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The University of Tasmania has announced that its Inveresk Library, designed by John Wardle Architects, is the first new building to open as part of the Northern Transformation Program (NTP), a plan to increase Tasmanian educational attainment by improving the university’s city-based campuses. Project director Minnie Cade called the library “a critical piece” of the […] More
The sudden collapse of one of Australia’s largest construction companies has sent shockwaves throughout the built environment sector and plunged more than a dozen major projects across the country into uncertainty.
Probuild was placed into administration after its parent company, the South African-based Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) ceased financial support for the builder.
Administrators Deloitte said in a statement it “will be commencing a sale and recapitalisation process, in order secure a new owner for the businesses.”
In 2020, the WBHO tried to sell Probuild to a Chinese buyer but the transaction was blocked by the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board, ostensibly due to concerns for national security.
Probuild currently has a reported $5 billion worth of unfinished projects across three Australian states. Here, we take a look at some of the projects now facing an uncertain future.
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443 Queens Street by Architectus and Woha.
Designed by Architectus and Woha, the 47-storey, $375 million residential tower on Brisbane’s riverfront is claimed to be “Queensland’s first truly subtropical apartment tower. “The Queenslander – with its stilts and natural ventilation – was an inspiration for the tower,” said Elizabeth Watson-Brown, director of Architectus. The tower essentially stands on urban-sized stilts, allowing a podium-level public domain that connects the city with the river. The car park and ground plane elements of the building, housed with in an abstract form inspired by the cliffs of Kangaroo Point, form a podium from which the towers rise. The building is designed to catch the breeze and shade with clusters of vertical screened pavilions housing subtropical gardens.
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The Ribbon Darling Harbour by Hassell.
A new landmark for Sydney, this 30-storey building on the former Imax theatre site in Darling Harbour, designed by Hassell, is set to house a hotel, serviced apartments, retail and a new Imax theatre. The building takes its name “the Ribbon” from its twisted form designed to minimize overshadowing of a nearby children’s playground. The building is partially built by Grocon, which also collapsed due to its own financial woes in 2020. Probuild took over construction of The Ribbon in January 2021.
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Elizabeth North precinct designed by Cox Architecture and Gray Puksand.
Elizabeth North Precinct
Designed by Gray Puksand and Cox Architecture, the Elizabeth North Precinct in Melbourne will be a biomedical and education precinct to be home to the University of Melbourne’s Trinity College, the global headquarters of Australian vaccine manufacturer CSL, as well as Melbourne City Toyota. The precinct will also include retail and food and beverage tenancies. More
A new “world class” cancer research centre adjacent to the Alfred Hospital has been approved by the City of Melbourne. Designed by Lyons Architecture, the $94 million Victorian Melanoma and Clinical Trials Centre at 545 St Kilda Road will be distinctive for its façade, which draws inspiration of from the layers of skin. The façade […] More
A former gatehouse at a historic navy yard in Sydney’s Jones Bay will be replaced with a new workplace building, which will further expand Google Australia’s Pyrmont campus. The proposed building on Pirrama Road, designed by Warren and Mahoney, will complement a previous proposal to refurbish two heritage listed buildings, also designed by Warren and […] More
The WA government is planning to demolish Stirling Towers, the former public housing precinct on Smith Street in Perth’s Highgate, and replace it with a build-to-rent development offering social, affordable and market-price rental apartments. Built in 1970, Stirling Towers comprises one 12-storey tower and one three-storey tower, which together hold more than 90 apartments. The […] More
Billard Leece Partnership has been appointed as the architect for the $384.2 million redevelopment of Warrnambool Base Hospital in rural Victoria, the Victorian Health Building Authority has announced. The firm will lead design work for the redevelopment alongside building services engineering consultants AECOM Australia. The development will include a new four-level clinical tower accommodating a […] More
The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority has release new concept designs for the redevelopment of the Point Grey precinct in Lorne, after the previous design raised a slew of concerns from the local community.
The redevelopment project will include a new building for the Lorne Aquatic and Angling club, a commercial restaurant with options for coffee, takeaway and alfresco dining, and increased public amenities.
The new concept design by project architects Baldasso Cortese proposes a simple form comprising three primary parts: a large wing housing bar, commercial kitchen, take-away area and multi-purpose space; a restaurant dining and alfresco area; third area which includes toilets, storage and other support functions. The design also includes outdoor space to east looking towards water.
The new structure will be made from materials that are robust, bushfire resistant and sustainable, including recycled bricks and timber trusses salvaged from the existing fishing co-op building building on the site, and metal cladding or cement sheeting for external walls.
The new concept design was created following a community co-design process. The co-design group included 12 members with representatives from Committee for Lorne, Lorne Angling and Aquatic Club, Lorne Historical Society, Friends of Lorne, the Lorne Business and Tourism Association as well as individual community members. Four community architects were also part of the co-design group and worked closely with project architects Baldasso Cortese to realise the design.
In 2017, an architectural design competition was initiated for the project. Searle Waldron Architecture, Edwards Moore and Bush Projects won the competition with a proposal that included a sculptural roof that provided shelter over a group of smaller structures.
A planning permit was granted issued in 2020, however, an objector launched appeal in Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which is still ongoing.
The co-design group was formed due to community concerns for previous design.
The new concept design is now on exhibition for public feedback. More
The consortium behind the Queen’s Wharf casino development in Brisbane has revealed renders of the precinct’s tallest tower, designed by Cottee Parker Architects, lead designer for the wider precinct. Known as Queen’s Wharf Tower, the 71-storey tower will accommodate 800 apartments and reach a height of more than 250 metres. It will be the fifth […] More
