Collingwood has always thrived on contrast. Heritage warehouses meet design studios, and creative energy pulses through industrial streets. At the base of one of its most intentional new buildings, that balance now has a focal point.
The Local Drop — Melbourne’s wine delivery service turned coffee-to-wine bar — has officially opened its doors at 116 Rokeby, a commercial building as considered as the business it now hosts. With architecture and interiors by Carr, and delivered by builder-occupier Figurehead, 116 Rokeby has already earned accolades for design and environmental performance, from its double-skin façade to Platinum WELL and Climate Active Carbon Neutral certifications.
A ground floor designed for amenity and longevity
From the outset, the ground-floor tenancy was planned as a daily catalyst for the building community. During delivery, Figurehead coordinated base-building structure and services to support a hospitality use without compromise to workplace performance above — integrating provisions for power, ventilation and drainage, robust threshold detailing for high foot traffic, and acoustic separation in a way that protects quiet working floors while keeping the lobby active and permeable. The outcome is a tenancy shell that allows a premium fitout to plug in cleanly and operate efficiently.
But beyond the concrete, glass and credentials lies a commitment to culture. A belief that workplaces aren’t only about productivity, but participation. The Local Drop is now the meeting point at the heart of that idea.
A long-term partnership, delivered with intent
The relationship began well before the fitout.
In 2014, Jagdev Singh was hand-delivering wines across Melbourne, building The Local Drop with personal service and sharp instincts, while Figurehead was evolving from a tight-knit crew into one of the city’s most respected builders. Joe Grasso and Adam Licciardi, Figurehead’s founder and long-time business partner, first met Jag at a private dinner around seven years ago. His mix of nous, warmth and humility left an impression.
“We enjoyed watching his business grow quickly,” says Joe.
So when plans for 116 Rokeby were being finalised, it was Joe and Adam who suggested Jag as the perfect ground-floor tenant — not just for his product, but for his values. There was one caveat: it had to include morning coffee.
“We wanted the building to start the day with the same quality and care we put into its design,” Joe says. “Jag got it immediately.”
Now, The Local Drop’s flagship has opened not just as a storefront, but as a natural extension of what 116 Rokeby stands for: precision, generosity, and doing things properly.
Fitout aligned to the base build
Designed by Studio Y, the fitout is grounded and expressive with the Award-Winning Architecture of 116 Rokeby in mind. The existing palette of metallic finishes, glass and concrete inspired the need for some warmth and richness reflective of The Local Drop’s offering.
“The design of The Local Drop began with a simple idea, light passing through glasses of beautiful wines, casting shadows that celebrate the ritual of a good pour,” says Tess Speldewinde, Senior Associate Interior Designer.
Every material choice was rooted in the essence of wine, the glow of a Grenache in the sun, the depth of a Malbec against stone, the warmth of aged oak. It’s a place designed to feel grounded and quietly luxurious.”
“When you think of wine shops around the world and locally, you automatically think of full height shelving wrapping the walls stocked to the brim with wines,” she continues.
Whilst we wanted to create this aesthetic, we were mindful that the contemporary environment needed a more condensed approach.”
The space blends materiality with meaning: red hues, warm timber, and a statement marble benchtop with bold veining, balanced against raw concrete and exposed structure. No gimmicks. A full-height wine wall with integrated fridges anchors the room, with a sommelier station, custom storage and lighting that shifts with the day. For the construction team, those moves translate to clean interfaces with the slab and services, durable finishes at touch points, and future-proofed access for maintenance.
Simple service model, complex coordination made easy
The service model is deliberately pared back. There’s minimal corkage, no inflated pricing, and no fuss. Wines are available to try before purchase (with tastings Monday to Friday) and the selection spans cult allocations to cellar staples. A handwritten cellar list includes bottles the team are constantly curating.
Small plates include Local Ocean seafood, Rumble coffee, and house-baked focaccia: local favourites that speak to Collingwood’s broader maker culture. Behind the scenes, building services and back-of-house planning allow the bar to shift from morning espresso to evening pours without operational friction.
The Local Drop
On the floor is Pierrick Gorrichon, a sommelier whose résumé spans Michelin-starred City Social in London and Melbourne’s Gimlet.
“I returned to Australia after spending the vintage in Avisa (Champagne), with Etienne Calsac and met Jag in early 2025. I just had a good feeling.” he says about taking the role at a new concept wine bar in Collingwood.
“We aim for The Local Drop wine bar to be a safe and welcoming place where you can either be curious and try something new, something under the radar, or enjoy an iconic wine for an affordable price.
We love to share each wine context, their Producer’s stories, and what to expect in the glass. Connecting wine and people.”
Pierrick splits his time between the bar and his five-month-old golden retriever, Brioche, trained with the discipline you’d expect from a French sommelier. Like his owner, he’s composed, warm, and hard not to like.
Already, The Local Drop has become a shared language between tenants who appreciate good business, well-designed places and thoughtful rituals. It’s a reminder that buildings aren’t only made from glass and steel, but from the lives and interactions that unfold within them.
In a city overflowing with pop-ups and rebrands, The Local Drop isn’t that. It’s a contribution. To the building, to the neighbourhood, and to the next chapter of Collingwood.
When Figurehead was founded in 2007, Joe Grasso's goal was to bring tier-one discipline to projects where relationships, trust, and craft matter as much as timelines and budgets. Seventeen years and more than 90 builds later, that philosophy still drives every decision we make.
116 Rokeby is the clearest reflection of that journey so far. Designed by Carr, delivered by our team, and now home to our headquarters, it’s a building that demanded our absolute best. Which is why winning Excellence in Construction of Commercial Buildings $20M–$30M at the 2025 Master Builders Victoria Awards means so much to us.
The Structure is the Finish
From the outset, 116 Rokeby was designed to leave nowhere to hide. This 11-storey commercial office on a compact 615m² Collingwood site draws on the minimalist, brutalist lines of Harvard’s Carpenter Center. Every element you see is the structure itself: off-form concrete columns, precast panels, and galvanised steel framing all left exposed.
That meant every tolerance mattered, with standards demanding 2–5mm accuracy: far tighter than the industry’s typical 20mm allowance.
The double-skin “chimney” façade, designed in collaboration with Arup, is function and form in equal measure. It uses natural stack ventilation to draw cooler air upwards and expel warm air through the top of the building, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling. Automated blinds and operable windows respond in real time to temperature, UV, and wind conditions via an advanced Building Management System.
From low-VOC paints and responsibly sourced materials to recycled newspaper acoustic insulation, sustainability was embedded from day one. Add in an all-electric, carbon-neutral commitment, plus targets of Platinum WELL Certification and a 5.5-Star NABERS Energy rating, and the sustainability intent is clear.
Cultural respect is also cast into the concrete: Reflections of a Breathing Space — an Indigenous artwork created with Wurundjeri elders by artists Lowell Hunter and Gerard Black — stands as a nod to collaboration, history, and shared knowledge.
Overcoming the Challenges
On a tight urban footprint, our team navigated a Design & Construct contract from 60% drawings, demolition while bracing neighbouring buildings, and a two-level hydrostatic basement below the water table. We battled clay, basalt, and groundwater with dewatering solutions, craned panels via a custom-built gantry over a one-way street, and at peak, had 100 workers on site including 20 apprentices.
Through off-site fabrication, 3D BIM modelling, Procore defect management via QR codes, and smart value engineering, we delivered significant cost savings while achieving a 24-month program.
"Both an opportunity and a burden, delivering Figurehead's future office required a sharpening of perspective.
The minimalist design presented little margin for error and required careful consideration and management through design, procurement & delivery.
Looking back, it’s rewarding to have contributed and collaborated in delivering a space that is proudly anchored by design and construction fundamentals”
—Will Bernard, Senior Project Manager, Figurehead
More Than Just a Building
But this project was never just about technical execution. It’s about impact—what happens inside and how it connects to the Collingwood community.
"It's special to share with the project team who built a space we’re proud to walk into every day.
We had a lot of belief in the 116 Rokeby team, but they were more than up for the challenge.
The office was delivered with precision, integrity, and our signature passion and hunger.”
—Joe Grasso, Founder & Managing Director, Figurehead
For our this group: including Project Manager Will Bernard, Site Manager Trevor Parry Jones, Project Coordinator Adam Pratt, supported by Construction Manager Daniel Dottori and our extended 'family' of subcontractors and consultants and suppliers: it was a career-defining challenge. Their relentless coordination, leadership, and attention to detail across demolition, structure, façade, and fitout are why this award now sits with us. It's cohesive teamwork at its best: trust, open communication, and shared goals making us resilient through every phase.
“I recently spoke with the lead architect, Stephen McGarry from Carr, and we both agreed: this project was career-defining.
We joked that if we got it wrong, it might’ve been the end for us. But that’s also the best part about it. Mediocrity was never an option. For any of our team.
When you’re in it, absorbed in millimetre-perfect finishes and tolerances, you wonder if anyone else will notice.”—Trevor Parry Jones, Site Manager, Figurehead
Master Builders Victoria CEO Michaela Lihou summed it up:
“These awards continue to be one of the most powerful ways we acknowledge and celebrate our members. And as we mark our 150th anniversary, these awards also speak to a legacy that spans generations before us and shine a light on the emerging leaders who will carry our industry forward. Our members have once again delivered work that is ambitious, thoughtful and genuinely connected to the communities they serve. Congratulations to all our winners.”
MBV President Geoff Purcell added:
“It feels especially fitting to shine a light on the individuals, teams, and members whose work continues to promote what excellence in our industry looks like. This year’s nominees and winners have continued to raise the bar in an ever-increasing complex and challenging environment.”
But 116 Rokeby is more than its structure and systems. The ground floor is anchored by The Local Drop wine bar and café — a place for tenants and locals to connect over coffee in the morning or wine at night. The upper floors are home to businesses that share our values: design-focused, sustainable, and purpose-driven.
To our team, partners, consultants, and subcontractors — thank you. 116 Rokeby is proof that when you build with intent, discipline, and heart, you don’t just deliver a project. You deliver a legacy.
At the start of his career, Joe Grasso might have been surprised to hear he’d be asked to comment on sustainability in 2024.
However, with 16 years as Founder and Managing Director of Figurehead Construction, Joe says business has always been about integrity in every interaction. This principle guides Figurehead's approach to staff, clients, contractors, consultants, and the end users of building projects.
At The Urban Developer's Urbanity 2024, Joe discussed the practical challenges and strategic initiatives required to achieve net-zero emissions in the property development sector. He drew from Figurehead's experiences, particularly the development of their new office, 116 Rokeby.
The office aims to set a benchmark for environmental responsibility in the construction industry. At the conference, Grasso clarified that pursuing sustainable development in the short term posed financial risks. Flipping the mindset with a long-term perspective on the asset's value, Figurehead embraced these challenges, recognising the essential nature of sustainability credentials for future viability.
Read more: Net-Zero Nation Building: Industry Push or Policy Shove? | TUD
116 Rokeby: Figurehead's Innovative, Net Zero Headquarters in Collingwood
116 Rokeby, located in Collingwood, was designed with a clear focus on sustainability. It features state-of-the-art design innovations such as a double-skin façade and all-electric energy systems.
These innovations, along with the use of renewable energy sources, significantly contribute to the building's energy efficiency and carbon neutrality. The development has attained high sustainability ratings, including a Platinum WELL Certification and a 5.5-Star NABERS Energy rating for Carbon Neutral operations, setting a new standard for commercial buildings in Melbourne.
Read More: How Melbourne's City of Yarra is pioneering zero-carbon commercial developments
Video Feature: 116 Rokeby by Carr & Figurehead - The Local Project
Offices Now Leasing: 116rokeby.com.au
Best Sustainable Commercial Project Under $30M: Decjuba's Greenstar Office in Cremorne
Innovations in building materials and techniques are making sustainable building more achievable. Advances such as green concrete, which reduces the carbon footprint associated with traditional concrete, are paving the way for more environmentally friendly construction sites. Decjuba, a renowned Australian fashion retailer, has transformed its approach under the guidance of its visionary leadership at the final hour.
What started as a brutalist concrete design was completely reimagined to meet 5-star Greenstar standards.
Figurehead worked closely with consultants to incorporate green concrete, which has a much lower carbon footprint, and locally sourced cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (GLT). These materials aren’t just better for the environment—they also add a warm, natural aesthetic to the building. E.g., instead of sticking to a full concrete structure, we used CLT for the floors and walls, and GLT for the columns. This not only reduced the carbon impact but also sped up construction since these timber elements were prefabricated off-site. And we didn’t stop there. The building’s energy efficiency was boosted by conducting airtightness testing to ensure it meets top-tier standards for energy performance and indoor air quality.
Master Builders Victoria recognised the project in their 2024 Excellence in Construction Awards.
Pictured: Figurehead Site Manager Richard Herbert, Project Manager Adrian DiCosmo & Director Joe Grasso
Read more: 2024 Master Builders Victoria Excellence in Construction Awards
Joe Grasso expressed, "There's definitely alignment with Decjuba as both our companies strive towards similar goals. We're proving that sustainable practices are not only good for the planet, but also for business. It’s about setting a precedent that, we hope, will inspire others in our industry and beyond."
Located in an emerging pocket of thriving Collingwood, 116 Rokeby, an 11-level office building has been designed exclusively for design, property and construction companies who share a passion for premium spaces and a commitment to considered impact.
An understanding of the changing needs of an office building informed the Carr design of ‘a breathing space,’ where work, sustainability and lifestyle converge. The “vertical village” at 116 Rokeby features a communal rooftop with kitchen and ground floor café offering, and premium end-of-trip facilities redefine the role of the office to create a series of flexible spaces for changing needs of office workers.
“We’ve created a building that deeply considers work-life integration,” explains Rebecca Trenorden, Carr Associate Director.
“One of the main things COVID showed us is the deep need for social connection and great amenities, and this ability to have a building community where likeminded tenants share a space that’s so connected is very rare.”
Figurehead Group are the developer and builder of 116 Rokeby, with Figurehead and Flux Construction teams set to occupy two floors of the building.
Joe Grasso, Founder and Managing Director, Figurehead Group has a vision for the building to become a hub for like-minded professionals who appreciate design and innovation.
“We want the space to be inspiring, and motivate people to come and do their best work,” Joe says.
“Our business is focused on continuous improvement, ensuring we produce a product that’s the absolute best in market.
116 Rokeby is a part of this story, and the building features spaces to support innovation and ensure the office is a great place to work.”
Sustainability and Innovation
Sustainability has been deeply considered in every aspect of 116 Rokeby — inside and out — to set a new benchmark in environmental and wellness credentials in this emerging commercial precinct. Targeting Platinum WELL™, 5.5-Star NABERS and Climate Active Carbon Neutral Building Certification, 116 Rokeby is an exemplar of how considered design can have a positive impact on the environment and the people that interact with the space.
A key inclusion is the double-skin northern façade. An exemplar of both form and function, utilising automatic sensor-controlled blinds and a plenum to perform an impactful chimney stack effect with great impact on energy saving. It naturally heats and cools the building, whilst improving internal amenity through clear glazing and an abundance of natural light.
“The diaphanous northern façade at 116 Rokeby has environmental sustainability innovation at its core,” says Stephen McGarry, Carr Associate Director.
First Nations Collaboration
Another first, 116 Rokeby will also have a commissioned artwork imprinted into the concrete southern façade as a respectful acknowledgment of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people and a representation of Figurehead’s journey and commitment to reconciliation. The artwork, ‘Reflections of a Breathing Space’, is a collaboration by two First Nations artists: NAIDOC Creative Talent of the Year in 2022, sand artist, Lowell Hunter, and painter, illustrator and digital artist, Gerard Black.
"The intention of this artwork is to respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land, of which 116 Rokeby St Collingwood resides upon today,” First Nations Sand Artist Lowell Hunter says of the artwork collaboration with Figurehead.
“By committing to working respectfully with First Nations people you start to develop a deeper sense of the rich and strong culture that exists within our communities - this is something that we should all embrace and be proud of,” he continues.
Construction at 116 Rokeby has commenced; with completion due in early 2024.
There will be seven floors available for lease; details available via request at 116rokeby.com.au