When is an office no longer just an office? When it’s built to be more than a physical address, or a static assembly of desks and meeting rooms. Today’s most effective workplaces are assets designed to amplify performance, foster culture and drive growth. No longer passive backdrops to daily routines, these environments deliberately shape how people connect, create, and thrive.

This is the thinking behind Omnicom Oceania’s new Melbourne hub, delivered by FDC within the heritage-listed “Pink House” in the heart of the CBD in bustling Bourke Street. “An exceptional space built for connection, big ideas, and greater impact for our clients,” is how Nick Garrett, CEO of Omnicom Oceania describes it. His words speak to a broader shift in workplace design, and the recognition that when built to do more, the humble office can become an engine for collaboration, innovation and success, enabling flexibility, embedding culture and inspiring creativity.

A Strategic Address

For Omnicom Oceania, returning to Melbourne’s CBD is a statement of both culture and ambition. Its Bourke Street address places the company at the centre of the city’s creative and commercial activity, and will see Omnicom's Clemenger Group, Omnicom Media Group (OMG) and DDB Australia based under the one roof.

The location offers accessibility and prestige for clients, while providing staff with the vibrancy and connectivity of working at the heart of the city. The move also reconnects Clemenger Group to its origins. The company first opened its doors on Bourke Street in 1946. Nearly 80 years on, Omnicom’s agencies return to the same street, affirming both legacy and future direction.

“The Clemenger name has served the Melbourne community for more than 75 years. Now, it’s time to begin our next chapter, for Clemenger and for all of Omnicom Oceania’s agencies, in the Melbourne that we all know and love,” says Adrian Ciabotti, Chief Operating & Financial Officer at Clemenger Group. “FDC have been true partners during this process, working to preserve the historic elements and rich history of this building, while also ensuring we have a purpose-build space that incorporates functionality and the latest technology which will ultimately allow us to continue delivering high-quality work for our clients across Australia."

Designed with Purpose

Inside the 1930s pink-tinted façade, is a bright modern space, reimagined, conveying the complexity and depth required of design within a heritage-protected building. Working closely with Turner & Townsend and Bates Smart, FDC preserved original details, from a heritage Coles door now showcased on the mezzanine to architectural elements reinterpreted through contemporary craftsmanship. This interplay of old and new is more than aesthetic. It roots the workplace in Melbourne’s history while ensuring its relevance for decades to come.

Each floor carries a distinct palette inspired by the building’s exterior, elevated with premium finishes, custom joinery and architectural lighting that balance professionalism with warmth.

The former gym on Level Four has been transformed into a reception complete with a terrace overlooking the city, ideal for the sort of informal encounters that spark ideas. Open-plan zones, adjustable workstations and a variety of breakout spaces enable teams to work in any mode, whether brainstorming or meeting clients, while phone rooms, AV booths and sound-controlled studios provide privacy and focus. Flexibility underpins the entire fitout. By embedding adaptability, the workplace empowers people to perform at their best.

Acoustic and Technical Innovation
With more than 800 staff across 15 agencies, managing noise was also a key consideration. FDC implemented high-performance acoustic solutions with full-height walls rated to RW55, doors up to RW50 and low-iron double glazing across key areas. The result is a workplace that hums with activity but allows clarity and focus where it’s needed most.

Additional layers of innovation can be seen in the purpose-built production wing. Designed to support cutting-edge content creation, it features two recording studios, seven editing suites, a professional photography studio and a colour grading suite. A true creative immersion zone.

A Workplace That Does More

At its heart, Omnicom Oceania’s new workspace is about people. By uniting multiple agencies under one roof, collaboration is strengthened, operations are streamlined, and creativity is amplified.

“Preserving the historical character of a heritage-listed building, while creating a modern, collaborative workspace has required close partnership with Omnicom,” says James Munro, FDC’s General Manager of Fitout & Refurbishment, Victoria. “But it’s about more than just one project. Pink House sets a new benchmark for what workplaces in Melbourne can be; spaces that not only respect their heritage but are also built to anticipate the future. It’s about fostering a legacy of design and construction that continues to shape and support the way people work for decades to come.”

The result is not just a fitout, but a legacy for the city. In Pink House, Omnicom Oceania has a workplace where past, present and future intersect, demonstrating how when an office is built to power connection, creativity and performance, it can have an impact well beyond its walls.

Celebrating 35 Years + Counting