Standing proud within the executive floors of Liberty Place in Sydney is the new Australian headquarters for MUFG Pension & Market Services (MPMS). Following a significant merger and rebrand across Australia, the new 2700 square metre workplace is not only a milestone for the Japanese financial services group, MPMS, but also marks their seventh collaboration with global architecture practice, GroupGSA.

At first glance, the office fitout may appear as another typical high-end interior – complete with a chic material palette. However, upon closer reflection, details emerge that reference unique cultural references to both Australian and Japanese identity. A key aspect of the design brief was for the new space to reflect MPMS’s refreshed brand identity and represent the coming together of the business’ roots both in Japan and Australia.

GroupGSA associate principal and project director, Jessica Margiotta, explains how the design response aimed to honour both origins while projecting a cohesive and forward-looking identity. Ultimately, the space “needed to feel familiar to existing staff and clients while signalling a confident new chapter for MPMS in Australia,” she says.

Ceiling details are reminiscent of Japanese gō-tenjō ceilings, employing gridded patterns over various staff workspaces, while local timbers and textured surfaces bring with them a distinctly Australian softness. Paired with “clean lines, sharp edges and subtle tonal contrasts that evoke a Japanese discipline,” Margiotta claims that the workplace “quietly communicates MPMS’s dual heritage [through] a space that feels globally aligned yet contextually grounded.”

Beginning with a blank slate, GroupGSA inherited a cold shell tenancy with the only significant features being a glass staircase and a unique triangular plan. Margiotta adds that the panoramic city views and abundant natural light strongly influenced GroupGSA’s planning approach, pushing them towards “maximising light penetration across the floorplates to support staff wellbeing, visual comfort and everyday functionality.”

GroupGSA’s approach split the two levels into distinct spaces that fostered client engagement and staff collaboration. The client floor embraces a series of adaptable spaces such as a dual purpose meeting room tucked directly behind reception which also transforms into a presentation space. “The locations of the carefully curated client spaces ensure the energy, collaboration and expertise that define MPMS’s work are always visible,” says Margiotta.

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Above, the workplace zone quietly fosters a sense of interpollination between workers, building a sense of community among its staff. Boundaries between informal meeting zones and breakout areas were intentionally blurred, allowing staff to use the flexible spaces throughout the day and not just during lunch hours.

Across both floors, the buildings’ triangular geometry “presented an opportunity to define clear destinations within each corner and across the two levels, encouraging movement and discovery,” shares Margiotta. “Every point within the workspace maintains a visual connection, strengthening intuitive wayfinding and a sense of openness throughout.”

Being a fast-growing business, MPMS threw a curveball mid-construction by deciding to expand their tenancy from 1.5 to 2 full floors, forcing GroupGSA to pivot and quickly integrate new design elements into the partially constructed fitout without compromising on cohesion and quality.

“Working closely with the head contractor, we adapted the original design to accommodate the expanded scope while carefully preserving completed works to maintain both sustainability and cost efficiency,” shares Margiotta. The result is a unified, intentional space that carries the “precision, restraint and finely tuned craftsmanship characteristic of Japanese architecture, paired with the grounded materiality, warmth and openness typical of Australian design,” Margiotta says.

GroupGSA
groupgsa.com

Photography
Luc Remond