A 1971-built tower in Brisbane could be demolished and replaced with a 30-storey office tower, if recent plans are approved.
Designed by Guida Moseley Brown Architects, the proposed office tower would incorporate 49,684-square-metres of office space, along with retail and wellbeing facilities. The 30-storey development would replace the 24-storey, Conrad Gargett-designed Suncorp Plaza office tower that currently occupies the 343 Albert Street site.
Plans for the development include a number of new public spaces; an effort to activate frontages along Turbot and Albert Streets.
According to a design statement released by the architects, all the materials for the development – exterior, interior and landscape – have been selected for their performance qualities. Materials such as anodised aluminium, stainless steel, high-performance glazing and stone will ensure the building remains low-maintenance and resistant to staining and deterioration.
The project’s site is adjacent to the heritage-listed Albert Street Uniting Church, designed by architect GHM Addison in the mid-1880s. According to a heritage report prepared by Urbis, the church is “arguably one of Brisbane’s most recognised and well-regarded heritage buildings”, as well as “one of the best Gothic Revival designs in Brisbane of the late Victorian period of the 1880s”.
The report says that the proposed new building has been “located, designed and scaled in such a manner that pays due reference and acknowledgement to the church building”.
“The form, bulk and proximity of the new building will not have a detrimental impact on the cultural heritage significance of the Albert Street Uniting Church,” the report claims.
