Blackbook AI leases at 300 Queen Street Brisbane

BRISBANE, 13 June 2022 – Brisbane-based Blackbook AI will relocate from West End to a new headquarters at 300 Queen Street following a lease deal negotiated by JLL Director of Office Leasing, Sam Allam.

The 1,600sqm lease on levels 8 & 9 at 300 Queen Street represents an almost tripling in size for the automation, AI, data and digital company, which has grown from four employees in 2018 to over 180 today.

A seven year lease was agreed.

JLL’s Sam Allam said it was reflection of the return-to-CBD trend that many previously smaller-sized corporates were looking for in a post-COVID world where new worker and workplace priorities now existed.

“Blackbook AI have leased at 300 Queen Street in Brisbane’s CBD, with some existing fit-out to recycle. They will build connecting stairs between the floors for better business connectivity and efficiencies across their teams, creating a new work area within the building,” he said.

Blackbook AI’s previous headquarters was in West End across some 600sqm. However, because of their growth, and their desire to upgrade in terms of area, and to retain existing staff and compete for new talent, they looked to the CBD. This new position also provides them with proximity to major clients, which was another important decider.”

“The refurbishment to the ground floor foyer is due to complete October 2022 and will create a significantly more appealing entrance and effectively double its size. This was another major contributor to securing Blackbook long term.”

Thuy Lam, co-founder of Blackbook AI along with Jason Simms, said, “When we outgrew our home in West End we asked the team where they would prefer to work on the days they chose to work from work, and the overwhelming majority selected the CBD based on the ease of commute from home.”

“In addition to this, our growth plans required us to double-down on training and retaining. The AI Digital HUB which will occupy level 8 of 300 Queen, will include the Tech Academy, which is our solution to enable us and our clients to tackle the tech talent crisis head on.”

“We believe that there are enough people willing in the market, they just need education pathways to uplift and transition their skills to more modern technologies.”

His fellow co-founder Jason Simms added, “We believe with flexible working arrangements, people don’t look for cool work spaces anymore, they look for spaces that they can come in and learn, collaborate and share ideas, hence taking over one of Amazon’s old levels and facilities was a no brainer.”