A new era: How ASX's move redefined their workplace culture

A strategic move to the heart of Sydney

After 25 years at Bridge Street, ASX's leadership saw an opportunity to reset and reposition the company in the heart of Sydney's financial district. "Management were very keen to make change. They saw it as a chance to reset, rebrand and reposition," Rob explained.

The decision to relocate to Martin Place was driven by a desire to be closer to major customers, regulators and stakeholders, while placing the team in a vibrant, connected part of the city. "Being in close connection with them was very important," Rob said. "It was really an obvious choice to move here when we finalised our workplace strategy."

One team, one dream

A key driver for the move was to unite the ASX team under one roof, directly aligning with one of their core values, "One ASX." "There was an aspiration of one team, one dream, we wanted everybody in a fantastic building, in the centre of the city, close to the customers," Rob shared. "When we look back at it, this project really ticked all four pillars of our strategy, being Customer-Driven, Great Fundamentals, Digital by Design and One ASX. It delivered on all of them."

The positive impact on employees has been tangible. Employee satisfaction with their workplace scores jumped from below 50% to 75%, and occupancy rates tell a similar story. "We're probably at 85% on Mondays, 95% Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and 50-55% on a Friday," Rob noted. "That's a significant improvement."

The new environment has also become a powerful tool for attracting and retaining talent. "When our staff or a prospective employee comes in here for an interview, seeing the fit-out, looking out at the city and seeing the tech, they look around and think, wow, this is fantastic.

ASX is a great place to work. And now we have a workspace that reflects that."

Breaking down silos and connecting people

The new headquarters was designed to support every kind of work. "We now have a space for every need — quiet zones, lounge areas, collaboration areas, quiet spaces. If you want to take a Teams call, you just duck into a quiet room," Rob said.

But it's the staircase that traverses all nine levels that has become the heart of the building. "The staircase is probably the biggest winner. People just love being able to walk through the floors — there are people who walk it every day just to get their steps up, say hello, connect. Instead of going for a walk outside, they'll walk up the stairs and speak to a colleague." The result has been an unexpected but meaningful shift in how people relate to one another.

"People are meeting people they have never met before. Everybody's so much happier."

The transformation was ultimately about more than location — it was about creating a workplace that makes people feel valued. "The thing that's changed here, and it was definitely one of the goals of the project, was to have this sense that people felt valued by the company," Rob reflected.

"We are saying, ‘You guys are worth it. You deserve to work in a fantastic workspace.’ And that wasn't being delivered at Bridge Street."

How early engagement provided comfort and confidence

The ASX project was delivered through an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) model — a collaborative approach that Rob credits as essential to the project’s success. Engaging a builder from the outset means design decisions are stress-tested against real-world construction constraints before they become costly problems. "With a short program, it's even more important to engage a builder early. It gives the team confidence that design decisions are informed by cost, buildability and program constraints from the outset" he said.

Part of that value came from MPA's willingness to challenge stakeholders respectfully when it mattered. "MPA weren't afraid to push back when they needed to, always professionally, always with the right outcome in mind. That kind of constructive challenge is what keeps a project on track," Rob noted.

“And having them on board from the start meant we didn't blow out our budget or the program. That's not something you can take for granted on a project of this scale."

Transparency was a hallmark of the process throughout. "Right throughout the build, MPA were taking me through every single detail — lighting, chairs, tables, carpet. Everything was really scrutinised so that we were getting the best product for our budget and making it work for us."

Seamless technology integration

For a financial market operator like ASX, technology performance is non-negotiable. Integrating secure, flexible and intuitive AV and connectivity solutions across the new headquarters required close coordination between our team, ASX's technology specialists and external consultants.

"The tech integration in a project of this scale is genuinely complex; you've got ASX's own technology team, cyber security specialists, data cabling contractors, AV consultants, and they all speak a different language," Rob explained.

"What MPA did really well was act as the glue. Getting all of those people in the same room, talking to each other, actually solving problems together, that's harder than it sounds, and it was instrumental to the outcome."

"All of the tech works fantastically well. You can come in, press a button or swipe your mobile and boom, it just works. It's not only reliable, but everything works seamlessly together," Rob added.

A workplace that moves people

The new ASX headquarters is more than a building — it's a catalyst for cultural transformation, innovation and growth.

"That feeling, that sense of pride in the workplace people now have is immeasurable. It's a hundred times better and you can't quantify the difference it has made," Rob concluded.

Working with our trusted partners, Generate Property Group, Bates Smart, Aston Consulting, and WT, we're proud to have delivered a workplace that truly empowers ASX's people and will continue to support the way they work for many years to come.