Target's Williams Landing HQ a boon for the west's commercial prospects
Melbourne's west may not be the epicentre of commercial development, but a trickle of projects is casting a light on the areas potential for future commercial growth.
The recent announcement that Target Australia will move its national headquarters to Williams Landing serves to bolster the west's profile, whilst also providing developer Cedar Woods with a premium tenant for their masterplanned development.
Located opposite Williams Landing station, designed by Gray Puksand and with Hacer on board as builder, the new 8 level commercial development is chasing an A Grade rating from the Property Council of Australia. It's 3,000sqm floor plates will enable Target departments to be connected, encouraging interaction and collaboration between all areas of the company.
Gray Puksand also have the design reigns over the other noteworthy commercial project in this span of Melbourne, namely VicRoads' new Sunshine offices.
The Williams Landing project which falls within a Priority Development Zone as mandated by the Victorian Government, is set to attract 850 new employees to the area.
At the time of the announcement, Cedar Woods COO Nathan Blackburne outlined what the Target deal means to the west:
Target’s move to Williams Landing signifies the increasing breadth and depth of economic activity occurring in Melbourne’s western growth corridor and reinforces Williams Landing’s appeal as an attractive and growing commercial centre. We anticipate Target’s move will stimulate interest from other leading businesses seeking to base themselves at Williams Landing.
Valued at $37 million and spanning 12,600 square metres, the new 8 level slab on ground commercial building also includes 2 retail tenancies and parking for 466 vehicles. Robert Puksand, Founding Partner at Gray Puksand describes the splay of the building relative to its corner location:
A lively façade design creates a pedestrian friendly backdrop to the external piazza created on the corner. A multi-coloured, dynamic façade design shrouds the building to create a landmark statement within the precinct.
Form and colour are also on show in Sunshine as builder ABD Group pushes toward structural completion of the Withers Street development. The new VicRoads building spans 7 levels and includes ground level retail.
Both projects fall within identified nodes for future development and are in their own way vanguard projects for their respective areas.
Whilst the VicRoads projects falls within the greater Sunshine National Employment and Innovation Cluster, Target's new headquarters is within a Priority Development Zone adjacent to the East Werribee Employment Precinct which itself is expected to create another 58,000 jobs.
