ALL DECKED OUT
13 Sep 2017
The Melbourne Quarter project is well under way, with the completion of a new deck overlooking Wurundjeri Way signaling Lendlease’s progress on the first stage of the $1.9 billion project.
Melbourne Quarter will comprise more than 50 percent public space, including the elevated Skypark garden perched above Collins Street, and will combine a lush and green city square, three commercial towers, retailers, bars and restaurants.
The newly completed deck, which forms a foundation element of the elevated Skypark on Collins Street, was inspected by Planning Minister Richard Wynne.
Wynne was joined by Lendlease Managing Director for Urban Regeneration and Infrastructure Development, Mark Menhinnitt, who said construction was progressing on the precinct’s first commercial tower, One Melbourne Quarter. A second of three proposed office towers received planning approval in March.
Melbourne Quarter is expected to house 12,000 workers and 3000 residents when complete, across a total of seven office and apartment towers.
“As Melbourne Quarter becomes more visible on the city’s skyline, it signals Lendlease’s confidence in Melbourne’s commercial growth in the Southern Cross Precinct and the continued appetite for smarter, more energy-efficient offices,” Menhinnitt said.
According to Menhinnitt, this development would transform Melbourne’s city centre. “Melbourne Quarter will bridge the gap between Docklands and the CBD, as the commercial centre of the city moves westward,” he claims.
Once completed, the deck will connect the precinct’s three commercial towers and form the ground level of the precinct’s public square on Collins Street, which will be one of the most significant public spaces in the central city.
“As Melbourne Quarter becomes more visible on the city’s skyline, it signals Lendlease’s confidence in Melbourne’s commercial growth in the Southern Cross Precinct and the continued appetite for smarter, more energy-efficient offices,” said Menhinnitt.
“Arup and Lendlease will relocate their Victorian workforces to One Melbourne Quarter next year, taking up three and four levels of office space respectively. In the coming months, we expect to make further announcements on more leading businesses that will become part of our new and exciting city neighbourhood,” he added.
A total of seven commercial and residential buildings will be delivered in the precinct. Once completed, Melbourne Quarter will offer approximately 130,000sqm of agile and flexible office space for more than 12,000 employees, and will be home to approximately 3000 residents.