Client Background
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is the leading provider of Guide Dogs, orientation and mobility services that enable people with low vision and blindness to navigate their communities safely and independently. Each year their highly trained Orientation and Mobility specialists work with around 4,000 people of all ages to help them achieve their mobility goals and provide them with the skills to lead an independent life.
Points of Note
CR Commercial Property Group (“CR”) has been working closely with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT as their independent property advisor, helping to manage and oversee it’s property strategy for the last 5 years, in-line with their new organisational objectives. As part of this process, CR was tasked with the Sale of the Chatswood site and the procurement of a new site in the St Leonards Medical Precinct.
Located within 5 minutes walk of St Leonards station, ‘The Centre of Excellence’ is a state of the art accessible site, built to go over and above in terms of best practice workplace strategy and all aspects of accessibility. The space brings together Guide Dogs internal staff, medical professionals in the Low Vision Clinic and clients. It has been built especially to ensure staff and clients with low vision are able to navigate the space. This space acts as the new benchmark for accessibility for both Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and across Australia.
Following settlement of 2 – 4 Thomas Street, Chatswood, as managed by CR, It was involved with the project from the onsite, procuring the site, managing the Duel Diligence process and final negotiations. CR was also engaged to act as the superintendent on behalf of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT to independently project manage the fitout with a goal of moving staff in before the holiday period.
Over the entirety of the project, CR worked collaboratively with the designers, builders, medical professionals and key internal and external stakeholders to help deliver a space that was not only functional for staff and clients, but also a stateof-the-art facility that aligned with Guide Dogs branding requirements and set a new standard for accessible design practices.
The Result
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT staff moved into their new premises 2 weeks before Christmas. To the delight of Senior Management, as promised by CR the project was not only completed on time and under budget, but also met the expectations of their new property strategy and vision for the future.
