Upgrading existing buildings: practical strategies

17 Sep 2026
Event Guide

Agenda

Upgrading existing buildings: Practical Strategies 

Thursday 17 September, 12.30 – 3.30pm

12.30pm   Welcome and introduction – Why Existing Buildings Matter

With most of Australia’s future building stock already built, improving the performance of existing assets represents one of the greatest opportunities to reduce emissions, extend asset life and enhance building resilience.

This opening session explores:

  • Why existing buildings are central to achieving Australia’s sustainability and decarbonisation goals
  • The market, policy and industry drivers shaping investment in existing assets
  • How organisations are extending building life and future-proofing assets through building uplift initiatives
  • Emerging trends influencing building upgrade and transformation strategies for the decade ahead

Speaker: Jess Roberts, Technical Advisor, Green Building Council of Australia

12.50pm   Case Study: Chadstone Place

Major building upgrades can create value by improving performance, enhancing tenant experience and repositioning existing assets to meet evolving market expectations.

This session explores:

  • The transformation of Chadstone Place as a large-scale existing building upgrade project
  • How sustainability, electrification and building performance were integrated into the redevelopment strategy
  • Balancing commercial objectives, tenant expectations and long-term asset value
  • Key lessons learned from delivering a major building uplift project

Speaker: Nick Hill, Senior Associate Sustainability, ADP Consulting

1.20pm   Building Uplift in Practice: What drives improved outcomes and investment decisions?

Building performance ratings can help owners prioritise investment, measure improvement outcomes and create value across existing commercial assets.

We’ll explore:

  • How owner priorities, leasing arrangements and tenant occupancy influence upgrade decisions
  • How NABERS and Green Star are being used in practice to guide building uplift strategies
  • The relationship between performance ratings, sustainability outcomes and asset value
  • Practical examples of how ratings can support investment planning, asset competitiveness and building improvement initiatives

Speaker: Susan Feltaous, Executive Director, Head of Sustainability, JLL

1.45pm   Delivering improvements in occupied and operational buildings

Targeted upgrades to existing building systems can deliver significant improvements in energy efficiency, occupant wellbeing and operational performance without requiring major building redevelopment.

Hear about:

  • Practical HVAC, ventilation and building-services upgrades that improve performance and reduce energy consumption
  • Strategies for enhancing indoor air quality, occupant comfort and building resilience
  • Lessons learned from delivering upgrades in occupied and operational buildings
  • Approaches to overcoming tenant, staging and infrastructure constraints while maintaining business continuity

Speaker: John Bourne, Leader – Sustainability, AG Coombs

2.10pm    BREAK

2.20pm    Case Studies: Electrifying, future proofing and lessons learnt

Major refurbishment projects demonstrate how existing buildings can be repositioned to meet changing market expectations while delivering significant sustainability, performance and asset value outcomes.

Learn more about:

  • Lessons from the transformation of 500 Bourke Street and 270 Pitt Street
  • How existing assets can be refurbished, electrified and repositioned for future market needs
  • The role of sustainability, tenant expectations and asset value in driving investment decisions
  • Key insights from delivering large-scale building transformation projects

Speaker: Steven Peters, Chief Sustainability Officer, IFM Investors

2.45pm   Panel Discussion: How do we balance differing priorities and deliver on buildings uplift?

Delivering successful building uplift requires balancing sustainability objectives, commercial priorities, tenant needs and operational constraints across a diverse range of existing building projects.

This panel discussion explores:

  • Key lessons learned from planning and delivering upgrades in existing buildings
  • Common challenges associated with occupied buildings, tenant expectations and operational continuity
  • How organisations are prioritising and sequencing building improvement initiatives
  • Emerging opportunities to improve building performance, resilience and long-term asset value
  • Practical advice for achieving successful outcomes across existing building portfolios

Panelists:

  • Robyn Hyslop, Industry Leader and Property Sustainability Specialist
  • John Bourne, Leader – Sustainability, AG Coombs
  • Adrian Taylor, Regenerative Lead,BVN Architecture
  • Steven Peters, Chief Sustainability Officer, IFM Investors
  • Moderated by David Collins, Partner & Managing Director, Cundall

3.25pm   Wrap up & session close