JLL Office Fitout, 180 George Street, Sydney

With a presence in Australia for 65 years, JLL used the relocation of their headquarters as a catalyst for change. The project’s key objectives saw JLL focus on the future of work to deliver a superior experience for both clients and people. The brief was to create a space that celebrated the iconic Sydney Harbour views, with key opportunities centred around responding to the local business needs of connectivity in person and online; reimagining the client and employee experience; establishing JLL as a sustainability leader; and creating spaces that support social interaction, collaboration, and individual work.

The space draws inspiration from all areas of the JLL business, including offices, hotels and coworking spaces, infusing hospitality to create a workplace offering flexible experiences. Incorporating best technology and blurring workplace and hospitality principles has created a shift in the traditional corporate real estate culture. To activate the whole tenancy and enable greater utilisation of all floors, the central staircase encourages cross-pollination between levels and creates destination points on each floor. These include the work café and concierge on level 27, the central social hub on level 26, and the collaborative offerings and media suite on level 25.

JLL’s powerful investment in sustainability, wellness, technology, and celebrating traditional owners through art is evident in increased foot traffic, staff satisfaction and performance. During design, JLL staff surveys indicated a strong need for intuitive, integrated technology, resulting in a 'one touch' approach to most spaces. New 32" curved monitors have a Humanscale inbuilt docking system with one cable. Room video conferencing starts with the push of one button. Microphones and speakers are installed in the ceiling so tables are clear. Technology is universal in all rooms. A full-time digital coach is available onsite daily to assist staff.

JLL is targeting 6 Star Green Star credentials and a Platinum WELL rating for the tenancy. The arrival floor provides a hotel-like welcome to clients and staff, with its connection to Sydney Harbour, the precinct, and bespoke artwork celebrating the traditional owners of the land. The adaptability and flexibility of the social areas is highlighted on level 26, where the social hub can host events and town halls, and be reconfigured for socialisation with beer taps and communal dining. For JLL’s in-house design studio there is a dedicated finishes library within the fitout that facilitates design projects as well as doubling as a collaboration zone for other teams as needed. There is a dedicated wellness room for prayer, meditation or rest, and a dedicated parents’ room for returning parents. A media suite had been built specifically for podcasting and filming. A state-of-the-art presentation suite features 85 touch screens with designed space for dedicated digital coaches. In response to Covid and the rise of hybrid working, all focus rooms have screens, cameras and custom-made lighting to accommodate VC calls. Casper film in the arrival floor meeting rooms ensures all presentations are hidden from view from passersby.