Collins Arcade

Buildcorp is thrilled to have partnered alongside UBS Asset Management, Kaipara Property Group and the consultant team on the revitalisation of Collins Arcade.

The repositioning of the high-profile four-level arcade, connecting Collins and Little Collins Streets, forms part of a revitalised precinct enhancing connectivity and customer experience. This has been achieved by rejuvenating the shopping centre and introducing new facilities – spanning retail, dining, entertainment, co-working – aimed to increase foot traffic and attract tenants with a broader market appeal.

Key works included the removal and reconfiguration of existing stair and escalator elements, major structural modifications, extensive demolition and services upgrades, and new base-build finishes to support the refreshed retail, hospitality and co-working offer. 

Our team carefully designed a live environment methodology to minimise disruption to the three remaining active retailers and the neighbouring Novotel, while also ensuring the public-facing aspects of the site were safe with high-foot traffic through the connection. 

A variety of challenges were tackled through a combination of ECI studies and preliminary work packages:

• Implementation of a comprehensive Noise & Dust Management Plan, our team installed decibel readers and constructed a custom noise containment wall – which separated the shared atrium with Novotel overhead. This was particularly important given that the demolition of the existing retail space occurred underneath.
• Considerable access and logistics challenges existed beyond the usual live environment methodology, with Novotel and tenants sharing the same loading bay, staff and goods lifts. This led to the creation of a dedicated internal loading bay for the removal of material from the site – after the removal of a wall from an outgoing tenancy that backed into the shared services area off Carson Place.

The project revolved around repurposing existing materials, uncovering the building’s history by stripping back areas, and introducing new uses into the space to create a multi-layered interior that fuses gritty and luxe. Externally, the ground plane facade originally design by ARM has also been retained.

Following our successful delivery of MECCA Bourke Street across the road, this upgrade forms part of a revitalised retail precinct, enhancing connectivity and customer experience. The arcade opened to the public, as scheduled, in October 2025, which marked a major milestone in the transformation of this high-profile destination.