Landmark 3,300sqm commitment validates Skylife’s vision for Melbourne’s next generation workplace
Skylife has secured a major leasing milestone at The Balmain Building in Cremorne, with Kennedy Consolidated becoming the landmark commercial development’s inaugural tenant after committing to approximately 3,300 square metres across the building’s top three floors.
Kennedy Consolidated is a Melbourne headquartered principal investment and operating group focused on acquiring and building high-quality consumer businesses, combining more than five decades of Kennedy experience in consumer and retail with investment management and operating capability.
The lease of Levels 7, 8 and 9 to Kennedy Consolidated – via Colliers – represents a significant endorsement of The Balmain Building’s premium workplace offering and the continued strength of Melbourne’s leading innovation precinct, Cremorne.
Designed by Bates Smart, The Balmain Building has been created to redefine what businesses expect from the modern office. It combines world-class architecture, the latest in sustainability and technology, and hospitality-inspired amenities to create a destination that helps organisations attract talent and support long-term growth.
Skylife Managing Director, Mark Tartak said Kennedy Consolidated’s decision to establish its workplace at The Balmain Building demonstrated the market’s continued appetite for exceptional office environments.
“Securing an organisation of Kennedy Consolidated’s calibre as our inaugural tenant is a defining milestone for The Balmain Building,” Mr Tartak said.
“From the outset, our vision has been to create one of Melbourne’s most desirable workplaces – not simply another office building.”
“Kennedy Consolidated’s commitment validates that vision and reinforces the growing demand for premium, sustainable workplaces that place equal importance on employee experience, business performance and environmental responsibility.”
James Kennedy, CEO of Kennedy Consolidated said the Group was looking forward to calling The Balmain Building home, with the move from Toorak’s St Germain premises offering a much larger footprint to accommodate Kennedy Consolidated’s expanding portfolio.
“We’ve been at St Germain, Toorak, for a long time and it has served us well, but the business has moved on. We needed a materially larger headquarters, better amenity, stronger visibility and a precinct that better reflects where Kennedy Consolidated is heading,” Kennedy said.
“The Balmain Building gives us all of that, including significant building signage and the ability to bring the broader group together in one location. Cremorne also has the right mix of businesses, talent, amenity and energy for the next stage of the Group.”
Kennedy Consolidated has recently completed the A$65 million acquisition of the LEGO® Certified Stores business across Australia and New Zealand from Alquemie Group, establishing the foundation investment of its broader consumer investment platform.
This includes the world’s largest LEGO store in Sydney, a 900m2 retail footprint in Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall and Melbourne’s 560m2 retail store located at Melbourne Central, with the total retail acquisition including twenty-one (21) stores in Australia and four (4) in New Zealand.
The LEGO acquisition establishes the foundation of Kennedy Consolidated’s broader consumer platform, alongside its existing luxury watch and jewellery division, which operates House of Kennedy multi-brand boutiques carrying brands including Cartier, IWC and Longines.
The Group has also recently opened a new boutique at Chatswood Chase in Sydney and will open its new Graff boutique on Collins Street, Melbourne, in the coming weeks.
Kennedy Consolidated will occupy the building’s premium upper levels, enjoying expansive city views and direct access to a suite of workplace amenities designed to support flexible working and employee wellbeing.
New Level of Workplace Comfort and Convenience
Comprising approximately 11,875 square metres of Premium Grade office accommodation, The Balmain Building has been thoughtfully designed around the way people work today. Every floor benefits from generous natural light, flexible floorplates and high-performance building systems, while tenants also enjoy access to premium end-of-trip facilities, concierge-style services and a dedicated Clubhouse featuring bookable meeting rooms, boardrooms and collaboration spaces.
An exclusive rooftop terrace overlooking Melbourne’s CBD and the MCG provides an additional destination for meetings, events and informal collaboration, complementing Cremorne’s vibrant mix of cafés, restaurants, boutique retail and wellness offerings just moments from the building.
The fully electric development has been designed and constructed to achieve a 5.5-Star NABERS Energy rating and a 6-Star Green Star rating, reflecting Skylife’s commitment to delivering environmentally responsible buildings that reduce operational emissions while supporting healthier, more productive workplaces.
Located within walking distance of East Richmond and Richmond Stations, multiple tram routes and Melbourne’s major arterial road network, The Balmain Building combines exceptional connectivity with one of Australia’s most dynamic business communities.
With Kennedy Consolidated now secured as the inaugural occupier, Skylife expects strong interest in the remaining office space as businesses continue to seek premium workplaces that offer a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining people.
About The Balmain Building
Developed by Skylife & Borg and designed by Bates Smart, The Balmain Building is a Premium Grade commercial office development comprising approximately 11,875 square metres of office accommodation. The fully electric building features premium end-of-trip facilities, smart building technology, flexible floorplates, a dedicated Clubhouse, exclusive rooftop terrace, 78 secure car spaces, a 5.5-Star NABERS Energy rating and 6-Star Green Star rating, establishing a new benchmark for workplace design in Melbourne’s Cremorne precinct. Visit here f
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