The gentrification of North Quay is set to continue with Services Australia favoured to win a contract to accommodate over 4,000 federal public servants.
The Courier Mail has reported that the federal government department, Services Australia is set to move into the joint Cbus Property and Nielson Property commercial tower located at 205 North Quay.
Services Australia is responsible for administering the agencies responsible for Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support Agency.
205 North Quay tower which has been designed by Hassell, with REX, New York, and Richards & Spence, Brisbane comprises of 61,893sqm of commercial space as well as a public plaza at ground level and was approved by the Brisbane City Council in February.
It is understood that Services Australia have a requirement of around 35,000 to 38,000sqm which would represent the largest pre-commitment of commercial space since 2019 which would allow the agency to consolidate numerous offices into one new tower.
Cbus Property is the developer behind 1 William Street, an commercial tower completed in October 2016 dedicated to housing over twenty Queensland Government departments in a single administrative precinct which includes Queensland executive offices.
205 North Quay, a 38-storey commercial tower is targeting a 6 star green star and 5.5 star NABERS rating. The building would have a green plot ratio of 97% and community plot ratio of 283%, essentially meaning it is giving more community use back.
The tower will also include a wellness facility with 25 metre lap pool and public auditorium.
According to the architects, 205 North Quay is designed through the lens of human experience – “of what it should mean to live and work well in the subtropics.”
Large end-of-trip facilities are also proposed within the basement which would accommodate 390 bicycle spaces with access off Hershel Street and a two storey childcare centre.
North Quay is currently undergoing a massive transformation with the Queensland Government’s new underground Cross River Rail station at Roma Street as well as planned $2 billion Brisbane Live entertainment precinct which is mooted to be the home of the swimming if Brisbane is awarded the 2032 Olympic Games.
In September last year it was also revealed that Griffith University is in negotiations with the government to build a large new $280 million 55-storey CBD campus tower housing the university’s business, law and I.T schools.
This is a great outcome for the area. Hopefully it will provide some increased pedestrian activation for surrounding businesses. The development should also allow for an underground public pedestrian and cycling link under North Quay to connect to the ramp, that heads down to the bi-centennial bikeway.