“Working with Hunt Architects on the 242 Murray Street Speculative Suite & Lobby Upgrades was an exceptional experience from start to finish. Their team brought a clear design vision, strong technical capability and a highly collaborative approach that made the process seamless for everyone involved. Delivered with a deep understanding of both the heritage context and the commercial leasing objectives, Hunt’s attention to detail, responsiveness and commitment to quality were evident at every stage.”
A Flexible Workplace Within A Heritage Landmark
242 Murray Street - Speculative Suite
The speculative suite balances adaptability, refined materiality and natural light to support contemporary ways of working.
Hunt Architects was engaged by Centuria, alongside Prime Private, to design a half-floor tenancy within the iconic Commonwealth Bank Building in the heart of Perth’s CBD. Situated within a heritage landmark, the 660 sqm floor plate presented a unique opportunity to deliver a high-quality speculative suite and associated lobby upgrades tailored to Perth’s premium commercial leasing market.
The brief centred on creating an adaptable, light-filled workplace capable of appealing to a broad range of tenants while maintaining the building’s desired caliber of occupants. The design approach emphasised flexibility, refined materiality and an enhanced arrival experience—elements essential for attracting prospective tenants in a competitive leasing landscape.
The project required a full intertenancy split, transforming the original single-floor layout into two separate tenancies supported by a shared communal foyer. This spatial restructuring maximised leasing potential by enabling multiple occupancy scenarios while ensuring both tenants received equal visibility and a cohesive, premium entry sequence.
A central design focus was the speculative suite, planned to support diverse working styles and varying business profiles. The layout incorporates multi-use spaces, efficient planning ratios, and zones that respond to different operational needs—from private offices to open collaboration areas.
Flexible, Light-Filled Working Environments
To broaden tenant appeal, the speculative suite was designed with a high degree of adaptability. The planning optimises the building’s heritage window lines, ensuring work areas benefit from abundant natural light. Fresh textures, layered materials and a contemporary palette deliver a welcoming yet professional tone suitable for businesses seeking a refined workplace environment.
A Unified Lobby & Lift Experience
Upgrades to the lobby and lift lobby areas were essential to elevating the overall tenant journey. The new communal foyer offers shared amenities while balancing equal exposure for both tenancies. Subtle heritage references complement contemporary finishes, respecting the building’s architectural significance.
Scope of Works
The project’s comprehensive scope included the creation and enhancement of the following spaces:
- Lift Lobby
- Communal Foyer
- Tenancy Split
- Reception & Waiting Areas
- Open Work Areas
- Private Offices
- Boardroom
- Meeting Rooms
- Breakout & Kitchen Facilities
- UAT (Unisex Accessible Toilet)
- Utilities & Storage
- Collaboration Rooms
Additionally, full UAT/DDA-compliant bathroom upgrades were implemented to meet current accessibility standards.
Heritage Context
Positioned within the historic Commonwealth Bank Building, the design carefully balances the constraints and character of a heritage-listed environment with the needs of modern commercial tenants. The result is a suite of polished contemporary interiors that sit comfortably within the building’s preserved architectural fabric.
This prime CBD location, combined with the revitalised workplace offering, ensures the tenancy provides an enticing commercial opportunity—giving incoming occupants the solid foundations they need to move in with confidence.
