Close your eyes and imagine a traditional trading firm … now meet IMC … it’s a trading firm, but not as you know it.
IMC is an ambitious trading house which develops innovative technology and algorithms to trade in all major asset classes around the world. Fuelled by an entrepreneurial spirit and innovative culture, IMC is on a mission to be one of the leading trading firms globally.
Unlike traditional firms, empowering their people is at the heart of all IMC does. It’s about creating an open and innovative culture where they challenge the status quo and great ideas thrive – and so the choice of Siren for the workplace strategy and design for their new 6000 sqm Sydney office was a natural choice. IMC trades around the globe and around the clock, so a key aspect of the design brief was to create a high amenity workplace to support the team through the highs and lows of trading at any hour of the day.
The workplace sits across four floors in the ‘World’s Best Building 2022’, Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney. Another key aspect of the brief was to make the most of the stunning Sydney Harbour views at every opportunity – no corner offices for the hierarchy here – the concept was to create a truly democratic, collaborative space. The basis of our design was the concept of pulse and rhythm to mirror the flow of the trading environment. The workplace needed to be highly interactive, vibrant and energetic yet also highly functional.
The resulting space is a physical representation of IMC’s personality … not the average trading company workplace. The design was highly bespoke, intensely collaborative and dynamic at every level.
Elements of play (yes there are even monkey bars) flow throughout the space to help the team let off steam or re-energise. There’s a social hub which works equally well in day or night, a full commercial kitchen to provide for everyone’s needs, and a broad array of spaces to cater for everyone’s needs – from quiet zones and nooks to intense work areas, heavy tech, and collaborative meeting areas.
Underpinning all of this was the need for the design to target WELLS Gold, which led to the inclusion of extensive plantings throughout the space, use of natural light and materials, and a consideration for the needs and wellness of staff in every way. Being located in QQT (which was voted ‘World’s Best Building 2022’), 95% of the building’s original internal walls and 60% of its original core structure have been upcycled. In addition QQT has achieved 6 Star Greenstar Office Design and achieved 5.5 Stars in NABERS energy rating.
