Overview
A former textile warehouse in the inner city was acquired for conversion into a mixed-tenancy workspace. The brief asked for a building that would appeal to creative businesses and technology companies while generating a viable return for the developer across a range of unit sizes.
Challenge & Context
The warehouse structure — heavy masonry walls, timber roof frames, concrete floors — was both an asset and a constraint. The existing grid did not map neatly onto contemporary workspace metrics, and the building's deep plan made natural daylighting across all zones a genuine challenge.
Design Concept
The design introduces a central atrium carved from the building's footprint — a void that brings daylight to the plan's interior and becomes the social spine of the building. Tenancies are arranged as a series of gallery-style units around this atrium, each with a mezzanine level that doubles usable floor area without increasing the building's footprint or height.
Process
The project proceeded in two phases: shell-and-core works completed under a single contract, with fitout elements designed and delivered tenant-by-tenant as the building filled. This phased approach allowed the design to respond to occupants' specific needs while maintaining the coherence of the overall architectural language.
Outcome
The building reached full occupancy within fourteen months of completion — faster than comparable conversions in the area. The atrium has become an informal event space used regularly by tenants and has been featured in regional architecture and property media.
