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November 14, 2025

Turning operations into strategic advantage: Cromwell’s Facilities Management Team leads the way

Cromwell’s Facilities Management (FM) team has been named FM Organisation of the Year by the Facilities Management Association of Australia — a recognition that reflects not just operational excellence, but strategic value. The FM unit consistently outperforms industry benchmarks, proving that focused leadership and smart execution can drive enterprise-wide impact. For investors, this signals Cromwell’s ability to deliver the deep expertise and capability typically associated with large-scale organisations, while maintaining the agility, responsiveness, and personalised service of a boutique team. Below is an overview of the team’s key achievements that contributed to this national recognition, along with insights into how a high-performing FM function supports investor outcomes through enhanced asset performance, tenant satisfaction, and operational resilience.

The role of Facilities Managers

Facilities Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of Cromwell’s buildings, ensuring they are safe, efficient, and aligned with tenant needs. Their responsibilities span maintenance, compliance, sustainability, and service delivery — all of which directly influence tenant satisfaction and asset performance. At Cromwell, the FM team plays a pivotal role in translating strategic objectives into operational outcomes, working closely with Asset Managers to ensure every decision supports long-term portfolio value.

Performance that drives value

Cromwell’s Facilities Management (FM) team’s tenant-first mindset continues to deliver industry-leading tenant satisfaction results. Their performance places them in the top quartile of peers in the Future Forma survey, with standout results in service-request responsiveness.

For investors, this translates into higher tenant retention, reduced vacancy risk, and more stable income streams. By actively engaging with tenant feedback, including insights from the annual Future Forma survey, the team addresses asset-specific issues and enhances the overall experience across the portfolio — a key factor in protecting and growing long-term asset value.

With a data-driven approach and strong ESG leadership, the team has supported Cromwell in achieving Net Zero Scope 2 market-based emissions and maintaining top-tier NABERS and Green Star ratings. Initiatives such as solar installations, operational optimisation, and GreenPower procurement have contributed to a 95% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 market-based emissions intensity. Safety and compliance have also been strengthened through the implementation of a new incident management dashboard, real-time risk reporting, and ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 recertifications — reinforcing a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Key milestones

Recent initiatives have delivered measurable improvements across tenant experience, environmental performance, and operational efficiency:

Continued to achieve strong tenant satisfaction outcomes in the Future Forma survey, maintaining top-tier performance.
Record NABERS results, with six assets achieving 6.0-star ratings and six reaching 5.5-stars through lifecycle-aligned optimisation.
Cromwell’s first NABERS Waste Ratings via Bintracker and tenant education
Enhanced incident reporting in partnership with AESC, improving safety oversight and responsiveness.
Agile Work Framework tailored to FM, supporting psychosocial safety, retention, and team performance.

These milestones reflect the team’s commitment to continuous improvement and strategic alignment with Cromwell’s ESG and operational goals.

Learning experiences driving service excellence

Cromwell’s FM team fosters a culture of continuous learning to enhance service delivery, embedding insights into daily operations and strategic planning.

A key learning has been the value of high-quality data in driving smarter decisions. Improved visibility of energy, water, waste, emissions, and safety metrics has enabled targeted interventions with measurable environmental, financial, and safety outcomes. For example, tenant usage data informed plant room tuning and LED upgrades, boosting energy efficiency and comfort.

Lessons from solar installations have streamlined future rollouts, while feedback loops including post-implementation reviews and tenant surveys have strengthened engagement, contributing to a strong FM satisfaction score, well above industry benchmark.

Insights from pilot programs and Bintracker have shaped waste education campaigns and supported Cromwell’s first NABERS Waste Ratings. All change initiatives are developed collaboratively by the Facilities Leadership team and broader FM representatives, ensuring solutions are fit-for-purpose and genuinely support operational needs—making day-to-day processes easier and more effective.

Elevating industry standards

Beyond internal performance, Cromwell’s FM team contributes to sector-wide advancement. They actively participate in:

Property Council of Australia working groups
NABERS stakeholder panels
Industry events such as the Queensland FMA’s World FM Day, where Head of Facilities Management, Chris Eske presented on “Thriving in a World of Change”

Internally, quarterly FM forums distil site-level insights into technical guidelines and procurement frameworks, driving consistent performance uplift. Externally, Cromwell shares learnings through Insight magazine, LinkedIn, and its website — offering replicable models for peers seeking to improve sustainability and service delivery.

Conclusion

Cromwell’s FM team exemplifies how operational capability can be transformed into strategic value. Through leadership, innovation, and a relentless focus on tenant experience and sustainability, the team continues to deliver outcomes that exceed industry benchmarks. Their achievements support Cromwell’s organisational goals and contribute to raising the standard of facilities management across the sector.

Update: The awards concluded on 4 December, and we’re proud to announce that Cromwell’s Facilities Management team has been named FM Organisation of the Year. Congratulations to the entire team on this outstanding achievement!

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August 8, 2025

Strategic Asset Enhancement: Unlocking Long-Term Value at 400 George Street

Located in Brisbane’s prestigious North Quarter, 400 George Street is a 35-level commercial tower offering 43,978 square metre (sqm) of net lettable area across office, retail, and childcare. With an 89.8% occupancy rate supported by blue-chip corporate and government tenants, the building is a cornerstone of the precinct’s commercial landscape.

Now, with a lobby transformation underway, 400 George Street is entering a new phase of strategic enhancement—one designed to elevate its market positioning, continue to attract premium tenants, and unlock long-term value.

The refurbishment strategy

Scope of works:

400 George Street is undergoing a comprehensive redevelopment of its ground floor lobby, designed to modernise the space and elevate both its functionality and visual appeal. Key upgrades include a new street-facing entryway, an internal staircase and a new terrace, creating a more seamless and welcoming arrival experience.

The refurbishment will introduce flexible zones that support both informal and formal meetings, catering to the diverse needs of tenants. Additionally, a new 235 sqm food and beverage retail tenancy—featuring indoor and outdoor access—will be integrated into the lobby, enhancing social interaction and lifestyle convenience within the building.

Design vision

Led by renowned architects, Woods Bagot, in collaboration with Cromwell Property Group and Shape Australia, the lobby refurbishment is set to focus on creating a seamless, welcoming, and functional space. The vision is to emphasise connectivity, natural light and a premium finish. “The design concept is conceived as a landscaped garden portal which creates a unique urban subtropical experience that is enriched through the natural stone cladding, the generous landscape provision, and the integration of public art.”

The space is created with multi-purpose spaces for the modern working environment. “The flexibility of the modern working environment really questions the role that cities play, and the workplaces within them. So what we’re trying to do with the lobby is to create spaces for informal, formal, and serendipitous interaction”

Strategic value creation

Repositioning 400 George:

Rewinding the clock to 2009, to the time of construction, the North Quarter was an emerging precinct with limited amenities. A food court was installed on Level 1 to meet tenant needs, accessed via an escalator at the building’s entrance.

Today, the precinct is thriving, with abundant amenities and major occupiers like Suncorp, KPMG, Telstra, Microsoft and Santos. This evolution has enabled the transformation of the former level 1 food court into a purpose-built wellbeing and third-space. This upgraded area now includes a boardroom, training room, 200 sqm breakout/function space, multi-faith room, and 38 additional lockers—providing flexible environments for collaboration, learning, and reflection.

Complementing this is a class-leading end-of-trip facility, designed to support active commuting and wellness. Naturally lit and ventilated, the facility features 26 showers with Smart Fixtures, 530 lockers, 200 secure bike parking spaces, touchless entry, Dyson and GHD hair tools, a wellbeing room, and a dedicated yoga/workout space.

Together, these amenities are far better aligned with the expectations of the buildings occupants. They reflect a strong commitment to tenant wellbeing and sustainability both of which are increasingly recognised as key drivers of leasing decisions. As highlighted in JLL’s Tenant Perspectives 2024, organisations are prioritising high-quality, ESG-aligned workplaces that support employee experience, operational efficiency, and long-term business goals.

With key leasing milestones on the horizon in 2025 and 2026, the timing of the lobby refurbishment is strategic. It ensures the ground floor presentation matches the quality of amenity offered throughout the building and positions the asset competitively alongside Prime Grade offerings in the area. As part of the initial upgrade phase, the now-redundant escalator has been removed to create a more prominent and inviting street-level entryway—enhancing visibility, accessibility, and overall appeal.

Importantly, the refurbishment also plays a key role in repositioning 400 George Street as a premium commercial destination within Brisbane’s North Quarter. The upgrade aligns with broader precinct improvements, including the redevelopment of Roma Street Station, further enhancing the building’s connectivity, appeal, and long-term competitiveness.

Once complete, the lobby transformation will reinforce 400 George Street’s standing as one of the leading A-Grade assets in the precinct—delivering lasting value for tenants and investors alike.

Long-term benefits

Occupancy and rental growth

The lobby refurbishment is expected to play a key role in strengthening tenant retention by enhancing the overall experience and amenity offering. By delivering a premium arrival experience and modern, flexible spaces, the upgrade positions 400 George Street as a highly attractive option for tenants seeking quality and convenience in a CBD location.

JLL’s research shows that tenants are increasingly consolidating into prime-grade buildings to meet employee experience and sustainability goals. These improvements also create the opportunity for rental uplift, driven by enhanced presentation, upgraded facilities, and the introduction of prime retail space on the ground floor¹.

ESG and sustainability alignment:

400 George Street’s strong sustainability credentials—including a 5.5-Star NABERS Energy rating, 4.5-Star NABERS Water rating, and a 5.0-Star Green Star As-Built rating—continue to make it an attractive option for government and blue-chip tenants seeking environmentally responsible workplaces.

The lobby refurbishment further reinforces Cromwell’s commitment to health-focused design and urban sustainability. By integrating natural materials, enhancing access to daylight, and creating spaces that support wellbeing and social connection, the upgrade contributes meaningfully to the building’s ESG performance and long-term environmental goals.

Conclusion

The lobby refurbishment at 400 George Street is more than a facelift—it’s a strategic investment in the future of Brisbane’s commercial landscape. With visionary design and premium amenities, the project is set to elevate the building’s status and deliver long-term value to tenants and investors alike.

¹JLL. Tenant Perspectives 2024. Retrieved from jll-tenant-perspectives-2024.pdf

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May 14, 2025

An inside look: Transforming office spaces

We often showcase the impressive results of office fitouts conducted by Cromwell within our assets, which help secure rental income by driving tenant retention and attracting new tenants. But what does the fitout process actually involve? Cromwell combines a unique blend of tenant focus and expertise, backed by a strong track record of managing and delivering complex refurbishments and integrated tenant fitouts. We collaborate with multiple stakeholders to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest specifications.

In this edition, we sit down with the architects from Gray Puksand, along with our dedicated Development and Leasing teams, to delve into the processes behind the Cromwell office fitout. Cromwell occupies two floors in the Cromwell Direct Property Fund’s 100 Creek Street asset in Brisbane.

What were the initial steps involved in a fitout project?

Brendan Sim, Cromwell Development Manager: We begin our fitout projects by thoroughly understanding the tenant or prospective tenants’ requirements through a series of meetings and workshops. In this case, the tenant, Cromwell wanted a post-COVID workspace that was comfortable, inclusive, functional and timeless to minimise need for future refurbishment. Key requirements included fostering in-office collaboration, creating areas for different types of work, ensuring accessibility and incorporating sustainable practices. Flexibility for future growth and reconfiguration was also essential.

With these requirements in hand, we created a comprehensive project brief and conducted a competitive design and construct tender process, ensuring that the selected contractor had the expertise to meet both budgetary and sustainability goals. Gray Puksand was chosen as the architect. From there, we collaborated closely with both contractors to refine the design, ensuring it met all the tenants needs and goals. This collaborative approach is crucial to efficiently addressing challenges and ensuring a fitout project’s success.

Since 2010, Cromwell has applied the Soft Landings Framework to ensure long-term performance and tenant-focused outcomes. This framework involves engaging stakeholders to critically appraise design and construction, delivering solutions that meet user needs and provide support through all phases of use. Key consultants, contractors, and suppliers commit to an aftercare plan beyond project completion, ensuring ongoing responsibility and interest in the project’s success.

How did you integrate a new way of working into the design?

Maria Correia, Gray Puksand: In answer to the brief, we introduced the “Cromwell Lifestyle” concept. This concept embodies a curated experience that connects people, spaces, and technology, promoting community, wellbeing, and learning. Central to our approach was a deep understanding of Cromwell’s post-COVID needs and values.

The inclusion of native plants, natural light, and a light colour palette created a sense of place that felt authentically Queensland. We addressed diverse user needs by incorporating varied settings, such as collaborative zones, focus rooms, a sunroom, a library, wellness rooms, and a multifaith room. This allows staff to find spaces that suit their work styles, enhancing productivity and comfort.

The emotional aspect of our design drew inspiration from residential and hospitality spaces, creating environments that felt special and encouraged staff to engage. By blending functional and emotional elements, we crafted a workspace that not only met but exceeded the brief, fostering a strong sense of belonging and culture among staff.

By blending functional and emotional elements, we crafted a workspace that not only met but exceeded the brief, fostering a strong sense of belonging and culture among staff.

What were the key challenges and successes of the project?

Brendan Sim, Cromwell Development Manager: We are proud of our track record of delivering projects on time, to scope and to budget. Despite having four separate contractors working simultaneously within the building, we delivered the project under budget and handed it over early.

Cromwell is a strong believer in integrating ESG principles into every aspect of our operations. With this project, we aimed to create a pinnacle example of what we can achieve on behalf of tenants and are proud to have met an extensive list of goals.

We prioritised reuse and refurbishment wherever possible to reduce fitout costs, waste and embodied carbon, recycling 92 workstations and 132 desk chairs from our existing fitout and purchasing second-hand desks and chairs from marketplace for focus rooms. The existing intertenancy staircase was refurbished and reclad. We achieved a 96% waste diversion from landfill, including the removal of the existing fitout to make way for the Cromwell fitout and ensured a fully electric site with no use of fossil fuels.

We understand that ESG encompasses more than just environmental impacts. We achieved a 50:50 gender diversity across the project delivery team and 3.75% First Nations procurement based on contract value. Furthermore, 84% of the work was completed within 7 am – 5 pm, Monday to Friday, which is more socially sustainable for people working on-site.

Maria Correia, Gray Puksand: Sustainability was a cornerstone of the project. We used climate-positive materials and implemented energy-efficient LED lighting with sensors. Cradle-to-cradle certified carpets and refurbished workstations extend the workspace’s lifecycle, contributing to a regenerative circular economy. Our approach ensures durability, easy repair, and repurposing, reducing costs and waste.

How do you optimise a fitout design?

Brendan Sim, Cromwell Development Manager: When creating a fitout, we focus on using the space effectively. This is obviously important to a tenant so that they can get the most out of a space. For example, in the Cromwell fitout we transformed what would be a “dead” space – the back of house corridor – into a functional locker and storage area. We placed all meeting rooms and focus rooms at the buildings core, while positioning office desks, where staff would spend most of their time, around the perimeter of the space to ensure ample natural light throughout the day. Modularity throughout the fit-out design was a clear focus. This will allow meeting rooms or break out spaces to be amended efficiently to accommodate workstations pods or other break out spaces as the requirements of the business evolve over time, giving Cromwell the ability to grow within the current floorplate.

Maria Correia, Gray Puksand: As we move to the AI workplace and the uncertainty of what that will bring, prioritising the ‘human’ component of the workplace will be critical. The design acknowledges the diverse needs of the workforce, recognising that individuals have varying working styles and preferences. The workplace settings at Cromwell are thoughtfully designed to encourage collaboration and inclusivity, providing spaces for socialising and connecting. Additionally, areas like the library, sunroom, wellness room, multifaith room, and focus rooms cater to individual needs, offering retreats for focus and relaxation.

What are the current trends and cultural shifts in the office landscape, and how are these influencing your designs?

Maria Correia, Gray Puksand: Cultural shifts in workspace design have evolved significantly over the past few decades, driven by changes in work practices, technology, employee preferences, and broader societal trends. There are several trends emerging some of which we have integrated into the Cromwell workspace however with the rise of the AI workplace, I think moving forward it would be good to focus on the ‘human centric’ workplace trends outlined below.

Health and Wellness Focus

With the rise of workers health and wellbeing due to the stresses of work and the sedentary nature of desk work more and more business are embracing designs that prioritise employee health and wellness, including features like ergonomic furniture, biophilic design (integrating nature into the workspace), natural light, and spaces for relaxation. We integrated this design trend throughout the Cromwell workspace.

Employee-Centred Design

Employee feedback is increasingly being sought to shape workspace design. Cromwell undertook an extensive amount of consultation with their users to arrive at the brief. We then conducted some informal group interviews to further understand user’s needs. This “user-centric” approach allowed us to all consider the preferences, needs, and behaviours of employees, fostering a sense of ownership and satisfaction. This collaborative design process informed our design approach to create open spaces for group gatherings e.g. breakout / town hall and quieter more intimate social spaces e.g. library.

Work-Life Integration

Work-life balance was often viewed as a separate concept from work, with offices being places where work and personal life were strictly separate. Modern workspace designs are focused on work-life integration, offering amenities that make the office a more comfortable and accommodating place to work, such as wellness rooms, daycare facilities, or even spaces for socialising. Our Concept of ‘The Cromwell Lifestyle’ begins to bring to life this Work-life integration to help users balance personal and professional responsibilities, leading to higher job satisfaction and engagement.

How does the fitout help with leasing activity at 100 Creek?

Stephen Rutter, Cromwell National Manager Project Leasing: We tailor our leasing strategy to each building by listening to tenants, staying attuned to market trends, and developing spaces accordingly. At 100 Creek Street, our approach includes a mix of cold shells, warm shells, and speculative fitouts when marketing spaces for lease.

Cold Shell: A blank canvas that allows tenants to customise the space to their specific needs.
Warm Shell: Provides a head start with some basic infrastructure in place.
Speculative Fitout: A plug-and-play solution, ideal for tenants without a dedicated team to manage a new fit-out, making it easier for them to move into a new tenancy.

The fit-out has significantly enhanced the appeal of 100 Creek Street. We walk prospective tenants through the space to showcase the building’s flexibility and the high-quality office fit-outs that can be achieved.

The fit-out serves as an excellent example for prospective tenants interested in cold shell spaces, demonstrating the transformation from a blank canvas to fully functional offices that meet modern working demands. This project has set a new benchmark for office spaces in the area. Combined with the Business Hub, an important facility for tenants—particularly small-to-medium tenants—who wish to use boardroom or training facilities but don’t have access to these as part of their own tenancy, and the local amenities, it makes 100 Creek Street a highly desirable location.

As of March 30, 2025, 100 Creek Street boasts a 94.2% occupancy rate.

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May 14, 2025

Cromwell’s green trifecta for 6-star NABERS Energy ratings

Cromwell is proud to announce significant achievements in sustainability with three more assets across our portfolios recently achieving a 6.0-star NABERS Energy rating: 540 Wickham Street in Fortitude Valley, 420 Flinders Street in Townsville, and 19 George Street in Dandenong.

NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) offers reliable and comparable sustainability measurements across various building sectors. In Australia, a NABERS Energy rating is mandatory for office buildings over 1,000 square metres being sold or leased, with 6.0-stars being the highest achievable rating. Achieving a high NABERS rating is not just a regulatory requirement but a mark of excellence in environmental performance. Top-rated NABERS buildings are highly sought after by blue-chip and government tenants, underscoring their value and desirability. These ratings signify a commitment to sustainability, leading to significant cost savings, enhanced marketability, and a positive environmental impact.

Our property team continually explores ways to optimise energy efficiencies and future-proof our assets to allow us to continue to deliver financial returns for investors while reducing environmental impacts. This proactive approach ensures that our buildings meet the highest standards of sustainability, as evidenced by our recent 6.0-star NABERS Energy ratings.

HQ North, 540 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley

The team has been continuously optimising our HQ North asset through various initiatives. Following the decommissioning of the gas-fired power cogeneration facility at HQ North in FY23, the operational building’s gas usage for 2024 has dropped 98%, now limited to hot water units for the End-of-Trip facilities and bathrooms.

In November 2023, we installed a 158kW capacity solar PV system, which now meets approximately 15% of the building’s annual electricity demand. Additionally, by optimising the building management system, upgrading to LED lighting in common areas, and switching to GreenPower in January 2024, we have achieved a 66% reduction in scope 2 emissions.

These combined, continuous improvement efforts have earned HQ North a prestigious 6.0-star NABERS Energy rating. We continue to seek efficiencies for the asset with the electrification of the domestic hot water units currently under review. Timing for their replacement is dependent on budget planning and a holistic evaluation of the embodied carbon across the units’ life cycle to ensure the most sustainable long-term outcome.

19 George Street, Dandenong

Similarly, the recent investment in a 100kW capacity solar PV at 19 George Street, Dandenong, is already yielding results, accounting for 9.4% of total site energy. As the system was installed partway through the year (operational for 7 months), this figure does not yet represent its full-year performance. The solar generation has helped reduce reliance on grid electricity and supported lower operational emissions and energy costs. Together with 100% accredited GreenPower, the site achieved 55.3% renewable energy use and a 6.0-star NABERS Energy rating.

Part of the Cromwell Direct Property Fund portfolio, and tenanted by a government organisation, this achievement underscores Cromwell’s commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency across both our funds and investment portfolios.

The building’s onsite solar generation plays a key role in supporting the tenant’s net zero by 2030 target, by reducing emissions associated with its tenancy. While these are considered Scope 3 emissions for the tenant, they contribute to lowering the environmental impact of leased space, a growing focus in government sustainability strategies. Cromwell’s use of 100% accredited GreenPower complements the onsite solar, further reinforcing our commitment to providing low-carbon, future-ready assets for government tenants.

420 Flinders Street, Townsville

The final asset to achieve the upgraded 6.0-star NABERS Energy rating is another Cromwell Direct Property Fund asset, 420 Flinders Street, Townsville, with 99.3% of the building’s energy now sourced from renewables. This result was supported by a strategic investment in a 39.9kW onsite solar PV system, which contributes 6.2% of the site’s total energy.

Installed in mid-2024, the system’s current performance does not yet reflect a full 12 months of operation. Despite installation challenges due to weather and structural constraints, it has delivered strong early results. Alongside 100% accredited GreenPower, the investment has significantly reduced the building’s operational emissions.

Cromwell’s commitment to sustainable excellence

Cromwell now has six assets with 6.0-star NABERS Energy ratings and six assets with 5.5-star Energy ratings within its fund and investment portfolios demonstrating our dedication to optimising our assets pushing the boundaries of what is possible in sustainable building practices. Our lowest Energy rating is a 5.0-stars, reflecting our high standards and commitment to excellence.

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August 1, 2024

Actively managing our assets: 545 Queen Street, Brisbane

As part of Cromwell’s approach to actively managing assets, the performance of each property is continually appraised – relative to market demand; possible future uses; socio-demographic profiles; and growth corridors. Understanding the property cycle, future capital works, and the demand for continuing occupation underpins every asset management and refurbishment strategy across our business. In this edition we profile Cromwell’s activity at 545 Queen Street in Brisbane.

545 Queen Street was acquired by Cromwell Funds Management in May 2021 for $117.5 million, on behalf of Cromwell Direct Property Fund (DPF) unitholders. Occupying its own block, the property is prominently located at the northern entrance to Brisbane’s sought-after ‘Golden Triangle’ financial district.

Creating sustainable spaces in line with tenant demand

In April 2024, 545 Queen Street was awarded a 6.0-star NABERS Energy rating for the first time ever, up from 5.5 stars in the previous period. NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) provides simple, reliable, and comparable sustainability measurement across building sectors, such as hotels, shopping centres, apartments, offices, data centres, and more.

A NABERS Energy rating is compulsory whenever an office building larger than 1,000 square metres is being sold or leased in Australia – a 6.0-star rating is the highest that can currently be achieved.

Top-rated NABERS buildings are highly sought after by blue-chip and government tenants. Indeed, from 1 July 2025, Australian Government specifications dictate that, where a government tenant leases an office space of 1,000 square metres, or above, for four or more years, the office space and the building in which it is located must have and maintain a 5.5 star or higher base building and tenancy NABERS Energy ratings.

Given the prevalence of government tenants in a number of Cromwell buildings, we are taking steps to increase our NABERS ratings across all assets, where possible.

545 Queen Street’s impressive 6.0-star rating in April was the culmination years of sustainability planning and energy saving initiatives, in addition to ongoing consultation with Australian energy solutions provider, Conservia.

Conservia was engaged to help save energy through the modification of the building’s existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Energy control strategies implemented at 545 Queen Street have included:

Carefully monitoring individual office conditions and modifying the building’s HVAC operating system to only supply cooling/heating to required levels, instead of unnecessary high/low temperatures. This approach has allowed Cromwell to reduce the HVAC system’s chiller operation time – as well as machinery pump and fan speeds – which, in turn, has saved energy.
Undertaking calculations regarding the ‘optimum start time’ of the HVAC system – this means tenants are greeted with the desired temperature in their office space when they first walk in the door each day, but the cooling/heating system is not turned on too early in the morning, thus reducing energy consumption.
Similarly, calculating the ‘optimum stop’ process, so that the HVAC equipment can be powered down over time toward the end of the day, while still meeting tenants’ comfort conditions.
Turning off the HVAC system when it is not required to be running.
Monitoring indoor environmental quality markers in the office spaces, such as carbon dioxide levels. By better understanding these markers, the HVAC system can be programmed to pump in fresh air from outside, which naturally cools the building without the need for other elements in the cooling system to be turned on.
Installing smart alarms that alert building users to excess energy and water usage.
Pinpointing areas of electrical overuse through automated monitoring systems, reducing the need for manual checks.
Assisting NABERS assessors to ensure all tenant exclusions are being counted.
Continuous refining of HVAC control systems through the year; ensuring no out-of-sync sensors start or stop the system unnecessarily.
Regular monthly reporting on the system’s efficiencies and NABERS estimates through the year.

This approach saved almost 80,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) in 2023, compared to the previous year, meaning greater system efficiencies, thousands of dollars saved, and less impact on the environment.

545 Queen Street tenants awarded Cromwell an overall satisfaction level an impressive 11% higher than the Tenant Survey Index.

Learn more about other properties from the Fund.

Property	Management Team	Building services	Overall score
545 Queen Street	99	85	92
Tenant Satisfaction Index	84	79	81

Property	Management Team	Building services	Overall score
95 Grenfell Street	90	80	85
Tenant Satisfaction Index	84	79	81

Learn

Turning operations into strategic advantage: Cromwell’s Facilities Management Team leads the way

The role of Facilities Managers

Performance that drives value

Key milestones

Learning experiences driving service excellence

Elevating industry standards

Conclusion

More insights from our property team

Cromwell Unveils Landmark Project and Debt Refinance

Strategic Asset Enhancement: Unlocking Long-Term Value at 400 George Street

An inside look: Transforming office spaces

Learn

Strategic Asset Enhancement: Unlocking Long-Term Value at 400 George Street

The refurbishment strategy

Scope of works:

Design vision

Strategic value creation

Repositioning 400 George:

Long-term benefits

Occupancy and rental growth

ESG and sustainability alignment:

Conclusion

Related posts

What’s coming for commercial property in 2025?

December 2024 direct property market update

DigiCo REIT: The hottest initial public offering for several years

Learn

An inside look: Transforming office spaces

What were the initial steps involved in a fitout project?

How did you integrate a new way of working into the design?

What were the key challenges and successes of the project?

How do you optimise a fitout design?

What are the current trends and cultural shifts in the office landscape, and how are these influencing your designs?

Health and Wellness Focus

Employee-Centred Design

Work-Life Integration

How does the fitout help with leasing activity at 100 Creek?

Related posts

What’s coming for commercial property in 2025?

December 2024 direct property market update

DigiCo REIT: The hottest initial public offering for several years

Learn

Cromwell’s green trifecta for 6-star NABERS Energy ratings

HQ North, 540 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley

19 George Street, Dandenong

420 Flinders Street, Townsville

Cromwell’s commitment to sustainable excellence

Related posts

What’s coming for commercial property in 2025?

December 2024 direct property market update

DigiCo REIT: The hottest initial public offering for several years

Learn

Actively managing our assets: 545 Queen Street, Brisbane

545 Queen Street tenants awarded Cromwell an overall satisfaction level an impressive 11% higher than the Tenant Survey Index.

Key statistics

Learn

Actively managing our assets: 95 Grenfell Street, Adelaide

Leasing Activity

A total of four new leases have been signed for Chesser House in the last nine months (to 1 April 2024), including a significant state government tenant.

95 Grenfell Street tenants awarded Cromwell an overall satisfaction level 4% higher than the Tenant Survey Index

Key statistics: