Quentin Bryce officially opens Victoria’s new home of architecture: 41 Exhibition Street
Governor-General Quentin Bryce has officially opened Victoria’s home of architecture today at 41 Exhibition Street, in a strata-titled commercial tower developed by the Australian Institute of Architects.
The commercial tower, named 41X, is 22-storeys and with a Five Star Green Star rating, is home to the Institute’s Melbourne offices, including the Victorian chapter, over five levels.Located on the corner of Exhibition Street and Flinders Lane, it is home to 15 other purchasers and tenants, and is the first strata commercial office building with a focus on carbon neutrality.
“41X successfully shows how private and not-for-profit organisations can have a positive impact on the development of our cities by creating world class, cutting-edge, environmentally responsible commercial buildings,” said Bryce.
“This elegant addition to Melbourne’s CBD makes a bold statement about the value of design. With this building, the Institute is strongly reinforcing the value of architects and architecture to the sustainable growth of our community – tangibly fulfilling its mission of ‘making the world a better place through architecture’.”
There is a design “haven” on level one, which houses an architecture and design bookshop – Architext – and an Axil Coffee Roasters café.
The project was initially prompted in 2006 with a feasibility study for the site commissioned. Renovation and relocation were considered before a redevelopment was settled on.
A two-stage design competition was then held in 2008, before the commission was awarded to winners Lyons Architects with their public/commercial concept. In 2012, HASSELL was then selected as the architect for the fit-out of the five levels occupied by the Institute.