Hello South Island! A New Chapter as Spaceworks Launches in Queenstown

Spaceworks is proud to announce the opening of our new commercial interior design studio in Queenstown, a strategic step to expand our footprint across the South Island. This latest move is led by Lauren Gibbs, a seasoned designer and rising leader within our team.

Why Spaceworks Chose Queenstown

Queenstown has long been a vibrant market with growing demand for high-quality commercial interiors. For over 20 years, Spaceworks has been delivering standout interiors nationwide, from Whangārei to Invercargill, including significant South Island projects like the Skyline Queenstown redevelopment and Te Pou o Mata-Au — Clutha Community Hub.

Our Queenstown studio allows us to deepen local relationships, leverage regional design expertise, and reinforce our commitment to sustainability by reducing travel and logistics emissions.

It’s Not Just Geography – It’s Strategy

This move is more than a pin drop on the map. It’s part of our wider strategic shift to reduce emissions, build regional depth, and create meaningful value for our clients, communities, and team.

Regional work isn’t new for us. It’s been in our DNA since day one. We’ve had a foothold in Wellington for more than a decade, and before the Christchurch earthquakes, we maintained a strong South Island presence there too. Now, with around 30% of our current business being based in the South Island, the time to replant permanent roots in the South is here.

By establishing a permanent Spaceworks interior design studio in Queenstown, we’re:

• Supporting national clients with consistent, on-the-ground project continuity.
• Delivering Queenstown office fit-outs, retail interiors, and hospitality spaces with true local insight.
• Strengthening relationships with South Island suppliers and trades, reducing freight and logistics costs.
• Cutting travel-related emissions and embedding sustainability into every project.
• Investing in South Island design talent and contributing to the local economy.
• Gaining richer cultural and contextual understanding of the places we design.
• Creating career pathways and leadership opportunities for our people.

We’re not here to fly in and out.
We’re here to show up, stay, and grow.

Meet Lauren Gibbs – Your Queenstown Interior Design Expert

Lauren Gibbs joined Spaceworks as an intern back in 2018. Since then, she’s climbed the design ranks with steady confidence, leading projects, shaping ideas, and quietly becoming a cornerstone of our interior design team. So, when Lauren said she was ready for a new adventure and was planning a move to Queenstown, it wasn’t a goodbye. In fact, it felt like the start of something even bigger.

Today, Lauren is leading Spaceworks Queenstown, our new South Island hub for commercial interior design, workplace strategy, and retail fitouts. She’s building our presence in the South from the ground up, proving that leadership can be carved out at any level, and that regional design expertise matters more than ever.

“Lauren’s story is one of grit, growth, and possibility. It’s also part of a bigger Spaceworks vision: to embed ourselves more deeply in the regions we already know and love.” – Lizzi Whaley (CEO)

 

Commercial Interior Design Services in Queenstown

Spaceworks’ new Queenstown studio offers:

• Tailored workplace strategy and comprehensive office fit-outs.
• Innovative retail interiors designed to enhance customer experience.
• Hospitality spaces that blend functionality with sustainability.

Our Commitment to Sustainability

Spaceworks is Toitū net carbon-zero certified. Sustainability is integral to every stage of our projects, from material selection to final execution. By investing locally, we significantly cut emissions and support the local economy, helping build a greener future for Queenstown.

Looking Ahead: Spaceworks South Island

Lauren’s leadership in Queenstown is just the beginning. With major projects underway and more on the horizon, this is a pivotal moment for Spaceworks and for South Island commercial interiors.

We might have started with one ambitious intern and one idea, but years of growth, experience, and hard work have led to this moment. We’re proud of Lauren, proud of the team that supported her journey, and proud of what this means for the future of sustainable, regionally led interior design across Queenstown and the South Island.

How to Get Started

If you’re based in Queenstown or anywhere in the South Island and want to talk commercial interiors, workplace design, or your next fit-out, get in touch with Lauren – she’s ready.

📧 lauren@spaceworks.co.nz
🔗 Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn