Green is for go as Lendlease moves into new Barangaroo headquarters
When a company that designs and delivers some of Australia’s most innovative and sustainable buildings turns a hand to its own new offices, the result is always going to be impressive.
This week, developer Lendlease moves into its new global headquarters at Barangaroo’s International Tower 3. More than 2000 staff will take up space on levels eight to 19 of the 39-storey building – 24,550 square metres in total.
The new Lendlease offices are in Tower 3 at Barangaroo, the building on the left of the three. Tower 2 is in the middle and Tower 1, with the red window shades, is on the right. Photo: Anthony Johnson, Fairfax Media
Lendlease CEO and managing director Steve McCann said the new offices brought innovative thinking to the challenge of the 21st-century workplace.
The building was constructed in a partnership between Lendlease and the NSW government.
Breakaway space is offered to staff as well as focus points and enclosed “pods” for tasks requiring concentration. Photo: Anthony Johnson
Tower Three is one of the biggest high-rise office buildings in Australia to have received a 6 Star Green Star Office Design v3 rating – the highest honour on the internationally recognised sustainability rating system – from the Green Building Council of Australia.
“We have designed and delivered more sustainable buildings in Australia than any other developer, and our new office at International Towers Sydney continues this legacy as the most sustainable, iconic and desirable office address in Sydney,” Mr McCann said.
Lendlease chief Steve McCann. Photo: Anthony Johnson
Like many other modern offices, Lendlease has adopted activity-based working principles and aims to achieve the company goal of combining the best of traditional workplace strategies with new and agile ways of working.
Team “neighbourhoods” of 15-20 colleagues will share spaces such as a team table, working walls, enclosed “pods”, breakaway areas and focus points, for tasks requiring concentration.
Levels 13 and 14 are considered the heart of the Lendlease tenancy and feature the hero design element – a six-metre high, “breathing” green wall with more than 5000 plants created with living infrastructure systems company Junglefy.
According to Lendlease, the green wall system is scientifically proven to accelerate the removal of air pollutants, such as carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds. The wall is also designed to cool the surrounding air and contribute to energy efficiency.
The green wall can be seen by visitors entering the Lendlease offices. Photo: Anthony Johnson
Lendlease head of workplace programs Cate Harris with the green wall. Photo: Anthony Johnson
“This incredible space showcases Lendlease’s capability – owned by a Lendlease managed fund, built by our building business, in a precinct transformed by our urban regeneration business and in a tenancy that demonstrates our understanding of vibrant, productive workspaces for our employees and our customers,” Mr McCann said.
“There’s a lot of pride in what we have worked together to create here – and with more of our people now under the one roof, it’s an exciting time.”
Lendlease has partnered with Food Rascal, a company within the Alder Road Food Group, to deliver fresh, innovative food and beverage at Lendlease’s new global headquarters at Barangaroo.
Food Rascal will offer healthy, tasty food options – as well as a place for staff to work collaboratively. Photo: Anthony Johnson
Led by David O’Brien, the Food Rascal team will deliver a cafe as well as a barista-style bar servicing the waiting and meeting areas of the reception area and client-facing meeting rooms.
Lendlease head of workplace programs Cate Harris said Food Rascal would deliver delicious, healthy options to staff throughout the work day, as well as spaces to collaborate.
“Our new workplace at Barangaroo provided us with the opportunity to collaborate with a partner who would create the best place for our employees and customers – a market leader in innovation and creativity with a depth of hospitality experience and a commitment to creating the most memorable spaces,” Ms Harris said.
