Plans have been unveiled for the Queensland Government’s new 1 William Street, Brisbane.
The winning $653m proposal by Cbus is for a 43 level, 258m high commercial tower with retail at ground level. At 258m high, this will become Brisbane’s second tallest proposed tower behind 222 Margaret Street.
The tower has 119,977sqm GFA. The curved roof design includes a large spire which protrudes above roof height and a internal light void similar to 1 Bligh Street, Sydney.
This year the government announced that the Executive building as well as other aging George Street government office towers would be bulldozed and sold off. In return the government would lease office space in a new consolidated commercial tower.
Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the government would retain ownership of the land although the developer would gain a 99-year lease over the site.
The $650 million building would be constructed by the private sector at no cost to taxpayers and the government would then lease back office space, Mr Nicholls said.
“It won’t cost taxpayers a cent to build the building,” Mr Nicholls said, adding that the government would pay to rent the office space.
Cbus Property chief executive Adrian Pozzo said his company would put a team together to construct the building and it would include Brookfield Multiplex.
Mr Pozzo said he was delighted to be involved in the project, saying it would double the investment of Cbus’s superannuation funds in Queensland.
“The government decided to make it happen; make it happen in a short time frame. With other projects in other states, it doesn’t happen that quickly,” he said.
Mr Nicholls said the government had opted for Cbus Property because the design was modern, addressed the climate and the aspect of the river.
Construction is set for early 2013 and would be complete by 2016.
FACTS:
- Gross floor area (GFA): 119,977 sqm
- Net lettable area (NLA): 74,853 sqm of office space (excluding retail)
- Retail: 1,169 sqm
- Carparks: 318 car bays
- Site area: 6,778 sqm
- Area required by Government: 60,000 sqm (approximately)
- Available for sublease by private sector: 15,000 sqm (approximately)
- Height: 43 levels (258 metres including spire)
- NABERS ratings
- 5 star NABERS office energy ratin
- 3 star NABER office water rating
- The project will support approximately 1,000 direct jobs per year and the flow-on impacts will provide a boost to the economy
- First new commercial office building developed for government in the Brisbane CBD since the completion of the government office building at 33 Charlotte Street in 2004
- The total floor area of the building (GFA of 119,977 sqm) is equivalent to the playing surface of nearly 11 Suncorp Stadiums (11,152 sqm)
KEY DATES:
- Site investigations in January 2013
- Site establishment, enabling works and early works from January 2013
- Excavation from July 2013
- Structure commencement by January 2014
- Target completion by end 2016
