Rider Levett Bucknall’s new workplace at Collins Place sets a benchmark for high-performance workplace design, combining sustainability, functionality, and employee wellbeing within a contemporary commercial environment.

Delivered as a premium fit-out in Melbourne’s CBD, the project was conceived with ambitious environmental objectives. It achieved both a 6 Star Green Star Interiors rating and a 5.5 Star NABERS Tenancy Energy Commitment Agreement. These outcomes reflect a strong commitment to sustainable design and long-term operational performance, embedded from the earliest stages of design through to delivery.

Our involvement extended from project inception through to the Defects Liability Period, providing Mechanical, Electrical, Fire Protection, Hydraulics, Sustainability, Acoustics, Structures, and Fire Engineering services. Working closely with the client, design team, and contractor, we helped deliver a fully integrated solution that balanced workplace functionality with environmental performance targets.

A key challenge was delivering the fit-out within a highly compressed construction programme while maintaining design intent, coordination quality, and sustainability objectives. This required a highly collaborative approach among all stakeholders, enabling efficient decision-making, proactive risk management, and timely resolution of design and construction issues to maintain programme certainty.

Sustainability certification was a central focus throughout the project. Regular workshops, detailed technical reviews, and ongoing coordination ensured sustainability requirements were consistently embedded into design decisions and construction methodology. This structured approach supported the successful delivery of the Green Star Interiors certification shortly after completion.

The project also involved securing a NABERS Energy Commitment Agreement, which required close collaboration between the consultant team, contractor, and independent NABERS design reviewers. Through iterative design refinement and performance-focused workshops, the workplace was optimised to achieve strong operational energy outcomes.

The result is a high-performance workplace that integrates sustainability, efficiency, and occupant wellbeing, setting a strong example for future commercial fit-outs in Australia.