NAB 3 Parramatta Square & NAB 2 Carrington St. Offices by Woods Bagot – A Unified Workplace Vision Transforming Sydney’s Corporate Landscape

The NAB 3 Parramatta Square (3PS) and NAB 2 Carrington Street (2CS) offices—designed by globally recognized architecture studio Woods Bagot—represent a groundbreaking workplace transformation across two major Sydney locations. Together, these interconnected workplaces form NAB’s “Sydney Campus,” accommodating more than 6,000 workstations and redefining corporate design, workplace culture, and future-ready employee experience.

This dual-site strategy provided an exceptional opportunity: to design two distinct yet harmonized environments that reflect NAB’s evolving identity, align with diverse demographic needs, and strengthen the bank’s connection to both established and emerging business districts.

A Dual Architectural Narrative: One Workplace Vision, Two Distinct Personas

1. NAB 3 Parramatta Square – The ‘Emerging’ Identity

Located in the heart of the rapidly developing Parramatta Square precinct, the 13-level, 35,000 sqm workplace is conceptualized around an “emerging persona.” Woods Bagot sought to embody the bold, diverse, and future-driven character of Greater Sydney.

Key elements include:

• Raw, authentic materiality celebrating an evolving urban identity
• Layered spatial movements and intersecting geometries for interactive experiences
• Open lower levels that connect directly to the public realm, encouraging transparency
• Customer-focused immersive zones supporting collaboration, innovation, and engagement

The design unapologetically lifts the curtain on NAB’s internal workings, turning banking into an open, community-oriented experience. Staff spaces are designed with flexibility, adaptability, and engagement at the forefront—aligning with modern workplace expectations.

2. NAB 2 Carrington Street – The ‘Established’ Identity

Situated within the heritage-listed Shell House and its adjacent commercial tower, NAB 2CS reflects an “established persona,” rooted in Sydney’s historic CBD fabric.

This 12-level, 29,000 sqm tenancy channels:

• Refined materiality inspired by the building’s historic character
• Premium views overlooking Wynyard Park and the iconic urban canopy
• Publicly accessible first four levels, including a micro-branch and café
• A sculptural entry ribbon creating a dramatic arrival and circulation journey

The design elevates NAB’s workplace strategy with diverse collaboration spaces, terraces, an amphitheater, and state-of-the-art employee amenities, ensuring the workplace remains a destination for productivity and connection.

The Red Thread – A Symbol of Unity Across Both Workplaces

A standout feature linking the two locations is the iconic “red-thread” stair, a design intervention that serves as both a branding device and a spatial connector. This sculptural staircase weaves through both tenancies, creating vertical movement, visual continuity, and a unified architectural language.

As Woods Bagot Principal Ian Lomas describes, the stair embodies NAB's DNA—bold, connected, and future-focused—tying the Sydney campuses together through design.

A Decade-Long Collaboration Shaping NAB’s Workplace Evolution

These projects are the result of more than ten years of partnership between NAB and Woods Bagot. Their collaboration builds on the design legacy established by the renowned 700 Bourke Street project in Melbourne, translating NAB’s identity into environments that support its long-term workplace aspirations.

Woods Bagot’s global workplace leader Amanda Stanaway highlights that the design of both sites required distilling NAB’s fundamental values while responding to the unique context, culture, and demographic of each location.

The simultaneous delivery of the twin workplaces demonstrates a rare, highly successful design partnership—one that integrates brand, culture, and future workplace strategies into a cohesive architectural vision.

NAB 3 Parramatta Square and NAB 2 Carrington Street set a new benchmark for corporate architecture, sustainable workplace strategy, and experiential design in Australia. Together, they embody a unified yet diverse design language, showcasing how workplaces can adapt to evolving business needs, enhance employee well-being, and build stronger community connections.

Through refined materiality, bold geometry, and innovative workplace planning, Woods Bagot has created two landmark projects that shape the future of how we work, collaborate, and engage with the city.

All the photographs are works of Nicole England, Trevor Mein