Urbanest's latest project revealed as Icon Construction scores another major build
Student accommodation provider Urbanest will have another inner-city footprint ready for the 2019 academic year as 122-136 Berkeley Street goes to construction.
The site in question is adjacent to, and opposite GSA Australia's 221 Pelham Street and 684-688 Elizabeth Street projects, bolstering the immediate area's already heavy student accommodation construction activity. Awarded to Icon Construction, 122-136 Berkeley Street is the third current student accommodation project that the builder has on its books.
Spanning roughly 15 months, the build programme will see 139 student rooms built over the 12 level building which has a construction value of $21 million.
Also included across the site which has a 31 metre frontage to Berekely Street is limited office space, back of house facilities, a gym and common areas on level 12. A rooftop terrace is also included.
Urbanest's advancement of the project follows on promptly from an amendment that went through City of Melbourne's planning channels for the site over recent months. The 575 square metre site was previously reported as purchased by a China-based consortium during 2015, although the latest planning amendment for Urbanest gained approval during September 2017.
Icon Construction is now charged with both of Urbanest's current projects, with the other located at 599 Swanston Street. Holding a construction value of $55 million, that Hayball-inspired project is also due to be completed late next year and includes a new 21 storey tower rising behind a partially retained heritage facade, 583 student beds, common areas and retail space fronting Swanston Street.
The trifecta in Icon Construction's current student accommodation builds is 18-32 Leicester Street.
A build value of $85 million will see the contractor deliver 805 beds. The turn of 2019 will see all three of Icon Construction's builds completed, with the Leicester Street project differing in that it is for internationally-backed accommodation provider GSA Australia.
The increasing number of student accommodation projects calling Carlton home now sees 10 separate developments in the pipeline.
Denton Corker Marshall's 557-591 Swanston Street is the largest at 870 beds whilst the most recent addition to the Urban.com.au Project Database was 625-631 Swanston Street. Combining the 10 projects, Carlton could eventually host another approximately 4,300 student beds.
