As Chifley evolves, the renewal of the precinct is creating opportunities to think differently about the materials already within it. At Chifley North, a circularity pilot has explored how existing materials can be retained, reused and given a longer life as part of a premium commercial refurbishment.
Rather than approaching the project as a conventional strip-out and replacement, the pilot considered the existing fitout as a resource in its own right.
Working with The Collective, a group of industry and academic experts, the project team identified opportunities to retain, reuse, refurbish and remanufacture materials wherever practical. The objective was to demonstrate how circular principles could become part of real-world project delivery, while maintaining the design quality, programme and commercial requirements expected at Chifley.
Rethinking resources at Chifley
Keeping materials in use
The pilot set a target of 90% circularity across the defit and refurbishment process and ultimately achieved a 92% diversion rate from landfill.
In total, 36.3 tonnes of materials remained within the circular economy, including glass, joinery, copper piping, insulation and electrical components.
Beyond reducing waste from the immediate project, the approach demonstrates the value that can be unlocked by considering existing materials earlier in the design and construction process.
In total, 36.3 tonnes of materials remained within the circular economy, including glass, joinery, copper piping, insulation and electrical components.
Beyond reducing waste from the immediate project, the approach demonstrates the value that can be unlocked by considering existing materials earlier in the design and construction process.
Understanding what already exists
An important part of the pilot was developing a clearer picture of the materials within the fitout and how they could continue to be used.
Digital material passports were created for materials used in the refurbishment, capturing information about their composition, ongoing maintenance and repair, as well as potential reuse or recovery pathways in the future.
This means the knowledge generated through the project can continue beyond this particular refurbishment, helping inform how materials are considered and managed over their lifecycle.
Digital material passports were created for materials used in the refurbishment, capturing information about their composition, ongoing maintenance and repair, as well as potential reuse or recovery pathways in the future.
This means the knowledge generated through the project can continue beyond this particular refurbishment, helping inform how materials are considered and managed over their lifecycle.
Learning through delivery
For Chifley, the pilot represents more than a single refurbishment project. It provides a practical example of how circular thinking can be incorporated into the ongoing evolution of an established premium workplace precinct.
The lessons from Chifley can help inform future projects, demonstrating how considered design, early contractor engagement and a better understanding of existing materials can reduce waste while continuing to deliver high-quality commercial environments.
The Chifley circularity pilot forms part of Charter Hall’s broader approach to resource efficiency and circularity. Read the full Charter Hall case study to explore the methodology, project findings and what the pilot could mean for future commercial fitouts.
