Construction has begun on a mammoth commercial development in Melbourne’s CBD designed by Cox Architecture and Gensler.
Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas and Melbourne mayor Sally Capp turned the first sod for the $1.5 billion project at a ceremony on 21 April, touting construction jobs and economic stimulus.
The two-tower project will accommodate 84,000 square metres of office space and more than 2,300 square metres of retail. It will be delivered in two stages, with a 35-storey tower at 555 Collins Street to be built first, and a second tower to follow at the adjacent 55 King Street site.
The design for both towers will aim to achieve a 6-Star Green Star rating, 5 Star NABERS Energy rating and Platinum WELL certification.
The development will also include “memorable public spaces that provoke a sense of discovery and reflect Melbourne’s laneway culture,” said Gensler in a statement on its website.
“The tower is being designed from the inside out to offer a connected and engaging workplace experience that enhances the user experience, comfort and wellness and anticipates the needs of the future workforce.
“Atriums within the lower levels promote collaboration, social interaction and activity, while a connection to daylight and views is optimized on all floors, intended to lift the human spirit.”
The project received development approval in April 2020 as part of a fast-tracking process overseen by the state government’s Building Recovery Taskforce.
Pallas said the project’s fast commencement was exactly what the taskforce was set up to do.
Once completed, the first tower is expected to accommodate approximately 4,500 workers.
United States tech corporation Amazon will be the anchor tenant of the stage one tower.
“This investment will contribute billions of dollars to the Victorian tech economy in the next 10 years, cementing our position as the innovation state,” Pallas said.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
