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.
Rethinking the Beach House: Architectural Marina Apartments
The Beach House is loved for providing relaxation, escape, and a place to connect with loved ones and nature–but they can be extravagant and require constant upkeep. This was the experience that inspired Osprey Apartments: a collaboration between Figurehead Construction and Wolveridge Architects.
Two and Three-bedroom coastal apartments with secure parking and storage options, lift access, and maintained gardens offer Osprey residents their own piece of breathtaking architecture and landscape, without personal toll.
An exciting feature of these apartments is the ‘lightwell breezeway’ entrances to each of the boutique apartments. This architectural technique provides crossflow ventilation and access to natural light–as well as a place for shoes and towels, at the same time preserving security.
“We wanted to offer Martha Cove apartments that utilise sophisticated design and construction practices to feel light, bright, and use space better. Quality architecture shouldn’t be reserved for oversized homes only,” says Joe Grasso, Founder and Managing Director of Figurehead Group, developer and builder at Osprey, Martha Cove.
Figurehead are an industry-leading builder with a reputation for delivering award-winning outcomes of exceptional quality, including Martha Cove’s The Moorings, Wheelhouse, and two Boat Storage Facilities for Boatyard by d’Albora.
For more information on Osprey Coastal apartments, from $865K-1.6M.
Contact Ian Ross: 0404868470