COX Architecture, in partnership with Built, has completed a transformative refurbishment of 270 Pitt Street in Sydney’s CBD, reinventing the former defence building into a future-ready, flexible workplace designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce.
The project, commissioned by ISPT, redefines the building with timeless materiality, sustainability principles, and user-centric design to support wellbeing, connection, and performance.
Once hidden beneath layers of piecemeal security upgrades, 270 Pitt Street has been stripped back to its original structure, revealing its inherent character and introducing a bold, six-metre-high lobby opening to the street.
The ground floor is vibrant with amenities, including a café, business lounge, and adaptable meeting rooms that can shift from energetic collaborative zones to quiet, library-like environments.
The refurbishment also features flexible, adaptable floorplates, wellness spaces, a rooftop terrace, and modern end-of-trip facilities to cater to a diverse tenant mix spanning government, professional services, and creative tech industries.
Brooke Lloyd, Director and Head of Interior Design at COX’s Sydney studio, said: “Successful workplaces need to support connection, wellbeing and performance in equal measure – and that belief sits at the heart of this transformation.”
She explained: “This project is about revealing potential – not just in the building itself, but also in how people will experience it.
“By celebrating the character of 270 Pitt Street, we’ve created an environment that feels grounded, generous and flexible, supporting everything from quiet focus to shared energy.”
Lloyd also noted: “It’s a proud example of what intelligent reuse can look like – and how it can reduce environmental impact while elevating design outcomes to best support the people who will use it.”
The project is a model of sustainable design. Over 1,400 workstations, 20,000 sqm of floor tiles, and 10,000 sqm of ceiling tiles were rehomed rather than discarded.
The building targets a 5-Star Green Star rating and has already achieved a 5.5 Star NABERS Energy rating and a 4.0 Star NABERS Water rating.
Fully electric and net zero in operation, the design embraces adaptive reuse as a way to extend the life of the building while minimising embodied carbon and waste.
Martin Heal, Asset Manager at ISPT, commented: “By partnering with COX, we’ve unlocked a range of functional and inspiring spaces, providing diverse experiences that inspire through brave and sophisticated design.”
He emphasised how the project contributes to transforming Sydney’s CBD, noting that the reimagined podium façade thoughtfully dialogues with the adjacent heritage-listed Uniting Church, incorporating elements like a gradient copper panel at the entry.
This design is also mindful of 270 Pitt Street’s future role within the planned Town Hall Green public square, part of a broader initiative to develop the southern edge of the CBD into a vibrant innovation and tech hub.
The $170 million redevelopment preserves the building’s 25 levels of office space, mezzanine, and basement parking, with comprehensive upgrades including new lift interiors, bathrooms, and base building services.
The project commenced in April 2024 and reflects ISPT’s strategy of delivering high-quality, sustainable office precincts that respond to the changing nature of work and tenant expectations.
270 Pitt Street demonstrates how existing buildings can be repositioned to deliver functional, sustainable, and attractive workplaces for diverse modern tenants.
Linking to key infrastructure like the new Sydney Metro station and the upcoming Town Hall Green, the building’s transformation unlocks new potential not just for its occupants but for the surrounding precinct’s evolution.
