Fortinet

A new three level site purchased in Sydney, comprising of office space, comms rooms, end of trip facilities and parking

The driving force behind the Fortinet project was to create a Sydney based headquarters that reflects Fortinet's stature as a global cybersecurity leader in the APAC region, serves as a supportive, innovative and functional workplace for Fortinet’s esteemed Sales and TAC teams and provides a definitive representation of the brand's identity.

Fortinet first engaged Unispace for a comprehensive due diligence process where we provided guidance on suitable buildings for Fortinet’s required operations. As a result, Fortinet selected 162 Blues Point Road in McMahons Point, a property they successfully purchased. The new site, totally 4,400sqm, includes three levels of office space, comms rooms, end of trip facilities and an additional level for parking.

Following our due diligence involvement, Unispace were then appointed by Fortinet to curate a workplace experience for their Sydney location that fosters deep connections and a strong sense of belonging, while aligning with Fortinet's commitment to cybersecurity innovation and excellence

Fortinet had previously partnered with Unispace globally to design and build its workplaces in some of the most prestigious cities of Europe – Rome, Milan, Madrid and Paris. Unispace were both proud and excited to be appointed for Fortinet’s Australian HQ, as our first Australian appointment.

Intentional design to create an immersive brand experience, foster a sense of place and embrace a strong local connection

A key objective in the design of the new Sydney HQ was to intricately weave together Fortinet's global identity and create an immersive brand experience, while also embracing the Australian context, fostering a sense of place and a strong local connection.

The chosen building provided a blank canvas, affording our Design team the opportunity to work with Fortinet to curate a tailored design that intricately aligned with Fortinet's unique needs. Prior to the fitout, Fortinet's TAC and Sales teams operated from separate spaces. Our design not only catered to their unique work styles, but also orchestrated an environment that nurtures collaboration and unity between the teams.

Our design process considered both global and local requirements, leveraging insights from past collaborations with Fortinet to ensure that the final design seamlessly balanced functionality and innovation.

The design showcases a sophisticated two-story front-of-house area dedicated to Fortinet’s C-suite. Level 1 offers a welcoming space for quick client meetings and casual interactions, while Level 2 provides a more intimate setting to strengthen client relationships, with a boardroom and lounge for events looking out to the Harbour Bridge and the city.

The material palette is warm and understated. An intentional selection to allow the architectural features and furniture selections to shine with vibrant pops of color. The design aimed to complement the different architectural elements of the space, rather than overpowering them with elaborate material selections. To set a precedent for sustainable design, we incorporated furniture sourced from diverse locations and committed to the circular economy where possible, which resulted in 40% of reused/refurbished furniture.

The overall design concept was curated around the notion of convergence. This convergence aims to create a dynamic, positive, and holistic environment that enhances efficiency, sparks creativity, boosts employee wellbeing, and ultimately drives organizational success.

A timely and sustainable approach to the delivery of 4,400sqm

A dedicated Unispace Delivery team was appointed and involved from the commencement of design to ensure any obstacles were addressed and solved in a timely manner. This included adapting the existing air conditioning system (which stretched across three levels) to align with the new layout and seamlessly integrate with the design. Plus managing pre-fitout repairs to walls, ceilings, floors and drainage in preparation for construction.

A critical component of this project was the construction of a large comms room, incorporating advanced security measures and redundancy features. Additionally, a large UPS and backup generator was installed to ensure uninterrupted power supply, mitigating risks associated with power failures.

The completed comms room successfully met all security, cooling, and redundancy requirements, providing Fortinet with resilient, high-performance infrastructure. The integration of a cold aisle containment system improved energy efficiency, while the backup generator ensures uninterrupted operations, reinforcing Fortinet’s mission of delivering secure and reliable cybersecurity solutions.

This project showcased Unispace’s expertise in delivering complex, high-security tech environments within corporate fitouts, ensuring seamless functionality and future-proofing critical infrastructure.

With an underlying commitment to sustainability, Fortinet are targeting a Green Star 4 Star Rating for their new building, an endeavor we are currently helping them to achieve.

A commitment to delivering this project in a sustainable manner involved the following:

• The use of waste recycling bins on site during construction, which diverted 89.63% of construction and demolition waste from landfill.
• The implementation of sediment control bins and wash boxes, which ensured a conscientious water management strategy, saving 1012 litres of water and diverting 1062 litres of pollution from the water system for the duration of construction.
• Using circular economy design principles, resulting in 40% of re-used/refurbished furniture from various sources.
• Nontoxic, eco-conscious products and materials were specified and used throughout, such as low VOC paint, 3^rd party certified products, responsibly sourced timber products and materials containing recycled content.
• Energy savings from utilizing onsite solar panels and the specification of efficient appliances and equipment.
• The provision of an informational Green Star video as part of subcontractor induction, demonstrating our dedication to sustainability practices and ensuring all stakeholders were aligned with our sustainability goals for the project.

We proudly handed over 4,400 sqm to Fortinet with no defects.