Chifley North: A circular fitout in practice

Commercial fitouts create a significant opportunity to reduce waste, extend the life of materials and improve resource efficiency. At Chifley North, we tested how circularity could move from ambition to delivery in a premium commercial environment, creating a practical model to inform future projects without compromising cost, timing or design quality.

Designing for reuse, not replacement

While recycling and landfill diversion are now common targets, this pilot went further by embedding circularity into the design and defit process from the outset. Working with The Collective, a group of industry and academic experts, the team prioritised retention, reuse, refurbishment and remanufacturing over replacement with new materials.

92% of materials diverted from landfill

This approach exceeded the project’s 90% circularity target and the team achieved a 92% diversion rate from landfill across the defit and refurbishment phases. In total, 36.3 tonnes of materials – the weight of four garbage trucks – were retained within the circular economy, including glass, joinery, copper piping, insulation and electrical components.

Digital material passports for every asset

The pilot also created capability beyond the immediate project. A digital material passport was created for each material that was used in the refurbishment. The passport records key information about each material, how it can be maintained or repaired, and the preferred reuse or recovery pathways if it cannot be retained. This creates a practical evidence base to inform future projects, improve material stewardship across the portfolio and reduce reliance on landfill at end of life.

A model for future commercial fitouts

Chifley North has provided a practical blueprint for circular fitouts in premium commercial environments. By combining early design intent, contractor engagement, material tracking and clear reuse pathways, the pilot shows how waste can be designed out of delivery, materials kept in use for longer, and projects delivered on time and within budget.