Mirvac partners with York Butter Factory to launch coworking hub at Australian Technology Park

Less than a week on from the NSW Government’s announcement of an 11 floor startup hub in the Sydney CBD, developer Mirvac has announced a national partnership with Melbourne coworking space York Butter Factory to begin building hubs nationally, with the first at the Australian Technology Park (ATP) in Sydney.

The plan for the hub, to be based at the Locomotive Workshop at ATP, comes almost two years after Mirvac won the bid to develop the ATP site.

Beating out a bid from Atlassian to create a tech precinct, Mirvac’s plan is centered on building a new campus for anchor tenant Commonwealth Bank, which will be moving 10,000 employees to the new location.

The developer also stated at the time that up to 75,000 square metres of floor space would be reserved for technology uses, while it would also “revitalise” the Locomotive Workshop, which will be dedicated to technology and startup uses.

Now revealed, the space, named Hoist, will look to bring together startups and corporates and feature team spaces, a workshop, and an events space. Opening next month, it will host 50 seats at launch and will grow as the ATP development, scheduled for completion in 2020, comes along.

Paul Edwards, general manager of workplace experiences at Mirvac, said the partnership with York Butter Factory will complement and work in conjunction with the other hubs planned for Sydney.

“At ATP, startups will access extensive support and advice to ensure their business grows, with direct access to the already established technology and startup ecosystem that exists at the precinct,” he said.

“A successful smart precinct moves away from the homogenous use of a space and mixes startups, corporates, entrepreneurs, the latest technologies and new property strategies to form a hybrid, allowing cross-collaboration and sharing of ideas. Hoist at ATP will help to cement the site as an advanced innovation district as well as a thriving community precinct,” Edwards said.

Stuart B. Richardson, founder of York Butter Factory, added that the “unique environment” and range of stakeholders at ATP, with Cicada Innovations already located at the site and the University of Sydney close by, makes it the perfect location for a sustainable entrepreneurial precinct.

“We’re in the fourth industrial revolution where technology is seismically changing all industries. YBF sees the launch of Hoist as a positive step toward equipping Australian companies with the tools they need to thrive in this new environment…Hoist and its tenants will aim to be ahead of the curve when it comes to whatever changes and disruption which come to the forefront of the global economy,” he said.

For Mirvac, Edwards said the partnership will also help the developer foster innovation with the property industry.

With the rise of remote working and job automation changing the office landscape, developers too must adapt and explore new ways of creating spaces.

Edwards said, “Adapting to these changes is integral to our success and the results we deliver for our customers, and the cities and communities we operate in.”