FROM DESIGN TO D E L I V E R Y
FROM DESIGN TO D E L I V E RY The Project & Development Services teams at Cushman & Wakefield deliver end-to-end solutions globally. We learn about its work across Australia and New Zealand, headed by Todd Hanrahan and Hutch Bykerk Writer: Jack Salter | Project Manager: Sam Thomas
“P
roject & Development Services (PDS) has become far more than traditional project management.” The PDS teams at global commercial real estate services leader, Cushman & Wakefield, manage every phase of the project lifecycle, delivering end-to-end solutions. “Clients are increasingly looking for 2 | APAC Outlook Issue 82
strategic advisors who can help them navigate complex property decisions, from the earliest stages of planning through to delivery and long-term asset performance,” continues Todd Hanrahan, Head of PDS – Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). Project delivery has become significantly more complex over the past few years, with clients also asking
Cushman & Wakefield to become involved much earlier in the project lifecycle. Indeed, they’re often seeking advice before sites are acquired, designs are finalised, and funding decisions have been made. “Today’s projects are being delivered against a backdrop of rising construction costs, evolving
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N Y procurement models, artificial intelligence (AI) impacts, planning reform, and changing occupier expectations. Early strategic advice has become just as valuable as the delivery phase itself,” insights Hutch Bykerk, Head of PDS – Australia. At the same time, clients are after advisers who understand the bigger picture.
“They’re not simply asking us to deliver a building – they’re asking us to help them achieve broader business, investment, and operational outcomes,” Hanrahan sets out. “That’s where being part of Cushman & Wakefield makes a real difference. We can draw on expertise from across our capital markets, leasing, valuation, research, and asset
services teams to provide advice that extends well beyond project delivery.”
INTERNATIONAL EXPERTISE, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE The breadth of PDS is one of Cushman & Wakefield’s greatest strengths. As part of a global business with a significant presence across Asia Pacific (APAC), it combines APAC Outlook Issue 82 | 3
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international expertise with deep local knowledge. “Our clients benefit from both the scale of a global organisation and responsiveness of teams that understand their local markets,” Hanrahan states. That national capability is particularly important in Australia, where clients are delivering increasingly complex projects across multiple locations and sectors. “Our teams operate across every major market, giving us the ability to deliver consistent outcomes whilst still tailoring our approach to local conditions,” outlines Bykerk. “It’s also the diversity of our expertise that sets us apart. Whether it’s workplace, industrial and logistics, government, healthcare, education, data centres, or emerging living sectors, we’re applying lessons from one market to another and helping clients make better-informed decisions.”
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Complementing the PDS platform is Building Consultancy, which has become an increasingly important part of Cushman & Wakefield’s offering. Clients are looking for integrated advice throughout the entire lifecycle of an asset, from acquisition and technical due diligence through to redevelopment, repositioning, and ongoing capital planning. “Building Consultancy strengthens our ability to provide that end-to-end advice,” Hanrahan clarifies. Having those technical specialists working alongside Cushman & Wakefield’s project delivery teams enables it to identify risks earlier, improve decision-making, and ultimately deliver better outcomes.
“It provides a more holistic service offering and reinforces our position as trusted advisors rather than simply project managers,” explains Bykerk.
INDUSTRY APPEAL Having spent nearly three decades working across construction, infrastructure, and the built environment, Hanrahan joined Cushman & Wakefield seven years ago. Since then, he has had the opportunity to lead PDS in Japan and ANZ, working across everything from major commercial developments and workplace projects through to infrastructure and emerging sectors. Projects such as Salesforce Tower and the Porsche Experience Centre in Japan have been particular highlights, whilst more recently, PDS has been expanding into areas such as digital infrastructure and social infrastructure.
“What attracted me to commercial real estate was really the complexity of it. Property sits at the intersection of investment, development, construction, and the way people ultimately use buildings – you’re constantly solving different problems and working with clients to turn an idea or business requirement into something tangible,” Hanrahan tells us. For Bykerk, who has spent more than 28 years across property development and construction, the appeal has always been that no two projects are quite the same. “There’s a very practical side to development and construction, but there’s also a strategic and commercial element,” he notes. “The challenge is understanding what a client is ultimately trying to
“Clients are increasingly looking for strategic advisors who can help them navigate complex property decisions, from the earliest stages of planning through to delivery and long-term asset performance” – TO D D H A N R A H A N , H E A D O F P R OJ E C T & D E V E LO P M E N T S E RV I C E S – A U S T R A L I A A N D N E W Z E A L A N D , C U S H M A N & WA K E F I E L D
achieve, then finding the best way to deliver it, manage risk, and create long-term value.”
SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY Currently, the commercial real estate industry in ANZ is at an interesting point in the cycle. Greater clarity is returning to
the market, but clients remain very disciplined around where and how they deploy capital. Across the region, that means there is a much stronger focus on the fundamentals of a project: location, infrastructure, feasibility, delivery risk and, ultimately, the resilience of the asset. APAC Outlook Issue 82 | 5
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At the same time, the definition of commercial real estate is broadening. Traditional office, industrial, and retail remain incredibly important, but some of the strongest areas of growth are increasingly around data centres,
WHAT SETS PDS APART? THE RIGHT PEOPLE – Experienced teams take ownership of each project, surpassing expectations by aligning closely with a client’s culture and goals to shape the built environment together. CONFIDENT DELIVERY – PDS excels in providing end-to-end solutions – from insight to endproduct – to ensure a consistent vision. BUSINESS OUTCOMES – Clients are offered complete support with strategies, practical implementation, and risk management, empowering them to confidently bring their business goals to life, no matter the complexity of the project.
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living, healthcare, education, and social infrastructure. “For our PDS business, that creates a significant opportunity because these are often highly complex projects where clients need specialist development, cost, programme, and delivery expertise,” highlights Hanrahan. “Cushman & Wakefield’s 2026 Australian outlook similarly points to structurally supported demand across key asset classes, whilst emphasising asset selection, infrastructure readiness, and income durability.” From an Australian perspective, clients are being much more forensic about projects before they commit. Construction costs, funding, programmes, procurement, and risk all have a much greater influence on whether a project proceeds and how it is structured. However, that doesn’t mean activity has stopped; in many respects, it has made good advice and project management more important. “Clients want to understand the risks earlier, test feasibility properly, and make informed decisions before significant capital is committed,” Bykerk acknowledges. The built environment is also
responding to some very significant structural changes, from population growth and housing demand through to digital infrastructure, sustainability, and the changing requirements of occupiers. That is creating opportunities across a much broader range of sectors than what is traditionally considered part of the commercial property market. “The challenge for our industry is making sure we have the skills and capability to deliver that next generation of assets,” he affirms.
DATA CENTRE GROWTH Data centres continue to be one of the most significant growth sectors across the APAC region. This is underpinned by cloud computing, AI, and the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure. “ANZ is well-positioned within that broader regional growth story, and we’re seeing increasing demand from both local and international investors seeking experienced project partners,” Hanrahan observes. From a delivery perspective, data centres are amongst the most technically demanding assets in the market.
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“Today’s projects are being delivered against a backdrop of rising construction costs, evolving procurement models, AI impacts, planning reform, and changing occupier expectations. Early strategic advice has become just as valuable as the delivery phase itself” – H U TC H BY K E R K , H E A D O F PROJECT & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES - AUSTRALIA, C U S H M A N & WA K E F I E L D
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Every project requires careful coordination around power, resilience, commissioning, security, and operational continuity. “Our teams have developed considerable experience managing those complexities whilst helping clients balance speed to market with long-term performance,” assures Bykerk. They’re also active across the industrial and logistics and emerging living sectors. Industrial and logistics continues to evolve rapidly, particularly in markets such as Sydney where land constraints are driving more innovative development solutions, including multi-level industrial facilities. Meanwhile, there is significant momentum across student accommodation, build-to-rent, co-living, and senior housing as developers respond to demographic
change and Australia’s ongoing housing supply challenges. “What links all of these sectors is increasing complexity. Clients are looking for advisers who understand not only how to deliver projects, but also the commercial drivers behind them,” Hanrahan explores. “Whether it’s logistics, living, or social infrastructure, success depends on aligning delivery with long-term operational outcomes.”
BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES Cushman & Wakefield’s focus is on continuing to build a connected ANZ business that’s closely aligned with its broader APAC platform whilst investing in the sectors experiencing the strongest long-term growth. “We’ll continue expanding our capabilities in areas such as data centres, industrial and logistics,
infrastructure, and living, whilst ensuring clients have access to the best expertise from across our global network,” reveals Hanrahan. At the same time, the company will continue investing in its people, technical capability, and project delivery expertise. “As projects become more complex, clients increasingly value advisers who can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery experience – that’s exactly where we see our greatest opportunity,” Bykerk closes.
Tel: +61 2 8243 9999
www.cushmanwakefield.com
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Tel: +61 2 8243 9999 www.cushmanwakefield.com
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