NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office New Workplace

  
Client
Property & Development NSW

Sector
Legal, Government

Location
Sydney, NSW

Gadigal Country

Size
5,000 sqm

Services Provided
Architecture Lead Consultant,

Signage and Wayfinding

Impact
Locally Sourced Materials,

Inclusive Design,

Efficient Space Planning

Innovation
Tailored Flexibility,

  Integrated Tactile Wayfinding,

  Place-based Storytelling

Back

“The completed workplace brings CSO’s teams together across three and a half levels, balancing the intensity of a government legal workplace with a more considered and human experience for the people who use it every day.”

— Kirsty Argyle, Managing Director, Davenport Campbell

THE LAND, THE SEA AND THE CANOPY

The design is Guided by the concept narrative, The Land, The Sea and The Canopy, which draws upon Gadigal Country and the surrounding Sydney landscape to create a workplace that feels grounded, resilient and composed. This broader narrative carries through the planning, finishes, lighting and signage, connecting the workplace to place without relying on literal motifs while aligning with NSW Government workplace standards and Designing with Country principles. Stone and bronze reference the architecture of Parkline Place and Sydney’s sandstone context, while timber, cork, soft upholstery and controlled lighting introduce warmth to the space.

From the outset, flexibility was a key part of the brief. Rather than applying a generic workplace model, the planning was shaped specifically around CSO’s practice, with neighbourhoods and secure zones that bring together open work settings, confidential/focus rooms, mediation and virtual court facilities, and a range of internal and external facing meeting spaces that can respond to different matter types, privacy levels and operational needs over time.

TAILORED FLEXIBILITY FOR LEGAL WORK

The NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office (CSO) is the principal legal adviser to NSW Government agencies, providing expert legal advice and representation across complex, high‑stakes matters that are central to public trust and governance.

Located within Parkline Place on Gadigal Country, the CSO’s new workplace supports a highly specialised legal practice with a calm, people-centred environment that reflects the seriousness and impact of their work. Designed by Davenport Campbell in collaboration with Studio P3 and early cultural input from Yarnnup, the workplace was shaped through close engagement with both Property and Development NSW (PDNSW) and CSO stakeholders throughout.

Signage and wayfinding, designed by Davenport Campbell’s in-house Signage and Graphics Team, carry the same focus on place, clarity and accessibility into the everyday experience of the workplace. Developed with inclusion as a priority, the signage and wayfinding system goes beyond standard accessible design requirements through tactile maps, Braille, and carefully considered wayfinding elements that make the workplace easier to navigate for all users. In this project, signage is not an afterthought, but an important part of how the workplace supports dignity, independence and belonging. Close collaboration with the Interiors Team ensured each sign is carefully integrated into the material palette, detailing and joinery, so the signage feels as considered and seamless as the rest of the space.

The overall result is a tailored, future-ready workplace that supports CSO’s legal operations, responds to the demands of complex government work, and gives the organisation the flexibility to adapt to needs over time without losing clarity, care or control.

Movement through the multi-level workplace is equally considered. Clear circulation and an interconnecting stair create a more intuitive path between levels, while maintaining the necessary acoustic, safety and security requirements. Social hubs are positioned around the stair, creating natural points of interaction between teams without disrupting confidential work.

It was important to CSO that the workplace support their staff working in a high-intensity environment. Wellbeing spaces, retreat areas and quieter settings are evenly distributed through the tenancy to give their people places to pause, decompress or work with greater privacy when needed. Adjustable lighting, acoustic treatments and sound masking further support comfort, confidentiality and choice across a range of settings.