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Canberra staff are scheduled to move in three years and will be given a voice in the fit-out.
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ATO signs $323m lease for purpose-built Barton building
23 September 2022
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The ATO will move its Canberra staff into a new six-storey building in Barton in 2025 on a 15-year, $323 million lease.
The 33,000 square metre building, designed by renowned architect BVN and featuring an expansive central atrium and strong green credentials, will rehouse
the 2,000 Canberra ATO staff currently split between two locations.
ATO Assistant Commissioner Payal Pandya said it was time for office to move and staff would be consulted about the fit-out of the new building.
“With the current leases on our Canberra offices due to expire, the ATO approached the market for a new lease meeting our requirements,” Mr Pandya said. “This is in line with the ATO’s approach to delivering best practice office accommodation.
“The Barton site provides the opportunity to accommodate all Canberra-based staff in one site and will feature a contemporary fit-out designed to meet business requirements.
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“The design of the fit out, including IT and workstations, will be developed over the coming months through a business engagement process. This process will be subject to consultation with staff and their representatives.”
The Barton precinct already boasts the offices of DFAT, Finance, the Attorney-General, Australian Government Solicitor and the Australian National Audit Office.
Canberra property owners Doma and Kenyon Investments will develop the 1.15 hectare site to a design by BVN, which drew up plans for the Quay Quarter Tower and Atlassian Central in Sydney, among other prominent projects.
Canberra construction firm Bloc is expected to start work on the site next year with completion by mid-2025, when staff are due to move in.
“This will be our sixth Commonwealth pre-committed office and our third office for the ATO following the ATO Albury and ATO Gosford projects,” said Doma’s general manager of development Gavin Edgar. “We are really excited about finally delivering this project.”
Doma’s managing director Jure Domazet said, “We have been actively developing in Barton since 2003 when we purchased and developed the old Macquarie Hostel that is now the Realm Precinct directly across the road.
“We are very pleased to now join with Kenyon Investments to deliver this new building as part of a greater office and hotel precinct that continues to grow.”
Doma said as part of the deal the developers had secured a fund-through arrangement for Charter Hall’s CPOF Barton Trust to fund the design and construction costs and then enter the lease with the ATO on completion as the long-term asset owners.
The ATO confirmed the cost of the 15-year lease as $323,382,646 (GST inclusive).
The ATO told staff about the move last Tuesday, 13 September. The 10-level building at 21 Genge Street which the ATO has occupied since 2007 has already been put on the market.
BVN declined to comment on the project.
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