New offices and way of working for CBRE Melbourne

Melbourne, 28 May 2014- CBRE has moved into its new Melbourne CBD offices at 8 Exhibition Street and in tandem has shifted to Activity Based Working (ABW).

CBRE Melbourne is the second office in Australia to adopt this new way of working, after a successful implementation of a similar workplace model at the Sydney head office.

The new office takes up one and a half levels in 8 Exhibition Street and has allowed CBRE to consolidate its two existing CBD offices at Rialto Towers and 395 Collins Street.

Senior Managing Director for Victoria, Cameron Grier, said the new office was a positive step forward in the growth of CBRE Melbourne.

“The move will allow us to accommodate the continued development of our business following the recent launch of several new business lines, including our expanding Agribusiness team, Structured Transactions & Advisory Services and Capital Allowances,” said Mr Grier.

“Our Global Corporate Services (GCS) team has also moved to 8 Exhibition through a smarter management of technology and space.”

Under the new ABW model, CBRE employees will sit in ‘neighbourhoods’, but will be free to choose their desk for the day. The new office incorporates a variety of work spaces for staff to choose including work stations, think tanks, quiet rooms, meeting rooms, a CBRE Bar (known as the CBar) for client entertaining, and a substantial staff breakout area.

“In the short time we have been in our new workspace we have witnessed a transformation in the way our people work. There is increased collaboration, interaction between teams and greater flexibility, both physically and in terms of technology, which has changed the way our people work for the better,” Mr Grier said.

CBRE utilised the skills of the firm’s Project Management division to complete the relocation on time and within budget. The team combined innovative design, with an accurate understanding of occupancy levels, an enhanced technology platform and considerable behavioural change to consolidate the two offices.

Boutique architectural firm WMK designed the new office, after successfully designing CBRE’s Sydney workspace.

WMK specialises in hospitality and hotel design and the look they have created has a modern, creative feel that Mr Grier said truly reflected CBRE’s business and the culture as well as providing an interesting take on the traditional corporate space.

Sustainability was a key consideration when fitting out the new floors at 8 Exhibition Street.

Jonathan Fuelling, Director of the CBRE Project Management team, said the move had provided the opportunity to enhance CBRE’s environmental and sustainability commitments.

“We have made a commitment to participate in the CitySwitch Green Office program and have committed to achieve an accredited NABERS Energy tenancy rating of minimum 4.5 stars.”

“As well as aiming for a much higher NABERS rating, we have also reconsidered many of our operating practices,” Mr Fuelling said.

“All our printers also use the ‘follow-me’ system to eliminate unnecessary printing and we now have a decreased reliance on printing and paper files with a 40% reduction in paper storage. Energy efficiency improvements will be achieved through new T5 task and low voltage LED lighting and our strong focus on recycling.”

Mr Fuelling added; “New IT equipment has been selected and set up for optimal energy savings both inside and outside the office, reflecting our new flexible working arrangements. We have also listened to our staff regarding improved end-of-trip (EOT) provisions and they are now able to cycle to work and use the tenancy’s purpose built EOT facilities.”