyond purely aesthetics, The Hive delivers a workspace that is as sustainable as it is timeless.
Repurposed furniture from Fortescue’s previous Control Centre was utilised to reinforce their commitment to sustainability, including the relocation of Focus Quiet Phone Rooms. Innovative design strategies were also developed to reduce heat load within the north-facing rooms.
“By maximizing natural light and creating darker workspaces, we were able to support both environmental goals and employee productivity,” explains Ellen.
Schiavello's solutions
Proven expertise with local manufacturing
Having worked with Schiavello on their previous control room, Fortescue once again sought to utilise the manufacturer’s proven expertise and experience to develop tailored, innovative solutions for The Hive.
80 custom Control Desks were designed, prototyped, manufactured and installed for the project, supported by various monitor arm arrangements. Custom System 70 spine systems were utilised for the reticulation of power, data and return air for the Control Desks, while the team were also tasked with coordinating the dismantling, relocation and reinstallation of the Control Desk IT equipment.
Alongside the control desks and Vertical Gardens, a suite of other furniture solutions were supplied, including the award-winning Focus Quiet Gather Rooms which create functional and collaborative spaces to enhance productivity.
1,900 Neo Workstations with desk-mount panels were installed for the broader workforce, while a striking Agile Table sits front and centre within the staff kitchen space, inviting informal conversation and connection. A range of seating options including Karo Ottomans in shades of green and blue further contribute to employee’s wellbeing and desire for relaxation and comfort.
Schiavello’s Australian-made designs, commitment to sustainable manufacturing and their experience in producing control desks cemented their involvement with Fortescue’s fitout.
“By leveraging their industry knowledge and established capabilities, we were confident in Schiavello’s ability to provide reliable and innovative furniture solutions tailored to the unique needs of this project,” says Ellen.
Photography by Fabrizio Lapari
