699 Bourke Street offers a flexible workplace with environmental sustainability at its core to support the operations and culture of AGL.

Designed by Grimshaw, the project delivers beyond the requirement for a new commercial building, incorporating ESD initiatives for the benefit of the broader community. Intrinsic to this, the building provides a strategic connection between Melbourne's CBD and Docklands which is supported by the creation of a new public pedestrian laneway. Distinct from typical retail podiums, the laneway seeks to foster social engagement, environmental awareness and cultural programmes in a quintessentially Melbourne way.

In terms of sustainability and constructability, designing a building to be constructed over a live rail environment at Melbourne's largest transport hub was the greatest challenge.

Additionally, as a new contemporary workplace it was imperative that the design of the building allowed for optimal daylight into and views from all levels, the challenge being the need to mitigate the issue of glare reflectivity on to the rail yard below, particularly for south-bound train drivers. To overcome this challenge and ensure equitable access to sustainable design (90 per cent of the office floor is situated within 12m of the high-performance glazed façade), Grimshaw led a detailed solar analysis to determine the solar angles and designed an integrated fixed-louvre screen which maintained views while preventing reflections from the north façade of the building.

The design of 699 Bourke Street delivers an A-Grade 6-Star Green Star rated office building that features a 90 kW rooftop solar system, currently the largest solar power system on a commercial office in Melbourne, as well as an 80,000 litre rainwater catchment system. The solar system generates approximately 110,000 kWh of electricity per annum, reducing the building's greenhouse gas emissions by around 145 tonnes of C02 every year. 

Incorporated within the original design of Southern Cross Station, the building uses the valuable airspace rights above platforms 13-16 of Melbourne's largest transit terminal. This unprecedented connection to Melbourne’s public transport is promoted by the building's design through the provision of premium end-of-trip facilities, including more than 275 bicycle racks and 360 lockers - three times the amenity stipulated as best practice by Green Star - which encourage a healthy and active lifestyle for the wellbeing of the building's occupants.

Integrated wayfinding and signage offers the building's inhabitants real-time information about weather and public transport to facilitate their journey to and from the workplace, further promoting the use of public transport.

KEY INITIATIVES

  • Solar energy system and rain harvesting
  • Gas fired co-generation facility to reduced operational GHG emissions
  • Shared values outcomes - over-rail air-rights site - development of previously unusable space whilst integrating the Southern Cross Station venturi duct ventilation system into the car parking levels of 699 Bourke
  • Highly efficient structure, using no more material than is absolutely required
  • Achieved 6-star Green Star Office Design V2 Rating
  • The building offers unprecedented connection to Melbourne's largest public transport hub and commercial precincts o External shading for reduced annual cooling loads whilst maintaining good levels of daylight and access to external views. External shading to the north acts to mitigate reflected glare onto rail commuters
  • Premium end-of-trip facilities provided exceeding best practice and Green Star requirements
  • Integrated wayfinding and signage that offers real-time information about weather, building performance and public transport to facilitate the journey to and from the workplace, and communicates sustainability initiatives of the building
  • Provision of a new pedestrian laneway to enhance city/Docklands connection o Integrated laneway designed as a flexible and adaptable structure to support community engagement and social sustainability
  • 33 car parking bays provisioned for electric vehicle charging, with four bays currently active

PRODUCTS

SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS
AGL

THERMALLY BROKEN ALUMINIUM CURTAIN WALL
YUANDA/ SHENYANG ALUMINUM COMPANY

GLAZING
CHINA SOUTHERN GLASS, DOUBLE GLAZED LOW-E COATED 24MM IGU

STRUCTURAL AND STEEL CLADDING ELEMENTS 
BLUESCOPE, RECYCLED CONTENT STEEL