Prime Site: Brisbane’s digital tub — err, hub — is heating up Fortitude Valley

FORGET the obligatory table tennis area and sit-stand workstations, the largest private tenant in Brisbane’s new digital hub has – wait for it – a jacuzzi.

Croomo + Clui group chief executive officer Dominic Ryan at the new Fortitude Valley office in Brisbane’s digital innovation and start-up hub. Picture: AAP/Richard Waugh

DOMINIC Ryan is describing the creative fitout of the new workplace for the tech group he heads up in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley when he drops the ‘J’ word — jacuzzi.

Even in the non-traditional realm that is the IT industry’s approach to workplace design it’s a conversation stopper.

But sensing a degree of silent bemusement on the other end of the phone, the chief executive of digital education program and platform specialists Croomo + Clui is quick to clarify things.

“Now before you get too excited it’s not a real jacuzzi,” Mr Ryan said.

“It’s a little space you can jump in that’s furnished in blue upholstery, where you can sit and hide from everybody and have a chat.”

Welcome to the fun and dynamic world of the IT workplace and Brisbane’s new digital economy hub — the refurbished TC Beirne and Burlington buildings in Duncan St, Fortitude Valley.

The historic Burlington building in Duncan Street, Fortitude Valley, which is now part of a cutting edge digital innovation and start-up hub.

Earlier this year, the Queensland Government leased almost 5500sq m in the historic complex — formerly the home of one of the city’s premier department stores — to establish its innovation and start-up incubator, The Precinct.

Croomo + Clui is the largest private tenant to move into the hub, taking over the entire 1260sq m third floor of the Burlington building.

Its staff of 47 — which is expected to dou8ble within two years — has relocated from a 350sq m space at Albion.

“You can imagine it was quite tight,” Mr Ryan said.

“We’ve gone from famine to feast in terms of workspace but we’ve got lots of room to grow and that, of course, is part of the reason we have come to this location.

“But the other reason we came here was to be plugged into the ecosystem that is developing here.”

The Croomo + Clui office in Fortitude Valley also includes automatic sit-stand workstations, a table tennis area, barista quality coffee machines, beer fridge and state-of-the-art audio visual studio.

The latest data indicates Brisbane has overtaken Melbourne in the percentage of tech start-ups and now sits at second after Sydney.

“Certainly, Brisbane is on the map in terms of technology and start-ups and Fortitude Valley is the recognised place where you come if you want to get the network benefits that come from being plugged into a hub that’s sole purpose is to support innovation and start-up.”

Mr Ryan said the space in the Burlington building also appealed because of the surrounding amenity.

“Somebody estimated it would take three months to eat at every food outlet within 100m of our door,” he said.

“In Albion, we didn’t have a food outlet within 100m and even when you got to 200m there was only one. So, our people are very happy to be here.”