The current state of play at Lendlease's Melbourne Quarter
With 2018 now in full swing, what better time to check in on the progress of one of the largest developments currently underway not only in Docklands, but in Melbourne - Melbourne Quarter.
Located within the Batmans Hill precinct of Docklands, Lendlease's $1.9b Melbourne Quarter project will deliver seven commercial and residential buildings that will assist in strengthening the connection between the Docklands and the CBD, while also completing Collins Street' the southern Docklands frontage.
In addition to 130,000 square metres of commercial office space, more than 50 percent of the Melbourne Quarter precinct will be dedicated to open space with a Skypark, central plaza and neighbourhood park designed by ASPECT | OCULUS.
Lendlease has seen strong leasing activity push the national CBD vacancy rate to its lowest level in four years, and with a predicted shortage of prime grade contiguous office space in the near future, this has helped spur on pre-commitment activity.
(Melbourne Quarter) will cater for the continued growth and strong tenant demand for new office space in Melbourne as both national and global businesses target the new supply of buildings coming to market in the city’s CBD.
To complement Melbourne Quarter’s leading workplace design, we’re focusing on sustainability and access to amenities as key considerations for our office buildings, allowing tenants to work in nearby green parks, open spaces and co-working environments for greater employee health and wellbeing.
- Mark Menhinnitt, Lendlease Managing Director Urban Regeneration and Infrastructure Development
Melbourne Quarter will include:
• 130,000 square metres of office space
• 1,690 apartments for 3,000 new inner city residents
• 4,000 square metres of retail space, including 40 shops, food and beverage retailers
• 1,000 square metres of community space
One Melbourne Quarter
(This) year will see the completion of the precinct’s first office tower, One Melbourne Quarter, which will be home to our new Lendlease Victorian headquarters in September. We look forward to welcoming other leading businesses to the precinct in due course.
- Mark Menhinnitt
Currently progressing onsite at an impressive pace, One Melbourne Quarter, upon completion will contain 25,000 sqm across its 14 storeys. Public realm frontages on all sides will be activated via retail and café tenancies in addition to a 200 bicycle end of trip facility. Retail space in small tiered retail pavilions address and mediate the Collins Street hill.
The Skypark - conceived as a timber plank by landscape architects ASPECT | OCULUS - overhangs the Collins Street frontage for 90 metres and will provide significant public space.
Arup and Lendlease will relocate into the building later this year.
East Tower
The first of three Fender Katsalidis designed residential buildings is officially underway at 628 Flinders Street.
The 40-storey East Tower will feature hanging gardens climbing the full height of the building and take advantage of views of the city and bay. The building, along with the other residential buildings is aiming for a 5-Star Green Star rating and will also implement smart technologies such as a Melbourne Quarter app for residents.
The ability to connect our residents to the wider community is something we've been looking to introduce and they'll able to do that via an app. It'll be a project specific app that can be accessed via an iPad or iPhone and allow residents to book the extensive communal facilities which that are in the buildings which comprise 'Club MQ'.
With 'Club MQ' we're looking at setting a new benchmark with the level of amenity that we're providing, and this will be available in the first tower and then the two other towers will share from that.
- Ben Christie, Lendlease Head of Apartments
Melbourne Quarter Tower
Located at 693 Collins Street to the east of the under construction One Melbourne Quarter, Melbourne Quarter Tower will rise 28-storeys and provide 55,000 square metres of office accommodation when complete. The DCM-designed tower will also feature the second stage of the Skypark, completing the development's Collins Street frontage.
As part of the design the upper levels of the building will cantilever above Collins Street and will feature a rooftop area for tenants.
Melbourne Quarter Tower was approved in March 2017 and is targeting a 6 Star Green Star rating and a 5 star NABERS energy rating.
Two Melbourne Quarter
The 25-storey office tower at 697 Collins Street was granted planning approval just prior to the 2017 Christmas break. The Woods Bagot designed tower will feature 49,000 square metres of office space, accommodating about 4,500 new workers, plus 800 square metres of retail space on the ground floor.
As with the other commercial buildings at Melbourne Quarter, the tower will spill out on to a new public plaza off Collins Street, and will also feature a four-storey public staircase connecting to Aurora Lane.
2MQ seeks to build upon the sustainability credentials of Melbourne Quarter with a strong focus on water consumption, waste management and indoor environment quality. The building is targeting a 6 Star Green Star rating and a 5 star NABERS energy rating.
Site enabling and early works commenced on 2MQ on 15 January 2018.
Lendlease anticipates a 2022 completion date for the entire Melbourne Quarter development.
