Brisbane’s midtown is set to undergo a significant transformation after approval was given for the $750 million 101 Albert Street project by Economic Development Queensland (EDQ).
Developed by the Government-owned Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), this project plans to breathe new life into Albert Street with a 45,000 sqm mixed-use commercial building designed by Architectus and Henning Larsen.
The proposed tower, built on top of the new Albert Street Cross River Rail Station, will appear as a subtropical vertical garden, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor areas, paying homage to Brisbane’s unique climate while embracing innovative and sustainable design.
101 Albert Street seeks to create a permeable architectural form that connects past, present, and future. According to Architectus, an integration of cultural elements underscores a commitment to honoring the region’s rich history and heritage.
Anticipating the evolving nature of work, the development accommodates new ways of working with flexible spaces that break down traditional office boundaries. This approach blurs the lines between office buildings, public spaces, and indoor/outdoor connections, fostering a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere.
The site prioritises not only office spaces but also features best-in-class retail and dining concepts, creating a vibrant atmosphere for occupants and visitors.
Emphasising generous public and civic spaces, the project aims to foster community engagement and social interaction, with the expansive rooftop area serving as a versatile space within the development.
This development puts people at the heart of precinct planning and design that will reimagine the way Brisbane works, plays and socialises.
The original development application article for this project can be found below.
Yet again, the Queensland government does not understand the ridiculous fact that Brisbane is a never ending building site so no one can ever enjoy it. Already people come back from Brisbane saying that it is nothing but work in progress. This office Block is old-fashioned, out of time and literally not required. Anything that reeks of government reeks of inefficiency old-fashioned practices and I would not be surprised if this was not just a means of keeping workers, especially the CMFEU employed. At 30% inflated wages.
Brisbane is a far cry from being a never ending building site. We are far behind in infrastructure from anywhere in the western world. Even countries like Egypt, Vietnam, Brasil are ahead and more advanced. We need more buildings
James, I’d expect that QIC (the company behind this proposed tower) is Government OWNED, not Government RUN. I.e. the company makes profits by seeking out commercial opportunities. No grifting; just good business sense.
You yourself mention the endless building sites going on around the city: the private developers obviously think this is the time to invest and expand. Something about an Olympics in 10 years time and high growth forecasted…. A prime location with a train-station to boot, you’d have to be crazy to argue this is not a good opportunity.
Queensland Investment Corporation is a Qld Government
corporation.
QIC is overseeing the Gympie Rd Bypass Tunnel concept through the specially created North Brisbane Infrastructure Corporation.
According to a Internal Treasury email states;
QIC has proposed development of a 7km tolled tunnel between Kedron and Carseldine to bypass Gympie Road for motorway traffic, with completion before 2032.
Proposed to develop within the Queensland Future Fund with State equity/debt (is fully on-balance sheet for the State).
I’m not quite sure what the last part means but it sounds like the GRBT will be Qld taxpayer funded or underwritten.
The documents state;
QIC prepared a high-level concept for a transport solution involving tolled-tunnels from Carseldine to Kedron (twin tunnels, 7.2 kilometres, four lanes) targeted at arterial/motorway traffic
and;
Currently working with consultants to develop a cost for the business case, environmental impact statement and potential land acquisitions
It seems the state government is a lot further down the planning stage than they are publicly stating. NBI say they are just in the public consultation phase and no planning is happening.
Treasury RTI dcumemt link;
https://s3.treasury.qld.gov.au/files/ARU0001406_Release-_DL_Sep2023_Treasury_28.pdf
So the government forecasts $750 mil to build. Being government, let’s blow it out to $1.5 mil.
Just been to Tent City Monday morning where people are icing on the River in Tents. Children and woman are part of this area and this shows what this government is incapable of doing . Basic standard of living for Aussie people
Living in Tents along South Brisbane and Musgrave Park Open your eyes Qlders the Nine News journalist was there today for sources of a story to share with tips form
A KAREN with years of experience in this areas delivering food to homeless people
The development approved for 101 Albert Street, as shown above, totally disregards the Queensland Government’s own principles and standards for inner city high-rise development, which is primarily that towers above the first five or so floors (the podium) are to be set well back from the street and on all sides, to ensure breathing space, light penetration between towers and visual amenity. If you look at the above image labelled “Architectural rendering of the facade of QIC’s proposed ‘Rainforest Tower’”, it is immediately apparent that the proposed structure differs completely from all the other existing towers in its vicinity which comply with those important design principles. Those principles were put in place for sound and obvious reasons. The building as portrayed is a belligerent monolith that arrogantly occupies the entire footprint of the site from top to bottom, an obvious short-sited money grab, in complete disregard of its location. It will look and function in a way that is entirely out of place in that largely residential high-rise precinct of the Brisbane CBD. The building design must have regard for the prevailing design principles that provide and ensure visual amenity, breathability and fit in with the character and functions of the neighboring residential and accommodation buildings and the immediate area, just as all other newer existing buildings in the vicinity had to do when they were designed. Why is there now this glaring exception to those established principles? It is a questionable approval and a bad look for the authorities involved. It is a mistake and it MUST be redesigned and if it is not redesigned it will forever stand as an embarrassing Queensland Government development approval disaster, a monument to profiteering and stupidity. Those of us who work and live in the inner city will all look aghast at it everyday and ask one another: “well, so just how did this happen?” Sadly, a very rare opportunity was there to do something truly outstanding, valuable and noteworthy, even breathtaking, at that site, but instead, quite predictably we get this anachronism, a state of the art giant box, which belongs entirely in the last century.