The last commercial tower to make up the $1.9-billion Melbourne Quarter precinct has been given the official go-ahead. Just before Christmas, Lendlease announced it had secured a permit for the Woods Bagot-designed building – the third and final tower planned for the new precinct.
The 25-storey, $500-million Two Melbourne Quarter tower will add 49,000 square metres of office space to Collins Street, along with 800 square metres of retail space along an activated ground plane. The office tower will target a six-star Green Star rating and a five-star NABERS energy rating.
Two Melbourne Quarter will sit alongside the two other towers that comprise the Melbourne Quarter commercial trio: Denton Corker Marshall’s 28-storey Melbourne Quarter tower, and the 19-storey One Melbourne Quarter, also by Denton Corker Marshall. On the ground plane, these commercial builds will connect to a new public plaza by Aspect Oculus. Being hailed as “the centrepiece of the Melbourne Quarter precinct”, this plaza will feature a four-storey staircase to connect with Aurora Lane.
“This project will cater for the continued growth and strong tenant demand for new office space in Melbourne as both national and global businesses target the new supply of buildings coming to market in the city’s CBD,” says Lendlease managing director of urban regeneration and infrastructure development, Mark Menhinnit.
“To complement Melbourne Quarter’s leading workplace design, we’re focusing on sustainability and access to amenities as key considerations for our office buildings, allowing tenants to work in nearby green parks, open spaces and co-working environments for greater employee health and wellbeing.”
Woods Bagot’s Two Melbourne Quarter is one of seven residential and commercial buildings planned for the development precinct. The precinct’s first residential tower, East Tower, is currently under construction, while the first office tower, One Melbourne Quarter, is anticipated for completion in September this year.
