Allen Jack+Cottier were asked to design a new national headquarters for Apple Computer in Sydney which would align its image with a growing reputation amongst clients and staff as ‘innovative, creative, accessible, egalitarian and Australian’. Besides requiring a much larger office, there was also need for a training centre and a warehouse. The training centre was designed as a freestanding building of its own, placed distinctively at the main entry steps, within a uniquely emblemic cubic form capped by a conical slate roof.

In the main building, an atrium runs east-west across its length, with meeting rooms, reception and an open-plan general office area, cafeteria and recreation area on one side and on the other, more offices, demonstration rooms, and a dining room. The warehouse and distribution centre were situated on lower levels along with security parking for up to 190 cars. Aluminium louvres have been placed all along the eastern, northern and western facing facades and over the staff terrace to provide extensive sun control. Bold coats of dark green, blue and red, then Apple’s corporate colours, were applied throughout the building. New York’s Metropolis magazine declared the project the “world’s best commercial building” in 1989.