JGS Spec Suites
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Size: 2,000 sqm
Industry: Workplace
The nature of office space is changing. Demand is shifting away from static, single-use workplaces toward environments that are flexible, efficient and aligned with how people actually work.
Responding to this change, JGS Property partnered with Connected to deliver a series of spec suites across two office buildings in Notting Hill, Melbourne, repositioning existing floors to meet contemporary market expectations.
The JGS Spec Suites comprise four separate office fit outs delivered across two fully operational buildings. Previously underutilised spaces were upgraded into ready-to-occupy workplaces that demonstrate how layout, amenity and design quality can transform the appeal and performance of existing commercial assets. Rather than pursuing demolition or major redevelopment, the project focused on reworking what was already there, extending the life of the buildings while improving their leasing potential.
For JGS, the project reflects an asset-led strategy that prioritises long-term value. By investing in flexible, design-driven interiors, JGS has strengthened the relevance of assets typically held within institutional investment portfolios, responding to changing tenant demand without compromising operational continuity
Reinventing Existing Buildings for a Changing Workplace
Australia’s commercial property sector is undergoing a structural shift. With hybrid work now embedded in corporate culture, employees are more likely to return to the office when spaces support collaboration, flexibility and wellbeing Property Council of Australia, 2024). At the same time, reusing and adapting existing buildings can reduce embodied carbon by up to 50 percent compared with new construction, making refurbishment one of the most powerful sustainability tools in the built environment (Rocky Mountain Institute, 2023).
The JGS Spec Suites demonstrate how adaptive reuse can deliver both market appeal and environmental benefit. Instead of constructing new space, the project upgraded and repositioned existing floors across four suites in Notting Hill. Working within fully operational office buildings, high-quality fit outs were delivered while maintaining business continuity, managing access, logistics and daily operations in a live environment.
Reinventing Existing Buildings for a Changing Workplace
Australia’s commercial property sector is undergoing a structural shift. With hybrid work now embedded in corporate culture, employees are more likely to return to the office when spaces support collaboration, flexibility and wellbeing Property Council of Australia, 2024). At the same time, reusing and adapting existing buildings can reduce embodied carbon by up to 50 percent compared with new construction, making refurbishment one of the most powerful sustainability tools in the built environment (Rocky Mountain Institute, 2023).
The JGS Spec Suites demonstrate how adaptive reuse can deliver both market appeal and environmental benefit. Instead of constructing new space, the project upgraded and repositioned existing floors across four suites in Notting Hill. Working within fully operational office buildings, high-quality fit outs were delivered while maintaining business continuity, managing access, logistics and daily operations in a live environment.
Key Project outcomes included:
Modern, flexible layouts balancing focus work with collaboration zones
Glazed and plasterboard partitions to improve light, transparency and connectivity
Feature flooring including polished concrete and refreshed carpet
New kitchens, meeting areas and collaborative furniture
Upgraded lighting and adjusted services aligned to new layouts
Reconfigured mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and fire systems
By retaining existing structures and services where possible, and only upgrading where necessary, JGS reduced waste, minimised disruption and extended the lifecycle of its assets.
Design That Supports Leasing Outcome
Spec suites play an increasingly important role in office leasing strategies, particularly in competitive markets. With national office vacancy rates rising to around 15.9 per cent, landlords increasingly need to differentiate their assets (Property Council of Australia, 2026). Prospective tenants are looking for spaces that are ready to use and easy to imagine themselves occupying. The JGS Spec Suites were designed to meet this need, offering flexible layouts, high levels of natural light and clearly defined zones for focus work, collaboration and social interaction.
Connected led both the design and delivery of the project, ensuring consistency across the suites while responding to the specific constraints and opportunities of each floor plate. The result is a collection of spaces that communicate quality, adaptability and value to the market.
Each suite was configured to:
Encourage collaboration through shared zones and meeting spaces
Support hybrid working with adaptable layouts
Improve daylight penetration through glazed partitions
Create welcoming social spaces via new kitchens and breakout areas
These choices position JGS not just as an asset manager, but as a steward of environments that shape how people work, interact and innovate
People, Performance and Place
At the centre of the project is a focus on people. The suites were configured to encourage interaction, support hybrid working patterns and create functional social spaces that contribute to wellbeing. The JGS Spec Suites illustrate how thoughtful design and disciplined delivery can unlock value within existing buildings. Through collaboration, adaptive reuse and integrated project leadership, JGS have delivered workplaces that are responsive, efficient and aligned with the future of work
