After Canberra’s iconic Floriade flower festival was cancelled this year, ISPT saw an opportunity to greet customers heading back to the office with a sea of colourful blooms.
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With another long winter behind them, Canberrans always look forward to the long-running Floriade flower festival as the herald of spring. But this year, after the COVID-19 pandemic pushed pause on public gatherings, the ACT Government had to rethink its festival. The festival became an opportunity to celebrate community spirit and resilience, with thousands of tulip bulbs transported from their traditional home in Commonwealth Park to sites across Canberra. Among those sites were ISPT’s offices at 7 London Circuit, 2 Constitution Avenue and 4 National Circuit in Barton.
“The floral displays around the ISPT commercial buildings were enjoyed by office workers and passers-by as they grabbed their morning coffee – brightening up the workdays of Canberra’s urban communities during a challenging year,” explains Events ACT’s assistant director of partnerships, Simon Joyce.
Floral displays were complemented with a vibrant mix of virtual and in-person experiences. Events ACT and ISPT partnered to present education sessions and workshops in the Flex by ISPT spaces at 4 National Circuit. Floriade’s mascot, Floyd the giant pink gnome, also spent a week at 7 London Circuit, offering workers an Insta-worthy experience.
Sherice Kazzi from Knight Frank, who leads ISPT’s placemaking programs in Canberra, says Floriade: Reimagined encouraged ISPT to “think differently about how we use some of our spaces and to make a positive out of a challenging time”.
“Floriade: Reimagined was never just for flower fans – it was about bringing some colour and vibrancy back to the city and our community. We jumped at the chance to surprise and delight our customers and keep reminding them of why they love their workplace.”
More than 50 per cent of working Australians have a stake in ISPT’s $19 billion portfolio through their superannuation.
“We are always looking for innovative ways to show people why the best offices aren’t just buildings. The best workplaces bring people together in a community – and that’s what we achieved during Floriade: Reimagined.”