Deloitte - The Gold Standard Of Work
Hassell Principal and Head of Design - Emily Moss describes Deloitte’s approach to the collaboration, noting that,“as a client, they were very daring.”
She recalls them saying,“We challenge you to challenge us. What can we do that really sets us apart, makes us different, and makes us iconic?”
Deloitte, a global leader in professional services, raises the bar of workplace design and culture with their Sydney office.
The space reflects the company’s ability to navigate complexity.
Designed by Hassell during the Covid-19 lockdowns, Deloitte was ahead of the curve in catering for the new rise of hybrid work culture.
Located at 50 Bridge Street in Circular Quay, Sydney, the 2022 World Building of the Year - Quay Quarter Tower underwent an impressive upcycling to accommodate Deloitte’s new Australian Headquarters. With a total of 27,000 sqm, the workspace can host approximately 6,500 people with 2,500 collaboration seats and 1,100 long-term work points.
Moss said,
“I just love the various experiences of looking down into the workplace when you stand on the atrium edge.
You look down and there are these vastly different experiences - looking down onto the garden and then the floor with the art (floor mural - by local artist Will Cooke) and the integration of the joinery and furniture solutions within that.
You have this amazing view from above with very different languages between the various zones, but they all tie together.”
Four interconnected ‘vertical villages’ with distinct identities are loosely informed by iconic Sydney destinations, each designed to support different modes of work.
Inspiration was taken by the famous Bondi Beach, the neighbouring Royal Botanic Gardens, The Cumberland Plain and the overlooking views of Sydney Harbour, embedding nostalgic associations of familiarity and safety.
Each village is spread across 14 levels, 10 of which are allocated for business operations, whilst the remaining four are designated for guest and client experiences.
The design prioritises employee autonomy and flexibility, adjusting to a post pandemic world. Bold colours and inspiring views create a dynamic environment for collaboration to flourish - distinguishing the space from working at home.
Prominent circular themes create freedom and flow. Circular planning elements - spiral stairs, curved joinery, circular artwork and rounded settings - invite employees to gather naturally.
The space caters to all employee needs with multiple options: lounges, training spaces, meeting rooms, retreat areas, a café, parents room, quiet rooms, restorative spaces and a fully immersive 360-degree Discovery Room.
Diversity unlocks the element of choice, empowering employees within their sense of autonomy. In turn, the office becomes a place they choose to commute to.
Upholding the integrity of the Environmental, Social and Governance gambit (ESG), this is a world class example of a sustainably built, fossil-free workplace - boasting a 6 Star Green Star, a Platinum WELL rating and a 5 Star NABERS energy tenancy.
Some features include interior optimisation of energy and water usage, electric only kitchen, carefully managed waste and recycling systems, and tracking of indoor air and water quality using real-time data accessible to occupants via QR codes.
The building itself is a leading global example of large-scale adaptive reuse at skyscraper level.
Rather than building new, the project reworks an existing tower - retaining its structure and upgrading it into a higher-performing, lower-carbon workplace.
They retained 65% of the original QQT building’s existing structure and 98% of the original walls and core, reporting to have saved approximately 12,000 tonnes of embodied carbon.
NDY’s engineering approach underpins the project’s performance, with critical infrastructure integrated at every level.
Communications rooms are supported by redundant cooling systems, real-time monitoring, and advanced fire protection - ensuring continuous operation and rapid response to any issues.
This is a high-performance workspace that balances state of the art technology whilst remaining user friendly.
Staff can book hybrid meeting rooms - equipped with cameras, microphones and lighting.
A wireless-first approach embeds charging discreetly within furniture - reducing visual clutter and supporting a more flexible way of working.
Deloitte’s work culture and design by Hassell encourages a sense of freedom, flexibility and autonomy. This is a space that prioritises employee needs and as a result encourages their willingness to commute within the hybrid age. Associating work with connection and collaboration is a powerful intrinsic force within any organisation. Deloitte was daring enough to understand this, creating a space that is shaping the future of how we work.
Credits
Designer / Architect
Hassell
Builder
MPA
Project Partners / Consultants
NDY, WT Partnership, IPP, BG&E, McKenzie Group, Morris Goding, Cini Little, Diadem, Aspect Studios, Art Pharmacy
Client
Deloitte (Workplace Strategy and Project Management)
Furniture & Suppliers
Lowe Furniture, Unifor, Vitra, Carl Hansen & Søn, Cult, Herman Miller, Living Edge, Steelcase, B&B Italia, Space Furniture, Cassina, Mobilia, Verpan, Great Dane, Wilkhahn, Dowel Jones, Own World, Mark Tuckey, Koskela
Lighting
XAL, EST Lighting, Flos, Euroluce, &Tradition
Finishes
Woodwall, Elton Group, AB Pure, Geo Flooring, Briggs Veneers, Dulux, Tretford Carpet, Gibbon Group, Comcork, Safety Flooring Australia, Bisazza, Laminex, Kvadrat, Maharam
Fittings & Fixtures
Abey, Zip, Blum, Madinoz, Kethy
Photography
Earl Carter, Rusty Crawshaw
Awards
Master Builders Award – Interior Fitout (2023)
Property Council of Australia Innovation & Excellence Award – Best Workplace Fitout or Design (2025)