Deloitte, BDO lease office towers of the future

Global advisory group Deloitte is set to welcome staff into its new office at Sydney’s gateway, Circular Quay, which will offer not just sweeping harbour views, but all the amenities and technology needed in the new era of work practices.

Deloitte Australia will take up a 10-year lease over 27,800 square metres of the newly rebuilt tower at 50 Bridge Street, including the top floor that has the reception area, function rooms and an outdoor balcony. The firm is relocating from Grosvenor Place.

Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary visited the Quay Quarter Tower last week.Credit: James Brickwood, Janie Barrett

The firm’s Sydney office managing partner Andrew Pellow said the spaces are leading edge when it comes to technology and design to support the staff in their work, and the teaming and innovation “that’s so important to the work we do for our clients”.

The floors also offer quiet spaces for wellbeing and flexible work opportunities. Hassell and MPA worked on the interior designs. Last week the Quay Quarter Tower was awarded the 6-Star Green Star As-Built rating by the Green Building Council of Australia.

Last week Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary visited the tower, which was designed by Danish architects 3XN along with Sydney architects BVN, and is the newest Danish-designed Sydney landmark since the Opera House was opened 50 years ago.

Dexus chief executive Darren Steinberg said Quay Quarter Tower’s recognition as a global leading asset demonstrates “Australia’s role in pioneering new standards in sustainable building developments”.

BDO, another global accounting, tax and advisory services firm, has also upgraded its space in the new “flight to quality” era of leasing, with 6100 square metres across levels 22 to 25 of Parkline Place on the corner of Pitt and Park streets.

Parkline Place, the under-construction 39-level tower at 252 Pitt Street in Sydney, has secured its first office tenant with BDO.

The head of property at Investa, Michael Cook, said the deals signal that the often-mentioned “flight to quality is well and truly driving the Sydney commercial office leasing market”.

“In a competitive leasing market, BDO was committed to securing a building that provided their people with new market-leading facilities in a state-of-the art building, in a central location, with the convenience of unrivalled multi-transport connections,” Cook said.

Parkline Place is an integrated public transport over-station development due for completion in 2024, and is co-owned by Oxford Properties Group and Mitsubishi Estate Asia. The project is being managed and delivered by Investa.

The property is designed by architect Foster + Partners and is being built by CPB Contractors. It is a modern interpretation of classic Sydney sandstone, masonry and bronze that draws inspiration from the historical significance of its prominent location as a place to meet, trade and collaborate.

The premium-grade 39-storey tower includes 47,839 square metres office space across 30 levels, and 1285 square metres of hospitality and retail. It is integrated into Sydney Metro’s Pitt Street Station – two minutes to Martin Place Metro station, two minutes to Central Station and four minutes to Barangaroo. BDO is set to move in mid-2025.

The Sydney managing partner of BDO, Grant Saxon, said the new office move will accommodate “our people and clients in an environmentally sustainable and flexible office environment”.

“The new premises will provide a superior office experience of quality, amenity and sustainability reflecting our position in the market from both a client and talent perspective,” Saxon said.

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