CBRE Office Tower,
North Sydney

This CBRE office tower in North Sydney required internal commercial painting across five levels of its basement carpark as part of a new colour-coded wayfinding system. The project was completed in 2026.

The full scope covered approximately 148 precast concrete columns across five basement levels, with three different column profiles: 380mm narrow, 900mm wide and 1200mm diameter round, all 2700mm high. Each required a light grey field, large level number, feature colour shape and fine metallic brass line.

Rather than a maintenance repaint, this project involved bringing a detailed colour-coded wayfinding system to life at scale. The design was created for the building by a branding agency, with each basement level assigned its own identity colour to help drivers recognise where they parked. Dukes was responsible for translating that specification accurately across all three column profiles, with the graphics wrapping around the left, front and right faces so they could be read clearly from any approach.

All of this also had to be completed without reducing parking availability for tenants, with the carpark remaining operational throughout the works.

With columns at 2700mm, this was not a height-access project and we used working platforms. The primary risk was live traffic, which we managed using bollards and safety barriers around every active work zone. Cars were cleared from around the columns where possible and sheeted for protection where they had to remain in place. We staged the works level by level and completed them after hours, which allowed the carpark to remain fully operational throughout.

This project involved navigating a number of complexities, including:

• Precision across 148 columns: Each column involved three separate masking stages for the coloured shape, numeral and metallic brass line. Across the carpark, this amounted to roughly 450 masking and spraying operations, all of which needed to align consistently.
• Working with curved columns: Applying hard-edged graphics and a fine straight line to the 1200mm round columns required precise setout to achieve the required finish across the curved surface.
• Consistent sizing: The level numerals had to fit the narrowest 380mm columns, while remaining consistent across the wider and round columns so the wayfinding system read cohesively throughout the carpark.
• Accurate colour matching: The colours were specified using PMS references, but basement lighting can significantly affect how colour appears. We applied site samples and obtained written approval before moving into full production.
• Preparing the concrete: The existing precast concrete had imperfections, with filling excluded from the scope. Preparation instead focused on removing exhaust residue, tyre rubber and dust to provide a sound surface for coating.
• Managing drying and recoat times: With the carpark remaining operational, each stage had to be carefully programmed around drying and recoat times so columns were not unavailable for longer than necessary.