Sight and sounds

Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) is the leading creator of audio content in Australia and a leader in digital audio transformation. Their mission is to entertain, inform and inspire all Australians. Anywhere. Anytime.

Radio has undergone a digital transformation and SCA needed a new workplace and studios to reflect the contemporary needs of the business. Their old workplace sat over many levels, was beginning to get tired and was not conducive to collaboration or the digital transformation SCA was driving.

To realise their mission SCA needed a new workplace and studio spaces that would enhance the digital side of the business and to encourage collaboration between teams.

‘With our new studios we wanted to set the benchmark on not only how they sounded, but how they looked visually. We adopted new technologies particularly in digital branding in order to enhance the audio product.’

Gino Canzano, Engineering Manager, SCA

Siren’s brief was to design the workplace and studios of their brand new, purpose-built offices in Moray St, South Melbourne. The 3000 sqm space would be home to Fox FM, Triple M and LiSTNR studios and the state-of-the-art workspace for the broader SCA team.

We’re also proud to say that the project won Silver at the Better Future Melbourne Design Awards 2024 – for Co-working and Studio Space.

 

‘I think it’s reinvigorated the company. I think it’s rejuvenated it.’

 

Fifi Box, 101.9 The Fox

The new space brings together all the networks’ values and vision the company sought to achieve – digital transformation, technologically state-of-the-art, a collaborative workspace of the future, and embodying sustainable practices throughout.

The space houses world-class facilities featuring no less than 30 broadcast and recording spaces that are purpose-made to resemble TV sets as SCA builds audiences for its premium audio offer using digital video social platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.

LiSTNR’s bespoke podcast recording spaces deliberately contain no large radio consoles – all audio, visuals and lighting can be controlled from anywhere, offering total connectivity between creators in any office and any location.

‘This office is so beautiful it’s a dream.’

 

Steph Claire Smith, KICPOD Podcast, LiSTNR

Sustainability was also a major component of the project and SCA has achieved all its sustainability goals for its Melbourne office. This includes everything from smart lighting that monitors energy consumption, to lithium batteries with twice the life expectancy of previous technology, and electronic infrastructure re-use and recycling – realising a saving of $3.3 million by relocating SCA’s IT infrastructure and audio equipment.