New national research from FK has found that Australian workers are increasingly in favour of reusing and adapting existing office buildings, but limited awareness of the benefits threatens to slow industry momentum toward sustainable workplaces.
The discussion paper, Adapt. Reuse. Return., co-authored with research firm Ipsos, surveyed 1,000 office workers across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
It found strong employee appetite for so-called “renewable real estate”, a model focused on continual reuse, adaptation and extension of existing buildings to enhance their environmental, social and economic value.
The findings arrive as office vacancy rates reach a 30-year high and commercial real estate continues to contribute roughly 10 per cent of Australia’s carbon emissions.
According to FK, transforming the nation’s ageing office stock into high-performing, flexible workplaces represents a major opportunity to revitalise cities while cutting carbon output and boosting returns for property owners.
FK’s Head of Design, Nicky Drobis, said the research shows both employees and tenants are ready for a new generation of sustainable, amenity-rich offices designed around wellbeing and flexibility.
Drobis emphasised that reimagining existing buildings can deliver the same quality and comfort as new developments while reducing emissions dramatically.
The study revealed that 40 per cent of surveyed workers prefer reused or renewed buildings once the concept is explained, indicating strong underlying demand but also a significant awareness gap.
Only 60 per cent were familiar with reuse or retrofit as an alternative to new construction, with many still viewing new builds as superior.
FK sees this as a critical communication challenge for industry leaders to address.
While building reuse has traditionally been associated with heritage restoration, FK’s research broadens the concept to include mid-to-late 20th century office buildings, many of which are struggling to remain competitive in the hybrid work era.
In Melbourne alone, over 60 per cent of central city offices are more than 30 years old, often rated in lower building categories and lagging in energy performance.
Drobis noted that true progress will depend on clear policy direction and cross-sector collaboration to remove barriers to adaptive reuse and support the shift toward circular construction practices.
The federal government’s Circular Economy Framework, which aims to double material circularity by 2035, and the City of Melbourne’s goal to retrofit 80 buildings annually by 2040, are cited as key policy touchpoints aligned with FK’s approach.
Sustainability and employee experience also appear tightly linked.
Nearly half of all office workers said it is highly important that their employer takes meaningful action on environmental issues.
Hybrid workers, now representing almost half the workforce, increasingly expect offices that offer convenience, amenities and a strong sense of purpose.
Despite regulatory complexity and technical challenges, FK’s recent adaptive reuse projects (such as Midtown Centre in Brisbane, 500 Bourke Street in Melbourne and 66 King Street in Sydney) show that sustainable refurbishment and commercial success can go hand in hand.
Advocacy group Don’t Waste Buildings echoed FK’s message, with Australian lead Claire Bowles describing underutilised offices as untapped assets ready for reinvention.
FK’s report concludes that for cities to meet net zero targets and attract people back to workplaces, reuse must become the norm rather than the exception in urban design.
