Repurposing Toyota’s Altona factory into a Centre of Excellence

Challenge

Toyota’s decision to cease its Australian car manufacturing operations and focus on national sales and distribution prompted the business to repurpose its landmark Altona site, in Victoria, into a ‘centre of excellence’.

Once the place where more than two million Camry engines were built for the local and export markets, the site would undergo transformation over two phases. First, a full refurbishment of its 6,000 sqm head office to accommodate agile working, along with project rooms and innovation hubs.

The second phase was the redevelopment of the former manufacturing building into a state-of-the- art redevelopment facility incorporating vehicle design and testing studios, agile workspaces, training rooms, a mock sales dealership, auditorium, plus a 400-person bistro and end-of-trip facility.

Approach

JLL was appointed to manage the scoping, design, approvals, procurement, and construction of the entire project.

Our role to support the transformation involved managing authority approvals for the adapted use of the site, conducting internal stakeholder briefings, managing the overall design and procurement activities for the two stages of the transformation including conducting expression of interest and formal tender processes, contract administration, and monitoring overall construction.

As the project progressed, we were also asked to project manage the master planning process for the precinct, incorporating strategies to activate the site, as well as delivering landscaping, safety and security measures, food and beverage facilities, services infrastructure, energy and sustainability services, overland flows, and traffic and parking provisions.

Cultural etiquette has always been integral to our partnership with Toyota and engaging its many stakeholders. To ensure we had full stakeholder buy-in for this project, we adapted our approach to follow the Japanese custom of nemawashi, which is a process for building a consensus for a project or proposed changes.

Result

Toyota’s centre of excellence was delivered to respond successfully to the organisation’s research and design, marketing, servicing and training requirements and support the transformation of its business.

The results of the project have supported Toyota’s sales, marketing and training requirements and set a benchmark for its property operations and stakeholder amenity.