Victorian government gives seal of approval to Melbourne Quarter Tower

The Victorian government has approved a new commercial tower in the Melbourne Quarter precinct, set to be known as Melbourne Quarter Tower.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne’s gave his seal of approval to the 28 levels office tower, which will include around 55,000 square metres of office space and 2,500 square metres of retail space.

Located at 693 Collins Street, the project will be Lendlease’s second building in the area after One Melbourne Quarter, which is currently under construction.

Lendlease’s managing director for urban regeneration, Mark Menhinnitt, said Melbourne Quarter Tower will target a 6 Star Green Star rating and a 5 star NABERS energy rating.

He said the government’s approval showed confidence in Melbourne’s office market and the appetite for more environmentally efficient and technology-focused workplaces.

“Surrounded by a high concentration of leading national and global enterprises, we have seen a commercial shift towards this part of Collins Street at the heart of the Southern Cross precinct,” he said.

“Melbourne Quarter aims to set leading standards in environmentally sensitive and sustainable development, and aspires to be Melbourne’s greenest city precinct.

“The hero of the new precinct, the skypark, will complement Melbourne Quarter’s leading workplace design, offering workers the ability to re-charge or work outside the office, enhancing their health and wellbeing. This is a key trend in global workplace design.

“In addition to the skypark, a new public square on Collins Street will be at the heart of the precinct. Surrounded by cafes, bars and restaurants, this will blur the lines between workplaces and retail to create vibrant green spaces that maximise business efficiency.

“The precinct boasts a strong environmental focus, with more than half of the site dedicated to public open space and a 99% walkability rating to facilitate greener, healthier workplaces.”