Repositioning an architectural landmark for tomorrow's workforce

Melbourne's office market is undergoing significant change, with 1.8 million square metres of workspace requiring upgrades to meet contemporary standards while evolving workplace policies reshape tenant demand and expectations. With a skyline full of historically significant assets, the Melbourne CBD is full of opportunity to bring new life into old spaces.

Built in the 1950s, 160 Queen Street in Melbourne stands as one of the city’s iconic modernist architecture landmarks. Formerly known as the H.C Sleigh Building, the historically significant site spans over 14 levels and has been under JLL’s property management since 1994. When vacancy challenges emerged in recent years, it presented the perfect opportunity for a bold asset repositioning strategy to unlock the building's full potential and secure its future as a premier CBD destination.

By 2022, it became clear to the building’s owner and our team, that they had a unique opportunity to transform the asset in response to changing tenant expectations and market dynamics. The challenge was balancing heritage preservation with modern workplace innovation - how to enhance a heritage-significant property whilst delivering the contemporary amenities that empower people to do their best work.

This presented a chance to move beyond cosmetic updates and create a transformative workplace experience that would capitalise on strong demand for quality office assets Melbourne’s recovering market. With its coveted corner location, and surrounding precinct uplift, the H.C Sleigh building would benefit from the area’s uplift.

JLL's comprehensive approach brought together multiple service lines to deliver an integrated solution spanning advisory, sustainability, project management, workplace experience, design & build, office leasing and property management. This collaborative effort was anchored by an asset repositioning strategy developed in 2022 that presented several transformation scenarios to the client, focusing on three critical areas: the wider precinct, the building itself, and the workplace experience.

This phased approach was decided from the list of priorities recommended for initial impact, centred on three core enhancement elements. Modernising the ground floor entrance with a new 'Espresso' café experience and enhanced meeting spaces, upgrading end-of-trip facilities with secure bike storage and revitalising external landscaping to create a welcoming outdoor environment. This approach recognised that modern workplaces must extend beyond office walls to encompass the broader urban environment, including dining, green spaces and lifestyle amenities.

“A building that fosters belonging isn’t just a place to work—it builds relationships, ignites community, and becomes an integral part of people's daily narrative. Our asset repositioning teams are focused on creating human centred outcomes that drive meaningful attachment to place.”

With a focused investment approach, the transformation commenced in April 2025 as JLL's teams strategically prioritised high-impact interventions to deliver maximum value from every dollar invested. Our project management team delivered a comprehensive lobby upgrade featuring a new ground floor Espresso café, while the design & build team created premium tenant-exclusive amenities including a 16-person boardroom and seven-person digital-enabled meeting room.

The property and asset management team reimagined end-of-trip facilities with premium amenities and upgraded bike storage for 60 bicycles with secure Bourke Street access, while external enhancements integrated natural elements throughout shared spaces with renewed signage.

Simultaneously, our advisory team developed a comprehensive branding and strategic communication campaign, weaving targeted tenant engagement throughout the works program to create excitement and reestablish the 160QS building community whilst engaging the broader market through signage, property listings and industry influencers. This integrated approach maintained occupier satisfaction while building market anticipation, demonstrating how thoughtful communication can amplify physical improvements and deliver outsized returns on focused investment.

Looking beyond the office spaces, JLL's advisory team recommended engaging a specialty retail leasing agency with deep market knowledge to identify tenants whose brands and values would complement the building's elevated character, ensuring a cohesive community of occupiers that would enhance the long-term success of the repositioned asset.

JLL's integrated project delivery coupled with the communications program delivered immediate market impact, securing the renewal of an existing tenant and one new incoming tenant, as well as a new retail tenant for the Ground Floor hospitality offering aligned with the spring 2025 launch. This early success created momentum for additional investment, with our team designing and building four speculative suites on level 10 delivering in December 2025.

The transformation has elevated 160 Queen Street into a modern CBD destination that balances heritage preservation with contemporary workplace demands. Demonstrating how JLL's teams develop tailored solutions for building owners across all asset classes and portfolio sizes, identifying strategic enhancements that unlock value while future-proofing assets against evolving market demands.

By repositioning the building to interact meaningfully with its wider precinct and community, the project showcases how thoughtful enhancement strategies can deliver sustained performance regardless of building vintage or initial investment scale.