Publicis Groupe

Publicis Groupe’s new Auckland workplace at Level 4 and 5, 34 Sale Street, brings together five brand partners into one cohesive, connected, and distinctly New Zealand home.

Spanning 3,000 sqm across two floors, the project marked a significant shift for the business. After three decades in its previous heritage building, Publicis needed a workplace that could support the next chapter of its Auckland operation: a place that strengthened its connected platform offering, brought agencies closer together, and created a stronger shared experience for its people, clients and partners.

Cachet’s relationship with Publicis extends across multiple locations, including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland. This existing partnership gave our team a strong understanding of the group’s global brand, operational needs, and the importance of balancing consistency with local identity. For Auckland, the opportunity was to create a workplace that felt unmistakably Publicis, while still being grounded in the character, culture, and everyday rhythm of Aotearoa.

Located on the fringe of Auckland’s CBD, 34 Sale Street offered a strong strategic position for the group. Close to clients, partners, transport links, Victoria Park, restaurants, amenities, and parking, the new address supported greater accessibility and connection. It also provided the scale and flexibility Publicis needed to unite its teams under one roof, while allowing each agency to retain a sense of individuality.

Inspired by the familiar New Zealand bach, the workplace design was imagined as a relaxed village of creative homes. Each agency was given its own tailored “bach” within the larger workplace, creating a space that could reflect its brand, culture, and working style, while remaining part of a broader Publicis community.

This became a central design move. Rather than creating one uniform workplace for all teams, the design gives each agency its own corner of the space, with subtle shifts in identity, palette, signage, and personality. These areas provide a sense of ownership and belonging, allowing each brand partner to feel seen within the wider group. The result is a workplace that supports Publicis Groupe’s connected platform model without diluting the individuality of the agencies that make it up.

Shared spaces were equally important. Kitchen hubs, lounges, collaboration areas, and informal gathering zones were designed as the workplace equivalent of communal decks and holiday living spaces, places where people naturally come together. These shared areas encourage cross-agency interaction, support creative exchange, and help build a stronger collective culture across the business.

The arrival experience carries the strongest expression of the Publicis brand. Reception was a key focus of the design, creating a clear and confident front door for clients, visitors, and staff. This area establishes a polished, connected, and global Publicis identity. From there, the workplace gradually becomes more personal, with each agency’s space offering its own layer of character and distinction.

A major part of the project was the intelligent reuse of the existing fitout. Rather than stripping the space back unnecessarily, Cachet worked with the bones of what was already there, carefully repurposing existing elements and giving them a new life. Existing carpet was retained where possible, while the previous occupant’s corporate identity was removed to make way for a workplace that felt fresh, tailored, and genuinely Publicis.

Furniture reuse also played an important role. Publicis brought existing furniture from its previous workplace, while additional pieces from the former tenant were repurposed within the new workplace fitout. This approach reduced waste, supported responsible material use, and added a sense of continuity to the workplace. It also reflected the resourceful, low-impact spirit of the Bach concept: practical, familiar, and layered.

The material palette was carefully curated to feel warm, tactile, and connected to New Zealand’s environment. Natural timbers, soft textures, and honest material contrasts bring a sense of ease to the workplace, creating an environment that feels welcoming rather than corporate. Subtle local references help anchor the design in place, ensuring the space feels authentic to Publicis New Zealand rather than a direct translation of a global workplace model.

Flexibility was another key outcome. The workplace needed to support the shifting needs of its users, with room to contract, grow, and adapt over time. A mix of agency zones, shared collaboration areas, focus settings, and informal meeting spaces gives the business choice in how the environment is used day to day. This adaptability is especially important in a hybrid working context, where the office needs to offer more than a desk. It needs to draw people in, support connections, and provide a reason to gather.

The completed workplace brings five agencies together in a way that feels cohesive without becoming generic. It gives Publicis Groupe a stronger platform for collaboration, while giving each agency its own place to retreat, create, and connect. More than a workplace, it is a Modern Kiwi Bach Village: a home away from home for creativity, where people can feel comfortable, inspired, and part of something larger.