An evolution of the benchmark projects at Shelley Street, Sydney and Ropemaker, London After residing in the prestigious No.1 Martin Place address for several years, Macquarie Bank has acquired its own premises at 50 Martin Place. The new premises is a Heritage building, formerly the Government Savings Bank of NSW built between 1925 and 1928 in the Beaux-Art style. The building was both seen as a landmark financial institute and a state of the art building equipped with the latest engineering technology of the time. Macquarie has continued these ideals and the new refurbishment will once again boast the latest engineering and technological initiatives, coupled with a Greenstar aspirational rating.
BVN and the project team worked closely with Macquarie to develop principles to assist in governance and physical and virtual compliance required for an Investment bank. The workplace inside is an evolution of the benchmark projects at Shelley Street, Sydney and Ropemaker, London, and is highly tailored to the business activities that will inhabit it. The central atrium remains the symbolic heart of the building. The new refurbishment enlarges the atrium on the East and West sides to allow more daylight to filter down and increase visual connectivity between the floors. Its centre piece is a stair that weaves around the atrium bridging business units while showcasing the trading floor environment of the Investment bank below. Atrium edge offices and meeting rooms puncture the edge of the atrium creating a link between the floor plates and the atrium.
Strategically positioned half way up the atrium resides a Cafe and Barista bar that will create yet another layer connectivity and excitement within Macquarie’s new workplace. Each floor has its own breakout space, an area designed for socialising, networking and meetings whilst still remaining a highly functional kitchen space integrating cereal, toast and water bars for Macquarie’s employees. Meanwhile in the workspace a hybrid ABW seating arrangement was formulated that allowed teams to expand and contract as necessary while maintaining consistency. Sit to Stand chilled desks were incorporated for the traders.
The building is a world class exemplar for the next generation of financial services. Refurbished to be sympathetic to its past while still successfully incorporating contemporary design, state of the art technology and sustainability.
