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An office in the most revered pocket of St Kilda Road – the northern compound, opposite the Shrine of Remembrance – is for rent after a stylish repositioning by architect Gray Puksand.
Also on the only part of the listed Southbank strip, the seven-story building at #332, on the northwest corner of Dorcas, is offered in whole or in part.
In total, there is 5,418 square meters of A-grade space – with 780 m² floor plates and designer fittings by Hot Black.
The renovation added a health and wellness studio, end-of-trip facilities and upgraded the foyer.
“Part of the ground floor has also been configured as a third space reserved for tenants, with meeting rooms and a business lounge with high-quality coffee equipment, giving occupants the opportunity to develop in when needed,” Colliers said. Matt Cosgravewho markets the space with James McMahon and MP Burke Commercial’s Pat Burk said.
“The renovation focused on creating a workplace that people are drawn to, with more open spaces and amenities,” he added.
Any incoming occupant has the option to activate a roof.
Naming and signaling rights are also available.
There are also 44 car parks.
The best end of St Kilda Road
Mr Burke said the upper end of St Kilda Road has always been the most popular with occupiers given its proximity to the city.
“This small group of commercial buildings between Coventry and Dorcas streets offers the best of a CBD offering in a green and natural setting,” he added.
“The area is also a short distance from Flinders Street Station,” according to the executive.
Either, he says, 1464 trams pass there per day.
“The area is unlike anywhere else on the outskirts of town, overlooking the Royal Botanic Gardens and a short walk into town,” Burke said.
The low-rise area is set to become even more central when nearby ANZAC station opens in 2024, connecting it to the University of Melbourne and Arden via two CBD stops (story continues below).
For 10 years prior to refurbishment, 332 St Kilda Rd was let to Holmesglen.
Telstra held for a decade before that.
Back to the office
Melburnians are gradually returning to the office this year – in the CBD, 49% of employees went to work in June compared to 4% in January, according to the Property Council of Australia.
On peak days in September, occupancy is 60pc, putting the city roughly on par with Sydney (65pc), but behind Adelaide (83pc) and Perth (84pc).
Mr McMahon expects occupancy rates to exceed 80% in Melbourne next year.
“For many companies, innovation doesn’t happen with a dispersed workforce,” McMahon said of the work-from-home trend, in practice.
“Many managers also struggle to instill company culture with Zoom meetings sometimes the only form of group collaboration,” he added.
Mr. Cosgrave said that since COVID, several organizations have improved their accommodation – a concept known as flight to quality – by choosing locations and buildings that could both encourage people to return to the office and help attract new talent.
“They do this by realizing that offices play an important role in collaboration – which leads to, among other things, productivity, employee well-being and business ethics,” he said. added.
“They are also erasing the dividing line between work and private life,” according to the executive.
Mr McMahon said the more colleagues employees see in the workplace, the more comfortable they feel coming back.
“The fear of missing out is a big reason for that,” he said, with employees not wanting to be overlooked for business opportunities or social events, he added.
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