Get Smart inspires design of Place Estate Agents’ James Street head office
The Cone of Silence was one of the most memorable gags from cult comedy Get Smart. See a Brisbane real estate agency’s own version of the gag.
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What does a 1960s cult television comedy and a real estate agency have in common? Plenty when you think about it.
Place Estate Agents has opened its new head office in an iconic Fortitude Valley building in a new fit-out that features 20 meeting rooms and collaborative spaces, a concierge service —
and a Get Smart-inspired Cone of Silence.
Pellegrino Group, Mosaic Property to start construction on office building in Fortitude Valley
Chief executive Damian Hackett joked that the Unita designed and built fit-out in the former David Jones store at 10 James Street will allow the team to channel their inner secret agent.
“It’s a bit of fun. We’re not secret agents but we are agents and like a lot of businesses the phrase cone of silence to exchange information is used quite a lot,” he said.
“Actually during COVID we split the office into two groups — a week on and a week off — and instead of naming them team A and team B we named them Kaos and Control.
“We didn’t want anyone to think they were in the B team.”
Place has a 10-year lease on the building which David Jones vacated early this year when the coronavirus pandemic hit.
It will house Place’s professional services staff and the Place New Farm team in a 1100sq m space over five levels — including mezzanine — with 320sq m of ground floor and storage space at the rear to be subleased.
Mr Hackett said Place’s quirky office fit-outs were reflective of the aesthetics of the local area with the James Street office — inspired by the modern apartments and houses in the area — having a “classic and minimalist residential feel”.
Place’s Woolloongabba office features exposed brick, a hidden door behind a bookcase and a prohibition bar, indicative of the vibe on the street.
One office feature a fireman’s pole and in another customers walk into modern and fully-functioning kitchen and dining area, complete with a fireplace.
The opening of the new James Street office coincides with the company’s 18th birthday and its first rebrand.
“Place is constantly evolving; this fresh and modern rebrand is part of the next stage of growth for the company,” Mr Hackett said.
“In the last few months, we’ve had more than 70 people join the Place family and a new office open in the northern suburbs, with more to come.”
