Through restoration and adaptive reuse, the Elders Building and a new annex now provide a sustainable, modern home for the Mediterranean Shipping Company.
At the entrance to the Port of Fremantle, the MSC headquarters combines heritage restoration with contemporary workplace design. The project restored and refurbished the iconic 1902 Elders Building, augmenting it with a new state-of-the-art annex that now serves as MSC’s Australian and New Zealand headquarters. Together, the two buildings provide modern office accommodation while reinforcing the historic character of Fremantle’s West End.
The development was recognised with the Steel Innovation Award at the 2017 Australian Institute of Architects Awards and received a Commendation for Sustainability. Sustainability initiatives included water capture and reuse, indirect evaporative cooling, night cycling, and careful energy planning that halved the complex’s anticipated power demand. The project demonstrates how sensitive adaptation and new construction can coexist, delivering a highly efficient, contemporary workplace within a celebrated heritage setting.
Awards:
2017 WA Architecture Awards – Colorbond Steel Award – Winner
2017 WA Architecture Awards – Sustainability – Commendation
2017 WA Heritage Awards – Conservation or Adaptive Re-use – Finalist
