Following the successful completion of three speculative suites design on Level 19, Concept Black was engaged to refurbish levels 7–9 (North) and 10–12 (South) in anticipation of major tenant departures.

This adaptive reuse projects reposition six commercial floors across the North and South Towers of 485 La Trobe Street.

The vacated spaces included a large amount of quality furniture, much of it less than five years old, which under typical ‘make good’ provisions was scheduled for demolition.

Instead, the project team developed a design strategy focused on sustainability, flexibility, and minimal intervention, allowing existing layout retention, valuable materials and furniture to be retained and redistributed across the site.

Managing a shifting market demand and a trend toward smaller, more agile workplaces, the design carved each floor into between 7 and 9 smaller tenancies, targeting a broad range of business types — from professional services to hybrid firms — without locking in fixed layouts.

Each suite was carefully planned to be either standalone or combinable with adjacent suites, enabling flexibility for future leasing scenarios.

Over 90% of ceiling systems, 70% of wall partitions, and a majority of furniture, workstations, and carpets were reused.

The resulting suites are diverse in layout and palette, yet cohesive in amenity and design intent, offering tenants high-performance spaces with significantly reduced environmental impact and cost.

Photography by Project Black