Leighton Contractors has leased about 13,000m² of space in the new tower building under construction at 567 Collins St in Melbourne. The formal ground-breaking ceremony was conducted recently by Leighton Properties at the site with the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle turning the first sod on the development in the prime CBD location in the western end of the CBD on the edge of Docklands.
The Lord Mayor was flanked by Mr Hamish Tyrwhitt – CEO Leighton Holdings , Mr Mark Gray – MD Leighton Properties and Mr Peter Hicks – CFO Leighton Contractors.
The 26-level Premium Grade tower construction at 567 Collins Street will occupy a site of 3,942m² with a 74m frontage to Collins Street. Following the signing of the lease with Leighton Contractors, almost 50% of the tower space has been leased. Leighton Contractors will establish its Victorian head office in the leased space. They will join leading law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth who signed a lease in late 2012 for 8,800m² of space.
Completion of the 55,000m² Premium Grade tower is expected in mid-2015. Leighton Properties are currently in negotiations to sell the building to a potential consortium of investors.
According to Leighton Properties Managing Director Mr Mark Gray, 567 Collins Street is creating overall shareholder value by leveraging the Leighton Group’s core competencies in development and construction to create a five star premium building for Melbourne. The company moved quickly late last year to unlock the site’s potential by redesigning the project to meet market occupancy requirements as well as to accommodate the Leighton tenancy.
Leighton Contractors Managing Director Craig Laslett explains that the building development will provide Leighton Contractors the opportunity to consolidate 600 employees from five separate locations into a single well-positioned Victorian headquarters.
Located in the heart of Melbourne’s legal, commercial, insurance, banking and finance precincts within 100 metres of Southern Cross Station, the prime property is central to the city's three main activities districts - the CBD, Docklands and Southbank, while also providing excellent access to all forms of public transport, freeways, major road networks, childcare and retail amenities.
