COVID-19 drives creation of ‘healthier’ office/residential design
MELBOURNE: COVID-19 is driving a higher design standard as developers seek healthier office/residential standards.
Plans for an “unprecedented, holistically healthy” $600 million office/residential tower have been lodged with the Brisbane City Council.
To be known as 205 North Quay, developers say the tower will be the first commercial building in Australia to offer tenants a holistic work-life approach.
It will feature a whole-floor wellness facility, 25m lap pool, childcare facilities, a public realm auditorium, outdoor terraces on every level, and rooftop collaboration and celebration facilities.
Cbus Property and Nielson Properties, together with Brisbane’s Raniga family, will develop the tower which has been has been designed by internationally acclaimed architecture firms Hassell, New York-based REX and Brisbane’s Richards & Spence.
Cbus Property’s chief executive Adrian Pozzo said the development will optimise the site’s potential and be a catalyst for activating the North Quarter of Brisbane’s CBD.
“We’re excited to seek planning approval from Brisbane City Council for 205 North Quay, a unique and healthy workplace that will evolve with its users into the future and create a new front door to the city, setting a design standard for others to follow in the exciting burgeoning precinct,” he said.
“The project team has been tasked with creating an office tower that.contributes to Brisbane’s identity as Australia’s New World City, helping to attract investment and tourism, embrace the
Queensland lifestyle and ultimately drive the city’s economic growth.”
The tower will take advantage of Brisbane’s benign climate. Deep building overhangs, multi-level cross-ventilation and shade-giving plantings maximise the use of external, public places in all weather conditions.
Nielson Properties’ director Ross Nielson said the plan is to assert both the subtropicality and wellbeing focus for 205 North Quay.
“A full tower floor will be dedicated to wellness, which will be inclusive of an extensive end-of-trip offering, exercise studios, healthy eating offerings, consultation suites and a 25m lap pool overlooking the Brisbane River,” he said.
“Every floor will benefit from a terrace space in a diversity of scales, creating a new type of office tower experience. In addition, there will be an expansive roof terrace allowing for indoor and outdoor collaboration and celebration.
“This extraordinary amenity will be one that is largely unparalleled in Australian CBD commercial developments.”
Mr Pozzo said the tower will be a “holistic workplace with wellbeing its core priority.”
“With the impact of COVID-19, the increased importance of our mental and physical health has never been more emphasised,” he said.
“At 205 North Quay, we have a unique opportunity to create a building and set of spaces that are uniquely positioned to blaze a trail for healthy buildings and their potential. A place for employees to come in and be their best at work.”
