570 Bourke Street reborn
Over a year ago, Urban.com.au wrote on the forthcoming redevelopment of 570 Bourke Street, formerly known as Marland House. Leap forward and contractor Brookfield Multiplex are currently in the early stages of breathing new life into the 1972 vintage office complex. Of an age where owner Charter Hall (via their Core Plus Office Fund) considered a number of directions for the asset, they have embarked upon a $150 million project with the intention of creating a workplace that meets and exceeds contemporary tenant expectations.
So what are those expectations? Look no further than Docklands to see that large corporations value large floorplates. In Charter Hall's words "To attract and retain the best people, companies are demanding expansive, lifestyle-oriented workspaces."
To that end 570 Bourke Street will become Melbourne CBD's largest vertically connected office space. Nestled within an established legal and financial precinct, the development will provide 28,000 square metres of contiguous office space across 11 levels, achieved by extending the floor plate to both Bourke and Little Bourke Street frontages.
Space efficiencies gained from large floors usually come at the expense of amenity in Melbourne. 570 Bourke is unique because it provides the space we know tenants crave, but in an already thriving and established part of the city.
Chris Forbes, Charter Hall CPOF fund manager
We usually only see floor plates of these sizes outside of the CBD where the option to expand within the building is not typically available,” Mr Sutherland said. 570 Bourke stands out for its ability to give tenants the choice and flexibility to expand in the CBD as their business flourishes, while benefiting from space efficiencies and the building’s amenity.
Hamish Sutherland, Knight Frank national director of CBD leasing
Designed by Hassell Studio, the reincarnated project will feature a light-filled glass atrium. Prominent through all 10 levels, the atrium will allow natural light to penetrate the workspaces while inter-connecting stairways enables 570 Bourke Street to boast the largest vertically integrated floor plates available in the CBD. At 2,700 square metres per floor, this equates to an impressive 270 staff per level over the expanded footprint.
With maximum flexibility and providing a dynamic work space in mind, each of the expanded floors have been designed with malleable spaces, allow tenants to link and enclose areas as desired. 'Suspended' meeting room pods peer over the internal atrium, adding visual pop to the internal design.
Project highlights
- Developer: Charter Hall
- Design: Hassell Studio
- Project Manager: PDS Group
- 28,000sqm of built space over 10 lower levels: 2,700sqm floor plates
- 10 different tenants are already accommodated within the existing high rise office tower at 570 Bourke
- Lifestyle Centre catering for 300 cyclists/runners (dedicated entrance + shower & change facilities)
- Curtain wall façade blends solid and translucent elements, bringing subtle diversity to the façade
- Bluestone paving, timber walls, travertine stone and light installation define the lobby
- New laneway: Gresham Street to be reconfigured + cafe and streetscape works
- 500 car parking bays
- 695sqm of retail space fronting Bourke and Little Bourke Streets
- 175sqm of boutique office space on level one, fronting Little Bourke Street
- Target a 4.5 star NABERS Energy rating
In the perpetual race to attract tenants, commercial asset owners are increasingly providing the physical and technological needs of businesses while also enhancing the experience for their staff. Charter Hall have positioned 570 Bourke Street as a showcase for contemporary thinking and design within Melbourne's CBD.
Urban.com.au will certainly be asking to tour the reborn Melbourne landmark upon completion.