Multiplex achieved practical completion of S P Setia's Sapphire by the Gardens, Melbourne apartment tower
Multiplex has achieved practical completion at S P Setia's $600 million, dual-tower development on Melbourne's Exhibiton Street.
One tower is known as Sapphire by the Gardens, which comprises 325 apartments, while the other will be the future home for the 5-star Shangri-La hotel.
Sapphire by the Gardens, which rises 60 levels, was designed by Fender Katsalidis, who worked in collaboration with Cox Architects to create the striking buildings just off Carlton Gardens at the eastern end of Exhibition Street.
The 61-level hotel is joined to the 60-level residential tower by a sky bridge on level 46. The sky bridge homes a number of amenities and a Sky Lounge for visitors and residents. It features a unique transparent ‘oculus’ glass floor with views into the UNESCO world heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building surrounding the Carlton Gardens and Port Phillip Bay.
Beneath the two towers stands a mixed-use podium with spaces for resident recreational facilities, future hotel function, and above ground carparking.
Sapphire by the Gardens features exclusive resident facilities across two floors with a heated swimming pool, gymnasium, Sky Lounge, a cinema, karaoke room, chef’s kitchen and lounge with fireplace.
During construction Multiplex coordinated a unique purchaser upgrade which involved the installation of a $3 million supercar into the living room of the super-penthouse. The Sapphire by the Gardens super-penthouse has set the new benchmark for Melbourne property as the highest recorded apartment sale price in the city at around $39 million.
“We are thrilled to deliver this world-class precinct, and it is testament to the collaboration and determination of our team and subcontractors," Ross Snowball, Regional Managing Director of Multiplex, said.
"Constructing two towers simultaneously takes exceptional planning and management, especially when facing construction and engineering complexities like the iconic sky bridge, 46-storeys in the air.
"This iconic development breathes new life into the CBD, and it’s set to become Melbourne’s next landmark.”
Construction of the unique sky bridge required innovative methodologies, with Multiplex creating a temporary protection deck beneath it to enable safe working access. This deck cantilevered out from the building and sat between two large trusses. The successful delivery of the sky bridge saw the project win the ASI 2022 National Award for Engineering Projects.
“The completion of Sapphire by the Gardens and the Shangri-La marks our fifth significant development within Melbourne", Datuk Choong Kai Wai, President and CEO of S P Setia, said.
"We are thrilled to see this iconic development come to life and stimulate thousands of local jobs during and after construction."
Construction of 308 Exhibition Street spanned a four and a half years, generating over 1,000 jobs, with more than 500 workers on site during peak periods.