Goodman Fielder is the largest Australian-owned food manufacturer, producing many of the most popular and well-known brands in Australia and New Zealand (such as Uncle Tobys, Buttercup Bread, White Wings and Meadow Lea), as well as products for the food service, commercial and industrial sectors. In December 1999 Goodman Fielder merged its corporate and six divisional headquarters into this purpose-built facility at Macquarie University Research Park which houses around 700 national administrative staff. Handover of floors began in December 1999, three months ahead of the practical completion date. The Goodman Fielder building has a 2000m2 floor plate, a nett lettable area of 13,600m2 and is the tallest building in the research park. Comprising seven office levels and two basements with parking for 254 cars, it includes a 1000m2 test kitchen and a rooftop entertainment area.
Even though the building has a large floor plate, it has been designed to allow for a logical and efficient subdivision of the various business units, providing each with their own distinct ‘address’ on the floor. The facade is a combination of a panelised aluminium/glass cladding system and brickwork to complement the nearby buildings. Terraced landscaping at the front of the building enhances its urban quality. Product testing and training will be carried out in the ground floor Culinary Centre, which features a commercial kitchen together with three coolrooms, meeting areas and training rooms. As it houses their main computer room, level one is fitted with computer access flooring.
