Reimagined by Woods Bagot, Enex is Perth’s first urban commercial village, connecting two flagship CBD commercial districts through tailored retail amenity.
Enex is a transformative adaptive re-use project at the heart of Perth’s CBD, repositioning a diminishing retail centre into a vibrant mixed-use precinct with a renewed architectural identity on St Georges Terrace. Integrating retail, hospitality, workplace and public amenity, it delivers over 6,300 sqm of new office space, including a 5,200 sqm campus-style super floor, while activating the city through a Central Lounge, City Canteen and inclusive public family facilities.
Woods Bagot Principal Eva Sue says, “Adaptive re-use is central to the project’s philosophy, enabling long-term commercial viability while reducing embodied carbon and avoiding demolition.”
“By embracing the constraints of the existing building, the design unlocks new spatial, programmatic and economic value, establishing a renewed architectural identity for Enex and its role within the city.”
Built in 2009 with a focus on local fashion retail, the original Enex had fallen victim to the familiar struggles of inner-city retail—high vacancy rates and a disconnected relationship with the street.
The new design reconfigured and repositioned the 3-floor podium of the 24-level commercial tower and comprises building extensions, a striking new facade, a considered urban design response and integrated interior fitout.
“We completely restacked the retail and hospitality program,” says Woods Bagot Project Lead Linda Randall. “Creating that connection to the street has provided a more legible retail identity. We extended the slab edge at the St George’s Terrace entry to provide better visibility from the City Canteen to the heart of Perth’s CBD and provide an invitation to passersby.”
The architectural intervention centres on a striking pleated facade that has created a new identity for St Georges Terrace while maintaining respectful dialogue with the neighbouring Trinity Uniting Church, constructed in 1893.
Described by the team as a ‘beacon’ or lantern, the facade provides an organic counterpoint to the tower’s orthogonal geometry while creating a cohesive street frontage for 100 St George’s Terrace.
“We wanted to celebrate the existing heritage context, so maintaining continuous, clear sight lines was a priority throughout design. The strategically placed City Canteen provides clear views through the pleated facade.”
Works included 6,300m2 of new commercial space for a single tenant, including the creation of 5,200m2 superfloor. The design process required navigating complex logistical challenges, with construction executed across two shifts spanning 19 hours daily over 19 months to accommodate existing tenants.
As part of the redevelopment, the adjoining A Grade office tower at 100 St Georges Terrace also underwent refurbishment, including redesigned upper-floor lift lobbies and a new connection between the tower and Enex. The final stage of the precinct’s repositioning (a new commercial tower lobby, due for completion later this year) will further strengthen the relationship between the workplace and retail experience, creating a seamless arrival journey for tenants and visitors.
Together, the works establish a more cohesive relationship between the commercial tower and retail podium, improving connectivity, wayfinding and the overall tenant experience.
The precinct has strong sustainability credentials and is targeting 5.5 Greenstar energy rating, NABERS Energy 5.5 Star rating and a NABERS Water 4.5 star rating and has developed a waste strategy in accordance with Green Star Design and As Built v1.2; NABERS Waste guidelines and Better Buildings Partnership Operation Waste guidelines.
Across Western Australia’s 2026 AIA Awards, the jury pointed to acts of repair, civic generosity and a doing more with less approach as defining themes.
Jury chair Peter Hobbs said acts of repair emerged as a recurring theme among winners, saying. “Abandoned or underused sites are revitalised into vibrant social hubs for the local community, largely within the existing heritage fabric. Similarly, commercial projects had a strong sense of civic generosity through urban revitalisation; civic insertions that welcome the local community with dedicated public access.”
A full list of the winning and commended projects can be found here.
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