Billions worth of new construction activity beckons for Melbourne
Five significant and very distinct projects across Melbourne now share a common link in that they have all called for construction tenders in the past week.
The sporting, commercial, residential and retail developments have a combined construction value in excess of half a billion dollars, with their combined end value comfortably pushing past the billion dollar mark. Further projects of significant size and stature are also currently at construction tender, with the latest five underlining the still robust nature of Melbourne's construction scene.
The five projects expected to become reality are outlined below:
Poly Centre Melbourne
Poly Developments Australia looks set to make good on earlier indications that it would initiate construction of Poly Centre Melbourne at 1000 La Trobe Street this year.
Having appointed agents Colliers International and JLL to land tenants for the 33,000 plus square metre office tower, a construction tender for the development was released yesterday. Both Colliers International and JLL are also handling leasing duties for sister Sydney development, Poly Centre Sydney.
With approval already in place, architect Woods Bagot looks to have reworked the outer expression of the tower, which would account for a portion of land within the wider Digital Harbour precinct.
Melbourne Park Stage 3
Announced last year, the third and final stage of Melbourne Park's transformation is due to become reality.
A build value of in excess of $200 million reflects Stage 3's stated of $271.55 million. With Stage 2 works on the new Rod Laver Arena eastern entry pod all but complete, NH Architecture and Snøhetta have jointly conceived the final stage which includes a new multi-purpose 5,000-seat show court/arena, central public terrace, function and media centre, broadcast studios and logistics hub.
Expected to make pedestrian access around the sporting precinct far easier, the works are set to create 600 jobs during construction and underpin thousands more jobs in our tourism and hospitality industry upon completion.
Wills Place
With a sales campaign that began during mid 2015, Wills Place has the peculiarity of being the project that has spent the longest time in the Urban.com.au Project Database without advancing to construction.
That though is set to change with a fresh construction tender looking to add the 35 level residential tower component behind a classic 1930’s heritage facade at 17 Wills Street in the northern section of Melbourne's CBD. Shangyi Property is backing the tower with CHT Architects creating the building which is slated to include 200 apartments.
CHT Architects' design replaces an earlier scheme onsite that would have included a unique and substantial void in the tower form for use as an elevated park.
Richmond Plaza
The long approved Richmond Plaza redevelopment has sparked to life with Coles Group Developments initiating a construction tender.
Coles is already undertaking a mass redevelopment of their Elsternwick location, with Richmond now poised to follow. Approximately 300 apartments are included within the SJB-designed scheme, as is commercial space and in excess of 7,000 square metres of retail opportunity.
The ground plane of the sprawling site will be opened via the inclusion a series of laneways and new access points.
Irrepressible Box Hill is also due for another major residential tower as R&F Property Australia initiates a tender for the delivery of Prospect Apartments.
Having secured the site with a permit in place, the Chinese-backed developer went about reworking the project as evidenced by new architect Hayball's tower above. As many as 193 apartments are included within the 25 storey tower, with 2,860 square metres of predominantly office space accounting for the podium levels.
R&F Property Australia's move on their Box Hill site follows on quickly from the launch of the first stage of Footscray's Live City; that development will yield as many as 1,500 apartments for the developer.