Deloitte’s new Australian office resides in the 2022 World Building of the Year Quay Quarter Tower* located at 50 Bridge Street in Circular Quay, Sydney.
Covering 27,800 m2 of premium grade office space across 14 floors, the fitout has been designed for a hybrid and modern work style to support Deloitte’s focus on fostering connectivity, collaboration and a sense of belonging. With another key driver being staff attraction and retention, the state-of-the-art workplace boasts an internal atrium and interconnecting stairs between floors to create ‘vertical villages’ that facilitate spontaneous employee interactions.
As the largest of Deloitte Australia’s 14 offices, it houses over 3,000 employees. The fitout includes the following key features, prioritising collaboration, innovation and wellbeing:
- Business unit floors
- Specialist client areas featuring a commercial kitchen, bar, and an outdoor terrace
- High security workspaces for specialist teams, with services treatment to comply with applicable zone level requirements
- Agile workspaces, wellbeing quiet spaces and function and training spaces including reconfigurable furniture for flexible working
- Integration of cutting-edge technology and systems.
The project included high sustainability targets for construction, design and operation, notably a 5 Star Green Star Interiors v1.3, 5 Star NABERS energy tenancy and Platinum WELL v2 rating. NDY worked with the extended project team to develop new policies, review the design and manage the construction process in line with the extended targets.
The Platinum WELL target ensures design and operational initiatives across eleven key concepts to enhance the occupant experience: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, community and innovation. The new Deloitte office features high levels of thermal comfort and natural lighting with views to Sydney Harbour and the botanical gardens. Indoor air and water quality conditions are continuously monitored and available for occupants to access via QR codes. The space also caters for diversity, equality and inclusivity through a variety of flexible working spaces, including but not limited to a parents room, quiet rooms and restorative spaces.
In addition to a final design that supports health and mindfulness, NDY supported the head contractor, MPA, in developing a project specific environmental management plan to manage their environmental impact during construction. MPA also undertook a needs analysis to best understand their subcontractors onsite and tailor support for mental and physical health.
Green Star’s holistic framework further led our team to work with the interior designer, Hassell, and Deloitte to ensure equipment was energy and water efficient, the furniture ergonomically suitable and waste streams separated and managed to optimise recycling.
Good acoustic performance was another key objective for Deloitte. Our acoustics team collaborated closely with Hassell, the NDY services engineers and MPA during the design and construction process to assess and implement construction details, materials, equipment and acoustic treatment to achieve high performing spaces that comply with Green Star, WELL and industry best practice.
NDY’s mechanical design solutions included redundant cooling systems for critical IT equipment and specialist business units, ensuring uninterrupted operation during equipment failures or maintenance. The main communications room is provided with both chilled water and condenser water systems to provide further redundancy for this critical space. Additionally, the dedicated chilled water system for tenant supplementary cooling enables use of slimline and low noise fan coil units to support large meeting rooms and high occupancy spaces and facilitate in-ceiling coordination in congested areas.
The implementation of a tenant-specific critical room environmental monitoring system (CREMS) allows for real-time monitoring and alarm notifications for critical equipment in the fitout such as uninterruptible power supply (UPS), computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units and multipoint aspirating smoke detection systems (MASDS). This system enhances IT and facilities management capabilities, with visibility of the status of equipment and identification of faults requiring action.
To ensure continuous operation and prevent disruptions, the electrical design incorporates both generator and UPS backup to support critical business functions in the event of a mains power loss or maintenance scenario and prevent disruptions resulting from downtime.
Enhanced fire suppression solutions (MASDS and gas suppression) were implemented in communications rooms to provide additional protection for critical equipment and minimise impact in the event of a fire. Additionally, several fire engineering performance solutions were developed by NDY including an alternative solution to address travel distances.
Portable battery charging solutions were incorporated into workspaces with flexible furniture allowing users to safely and easily reconfigure the space to suit specific team and activity needs and minimise the amount of cabling required. These spaces cater for the diverse ways people work, learn and collaborate.
The project’s sustainability goals are supported by a range of initiatives, such as fully electric kitchen facilities (eliminating the use of gas equipment).
Our electrical design enabled an increase in tenant power allowances to accommodate the electric equipment and align with the company’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices.
Via collaboration with the architects, NDYLIGHT designed feature lighting to complement architectural details. Task lighting variations were included to suit different work settings, such as varied light fittings, lighting levels and colour temperature to complement the interior design. A customisable DALI lighting control system allows users to adjust lighting levels and incorporates energy saving measures for unoccupied spaces. Additionally, RGBW coloured lighting in function spaces creates dynamic scenes for special events. The lighting solutions provide users with adaptable conditions to suit their preferences and improve functionality and ambiance throughout the premises.
Hydraulic provisions were designed to support kitchen facilities and equipment including a large commercial kitchen, reheat kitchens and an eWater system for efficient cleaning and sanitisation. These solutions prioritise safety, functionality and hygiene for users.
One of the largest in Sydney at completion, the fitout offers a contemporary and inviting environment for staff, with all essential amenities conveniently located under one roof while serving as a versatile venue for hosting clients and events. With a major emphasis on integrating cutting edge technology and staff wellbeing, it sets a new standard for workplace design and reflects Deloitte’s position as a leading professional services firm.
* 2022 Winners, World Architecture Festival, https://worldarchitecturefestival.com/waf2023/en/page/waf-2022
Images by Rusty Crawshaw/MPA
