Canva Draws Up $56m Renovation of Surry Hills HQ

The billionaire founders of the online graphics empire Canva want to to renovate the inner-Sydney HQ they spent $123 million on a bit more than a year ago.

Plans for Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht’s redo of their office block at 8-24 Kippax Street at Surry Hills have been filed with the City of Sydney.

Under the plans, the existing façade of the nine-storey building will be redesigned and a level added for a rooftop and terrace.

Architects COX said the rooftop will offer Canva “the opportunity to gather, connect and celebrate their unique ‘vibe’ with employees, collaborators and guests”.

The architects in their design report to the council said innovation and creativity were at the heart of Canva, and was “something they’ve always championed when empowering their team to do the best work of their lives”.

▲ A render of the Cox Architects-designed renovation of the Surry Hills office block.

They said the current workplace winning Best Workplace for Innovators on the Fast Company’s 2023 list was “the benchmark for their project at 8-24 Kippax Street”.

“It will be a workplace imbued with the good vibes of Canva,” the design report said.

“The conceptual narrative for the building is to create a place that fosters a virtuous cycle of growth and culture. The culture will inform the place and the place will support the culture.”

Also under the plans, the ground and underground parking levels will be removed.

▲ Renders of the proposed rooftop terrace with landscaping by Arcadia.

A cafe would be added on the ground floor and a gym, studio, and a community space on the lower ground level.

Canva would also commission a mural on the eastern facade given the extended building height.

The building which is within walking distance of Central Station, is on the edge of the burgeoning Tech Central precinct and opposite News Corp’s Sydney headquarters.

▲ Canva bought the unrenovated office block in late 2022 for $123 million.

The $40-billion company was formed by the pair while they were studying in WA in 2013.

Last year Perkins became Australia’s youngest billionaire at 36. According to The Australian’s latest rich list, her and Obrecht’s joint net worth is around $10 billion.