Exceptional workplaces are more than just spaces, they inspire a sense of belonging. Our approach combines research, strategy and design to create environments that reflect your organisation’s purpose and support how your people truly work. Our focus goes beyond desks and meeting rooms, exploring culture, behaviour, technology and performance. This creates a workplace that strengthens connection, improves productivity and gives your team the confidence to do their best work every day.
We help organisations reimagine how their workplaces support their people, performance and growth through clear strategies, purposeful design and effective implementation.
Workplace Strategy starts with understanding your organisation. We analyse how your people work, what they need to succeed, and where current environments fall short. Through workshops, research and data, we shape a clear roadmap that aligns space with business goals.
Our Workplace Design service translates strategy into thoughtful, human-centred environments. We create spaces that balance focus and collaboration, reflect your brand and culture, and support wellbeing. Every design decision is grounded in how your teams work now and into the future.
We deliver commercial interior projects from concept through to completion. Working closely with clients, consultants and contractors, we ensure quality, cost control and clarity at every stage. The result is a carefully executed environment that feels considered, functional and enduring.
Chow:Hill's design team brought a modern interior to a central city commercial workspace in Hamilton that incorporates the comforts of home.
From farm to table, a workplace strategy and commercial fitout has connected the Fonterra team to the rōhe of the wider Waikato region they serve.
Maximising collaborative opportunities and creating an enjoyable place to work formed the cornerstones of Chow:Hill's workplace and interior design strategy for the Waikato Regional Council.
"The architect at Chow:Hill understands the importance of concepts of mana whenua, of having the right cultural process, and of the importance of the whakapapa of the narrative. And, because he gets this, he was able to keep the space safe from the many other dynamic elements and pressures involved in designing and building. The end result of this work is world class. Moreover, we have iwi approved pieces, appropriate and broadly meaningful narratives, created from artists that connect to this area."
In a data-driven world, quantitative metrics often dominate workplace behaviour. However, a new approach to work highlights the growing importance of connected experiences within our work environments.
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Your workplace is one of the strongest expressions of your brand. It influences how your team feels, how clients experience your organisation, and how work culture takes shape.
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If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that predicting the future is a risky game. Work patterns shifted almost overnight. Technology advanced faster than many fitouts could keep up.
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Culture can seem intangible, but you notice it the moment you walk into a workplace. You feel it in the welcome, hear it in how people greet one another, and see it in how teams gather, focus, celebrate wins, or step in to support each other when it matters most.
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Before diving into design upgrades, new furniture, fresh layouts, take a moment to pause. The most successful transformations begin by asking one fundamental question.
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A new book, set for publication in 2025, shares stories of people, places, and companies who have been instrumental in shaping New Zealand’s health design landscape.
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With almost two decades of South African architectural registration and seven years of New Zealand experience, Phil Rutkiewicz is well versed in Aotearoa's design landscape. Having recently achieved his New Zealand registration, Phil shares his interest in responsive and regenerative design.
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Download our Workplace Handbook for a deeper insight into our approach to strategy, design thinking and real project outcomes.
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BArch(Hons), BAS, NZRAB, NZIA
With extensive experience in workplace design across multiple sectors, Sam Thomas leads projects that balance strategy, culture and space. He’s known for clear thinking, constructive collaboration and creating environments that support how people work and thrive.
