Anglicare, one of Australia’s largest Christian care organisations, embarked on a significant workplace transformation to consolidate three office locations into a single centralised hub at MQX4, Macquarie Park. The new space aimed to create an environment that fosters connection, enhances employee wellbeing, and supports a hybrid working model with a 60% desk-sharing ratio.
Axiom Workplaces partnered with Anglicare to deliver an end-to-end solution, including workplace strategy, interior design, construction, and project management. The project was driven by Anglicare’s vision of creating “a workplace hub, nurturing a connected, energised community committed to care.”
Axiom’s strategy team engaged with Anglicare’s leadership, project steering committee, and employees through a comprehensive discovery process. The engagement included staff surveys using Axiom’s proprietary wrkx tool, focus group workshops, and functional briefings to understand employee needs and align the workplace vision with organisational goals.
Key insights from the discovery phase informed the workplace design, with recurring themes of "Pride, Welcoming, Side by Side, Light & Inspiring", driving the concept development.
Axiom helped Anglicare select the ideal location by leveraging insights from the strategy phase to prioritise the organisation's needs and align them with available properties. After evaluating several options, Anglicare chose 2,373 sqm on level 4 of the MQX4 Building at Macquarie Park. MQX4 is ideally situated just a short walk from Sydney's new Metro station at Macquarie Park. It is designed as a future-ready workplace, featuring exceptional sustainability and smart technology, flexibility, and convenient amenities, and holds multiple certifications due to its adherence to ESG principles, including:
See below images of Macquarie Park MQX4 Building Street view, Aerial view of rooftop, Level 4 MQX4 cold shell.
The workplace was designed as four equal working hubs, each offering a consistent range of work settings to support diverse tasks and working styles. The hubs included:
- Hot desks for short-term use
- Linear desks for full-day use
- Quiet points for focus work
- Acoustic management of the Call Centre workspace
- Enclosed focus pods with ‘do not disturb’ protocols
Colour palettes were inspired by Anglicare’s brand identity, creating a cohesive and inviting atmosphere. Open and connected social zones were integrated to host town hall meetings, prayer sessions, and collaborative activities.
Sustainability & Wellbeing: Aligned with Anglicare’s core value of Care, the workplace design prioritised Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations. The project achieved a NABERS 6-star rating for the base building’s environmental performance, with features such as energy-efficient lighting, water-saving fixtures, and extensive reuse of existing furniture from Anglicare’s previous offices.
Employee wellbeing was at the heart of the design, with dedicated prayer rooms, quiet zones, mother’s rooms, and biophilic elements incorporated to create a nurturing environment. The workspace also celebrates Anglicare’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) through artwork, Indigenous naming of rooms, and a yarning circle for reflection and connection.
See below the design concepts created by the Axiom Design Team. The renders provided Anglicare with a life like view of the breakout areas, reception and arrival space before construction commenced.
Construction Project Challenges and Execution
This project, was executed under tight timelines and overcame several complexities:
- Integrated Processes: Combining make-good and fit-out processes to streamline delivery.
- Project Management of Trades & Services: Workplace technology partner. Custom wallpaper and commissioned art.
- Advanced Tools: Utilising technologies like PROCORE and Sign on Site for real-time progress tracking and safety management.
Project Outcome
The new Anglicare headquarters reflects a future-focused approach to hybrid working, combining collaborative and quiet spaces with a strong sense of community. Axiom’s ongoing post-occupancy support, including guided tours and employee onboarding, ensures a smooth transition into the new ways of working.
This transformation not only enhances Anglicare’s operational efficiency but also embodies their mission of care, inclusivity, and sustainability.
If you're considering a workplace transformation that aligns your physical environment with your organisational vision, get in touch with Axiom Workplaces to explore how we can support your journey.
See below the photos taken of the completed workplace at Macquarie Park.
Photos taken by Anthony Fretwell
