Melbourne's Library at The Dock wins at Property Council Victorian awards
Melbourne's Library at The Dock took out the top award at the annual Property Council of Australia Victorian awards.
A finalist in three categories – innovation, best public building and best new sustainable development, the library got the “Development of the Year” award.
Delivered through a tri-partnership between the City of Melbourne, Places Victoria and Lendlease and designed by architects Clare Design with Hayball as architect of record, Library at The Dock will now be in the running for the national award, due to be announced in Sydney next month.
Chair of the City of Melbourne’s Environment Portfolio, Cr Arron Wood said along with its green design the building offers an extensive traditional library collection, music and sound recording facilities, digital gaming, and a performance space that holds 120 people.
“The library pays homage to Docklands’ rich maritime heritage with reclaimed hardwood from the waterfront used throughout the building. It is located in a spectacular setting on the waterfront in Victoria Harbour and is anchored by a new park and children’s play space,” Cr Wood said.
Lendlease’s managing director of Urban Regeneration, Jonathan Emery said he was thrilled that the library continues to be recognised.
City-shaping projects like the library are crucial in order for us to create the best places for people to live, work, visit and play across our large scale urban regeneration projects.”
Following its opening in mid-2014, the library has grown in popularity, with more than 123,000 visitors in its first year and over 15,000 attending library events.
The library is only the second building in Australia to be constructed from Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), which is carbon neutral, and the first public building to be constructed from the material. It is also the first public building in Australia to have achieved a six-star green star as-built rating from the Green Building Council of Australia’s public buildings rating tool.
The national Property Council Awards event will be held in Sydney on June 3.
