205 North Quay sets a new benchmark for subtropical commercial architecture, demonstrating how climate, wellbeing, and culture can converge to shape a more human-centred city.
Inside a community-focused workplace in the heart of Brisbane.
205 North Quay establishes a new benchmark for the future of work—flexible, inclusive, and deeply people-centred. Conceived by Hassell, REX, and Richards & Spence as a vertical campus, the design translates the principles of the traditional Queenslander into a contemporary workplace that prioritises health, comfort, and connection.
Responding to south-east Queensland’s subtropical climate, the tower draws on the logic of the Queenslander and shade house typologies. A carefully positioned core and finely articulated façade work together to optimise shade, natural comfort, and outlook. Across the building, adaptable floorplates, interconnected three-level neighbourhoods, and generous column-free spaces support evolving ways of working and long-term flexibility.
“Our goal was to design a building that works with Brisbane’s subtropical climate. By using shading, natural ventilation, and layered outdoor spaces, we’ve reduced energy demand while creating a healthier, more comfortable workplace.”
Liam Short, Principal, Hassell
At ground level, a publicly accessible plaza and 210-seat auditorium establish a vibrant civic hub, activating the precinct with retail and spaces that invite the wider community to gather and linger. Designed as a high-performance, multi-purpose space, the theatre features tiered auditorium seating supplied by Figueras, a Spanish manufacturer known for premium fixed and retractable auditorium systems used in major cultural and institutional projects globally.
Figueras Flex 6076
Figueras
A fully upholstered seating system defined by streamlined, geometric forms and a clean architectural profile. Fixed to the floor via side panels, the seats are arranged in a raked configuration to optimise visibility and spatial efficiency. A concealed steel base provides structural stability while anchoring the seat to the ground. When unoccupied, the seat folds to sit perfectly flush with the front edge and top of the side panels, reinforcing a continuous, linear rhythm and a sense of spatial clarity throughout the auditorium.
"North Quay brings together design and city-making, where considered materials and world-class partners like Figueras help shape a civic destination defined by performance, longevity and experience. Figueras Flex 6076 balances comfort and functionality, so it’s ideal for working sessions, training days, and conferences."
Tim Bachelor, Senior Consultant, Living Edge
The project was conceived as a benchmark for next-generation workplace environments, integrating advanced facilities, smart building systems, and adaptable spaces that anticipate the future of work.
A vertical campus of interconnected floors promotes movement and collaboration, while outdoor terraces offer space for work, meeting, and respite. At the building’s heart, a dedicated wellness level, including a 25-metre pool and gym, and publicly accessible spaces, strengthen both occupant experience and community connection.
“Buildings worth keeping begin with foundations that give back to the city. At 205 North Quay, the podium forms a civic base; a shaded plaza conceived as an outdoor room, generous in scale and responsive to Brisbane’s subtropical climate. Formal rigour and material endurance convey permanence and order, extending the public realm and reconciling the thresholds between street and tower, public and private, ground and sky.”
Ingrid Richards, Director, Richards & Spence
The project delivers a highly flexible workplace that supports evolving tenant needs and encourages return to office.
Credits
Hassell / REX / Richards & Spence
Hutchinson Builders
Cbus Property
Cieran Murphy and David Chatfield
