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As indicated in Apartments.com.au's <a href="/news/is-2018-the-year-of-commercial-for-the-melbourne-market">article on commercial development</a>, site works have commenced on the Two Melbourne Quarter site, which forms part of the greater Melbourne Quarter development being delivered by Lendlease within the Docklands precinct.

This has coincided with Lendlease securing EnergyAustralia as the anchor tenant for Two Melbourne Quarter and signing a development agreement to commence construction in earnest. EnergyAustralia has agreed to lease approximately 22,000 sqm of the 50,000 sqm tower, occupying 10-and-a-half levels of the building’s high-rise floors, leaving approximately 12 contiguous floors remaining.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/mq_aerial_rs.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Early siteworks are already underway at Two Melbourne Quarter. Image : Ryan Seychell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mq_aerial_rs.jpg?itok=lAzZ63U5" title="Early siteworks are already underway at Two Melbourne Quarter. Image : Ryan Seychell" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Early siteworks are already underway at Two Melbourne Quarter. Image : Ryan Seychell</figcaption></figure>The Woods Bagot-designed tower features flexible 2,000 sqm floor plates and is expected to house up to 4,500 new workers.

First State Super and Lendlease Investment Management's Australian Prime Property Fund (APPF) Commercial will each hold a 50 per cent interest in the 25-storey tower, which will target leading sustainability outcomes and ratings in energy and water consumption, waste management, and indoor environment quality, including a 6-Star Green Star Design &amp; As Built rating and a 5.5 Star NABERS Energy rating.

APPF Commercial is the first Australian fund to be awarded a 6-Star Green Star portfolio performance rating and was also ranked number one in the 2017 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) across all sectors globally. Two Melbourne Quarter is the second of three commercial towers planned for the precinct.

The first tower, One Melbourne Quarter is 90 per cent leased and on schedule for completion later this year. Tenants within the 12-storey building include ARUP, AMP and Lendlease.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/a367_mq_view_49_wurundjeri_way_low_res.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Two Melbourne Quarter has secured EnergyAustralia as it's anchor tenant. Image : Lendlease"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="709" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/a367_mq_view_49_wurundjeri_way_low_res.jpg?itok=RNn32LIL" title="Two Melbourne Quarter has secured EnergyAustralia as it's anchor tenant. Image : Lendlease" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Two Melbourne Quarter has secured EnergyAustralia as its anchor tenant. Image : Lendlease</figcaption></figure><h2>WHAT THEY SAY</h2>

<blockquote>
Companies want to attract and retain the best talent and a key way to do this is to offer a fantastic place to work in a vibrant precinct. We’re delighted to welcome EnergyAustralia as a key tenant.

APPF Commercial’s investment in Two Melbourne Quarter follows its recent over-subscribed equity raising. It positions the Fund to continue executing its strategy to invest in efficient, highly-sustainable, next generation office buildings in precincts with superior amenity and connectivity.

- Scott Mosely, Fund Manager, APPF Commercial
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
The Melbourne Quarter precinct is one of the largest urban regeneration developments in central Melbourne and will not only benefit the city but also members of First State Super.

As one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds we look to invest in the communities in which our members live, work and retire. We have around 200,000 members living in metropolitan and regional Victoria and are committed to ensuring long-term sustainable returns for their retirement savings. We are confident that Two Melbourne Quarter will contribute to this.

- Michael Dwyer, CEO, First State Super
</blockquote>
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Laurence Dragomir

Energy Australia signs on for Lendlease's Two Melbourne Quarter

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The winners of the City of Port Phillip Design &amp; Development Awards 2018 were announced on Tuesday 20 March at the NGV International, as a part of the programme for Melbourne Design Week 2018.

Hosted by Tim Ross and Mayor Cr Bernadene Voss, and presented by jurors Professor Donald Bates, Shelley Penn, Deputy Mayor Cr Dick Gross, Cr Katherine Copsey and Cr David Brand, the event brought together community, industry and Council to celebrate and promote design excellence in the municipality.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/20180321_234958.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The evening was hosted by Tim Ross and Mayor Cr Bernadene Voss with awards presented by jurors"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="412" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/20180321_234958.jpg?itok=vQJ_CaKm" title="The evening was hosted by Tim Ross and Mayor Cr Bernadene Voss with awards presented by jurors" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The evening was hosted by Tim Ross and Mayor Cr Bernadene Voss with awards presented by jurors</figcaption></figure>This year's list of winners included a community park for all ages, the renewal of the iconic Palais Theatre, the restoration of a Victorian timber worker’s cottage and the conversion of Port Melbourne’s first post office.

<blockquote>
This year’s Design Week theme, Design Effects, recognises the importance of design excellence and thoughtful development in balancing growth and maintaining the unique character of diverse and distinctive neighbourhoods.

I can’t think of a more relevant theme for Port Phillip as we are very proud of our much-loved neighbourhoods and have pledged in our long-term vision to do our utmost to keep our City’s character as Port Phillip continues to grow.

- Bernadene Voss, Mayor City of Port Phillip
</blockquote>

The winners of each category and commendations are listed below:

Mayor's Choice Award

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/maritime_oculus.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Maritime Cove Community Park. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="389" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/maritime_oculus.jpg?itok=kJoPa--O" title="The Maritime Cove Community Park. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Maritime Cove Community Park. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>Winner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>The Maritime Cove Community Park - OCULUS Landscape Architecture &amp; Urban Design with Port of Melbourne</li>
</ul>
Residential dwelling - alteration or new build

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/acute_st_kilda_mixed.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Acute House and St Kilda Mixed Use House. Images : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="213" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/acute_st_kilda_mixed.jpg?itok=9FNBy6z1" title="Acute House and St Kilda Mixed Use House. Images : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Acute House and St Kilda Mixed Use House. Images : Supplied</figcaption></figure>WInner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>Acute House – OOF! Architecture with Mitty Price, and;</li>
	<li>St Kilda Mixed Use House – DDB Design Development &amp; Building with Matt Gibson Architecture &amp; Design</li>
</ul>
Commendation(s) :

<ul>
<li>Baffle House - Clare Cousins Architects</li>
	<li>Myrtle Tree House - MAKE Architecture</li>
</ul>
Multi-unit and mixed use development

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/elwood_house_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Elwood House. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="359" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/elwood_house_0.jpg?itok=gAMsN9aV" title="Elwood House. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Elwood House. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>WInner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>Elwood House – Piccolo with Hecker Guthrie &amp; Woods Bagot</li>
</ul>
Commendation(s) :

<ul>
<li>House and a half - Three C Architects</li>
</ul>
Place making

Winner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>The Maritime Cove Community Park - OCULUS Landscape Architecture &amp; Urban Design with Port of Melbourne</li>
</ul>
Non-residential development

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/albert_park_6degrees.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="304" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/albert_park_6degrees.jpg?itok=tZiGLSM8" title="Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>Winner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub – Six Degrees Architects</li>
</ul>
Commendation(s) :

<ul>
<li>The Gipson Commons, St Michael's Grammar School - Architectus</li>
	<li>Point Ormond Amenities Block - Garner Davis Architects</li>
</ul>
Interior fit out

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/dogs_bar_st_kilda.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Dog’s Bar St Kilda. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="773" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/dogs_bar_st_kilda.jpg?itok=X6Y2jocx" title="Dog’s Bar St Kilda. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Dog’s Bar St Kilda. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>Winner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>Dog’s Bar St Kilda with Colin Sheppard &amp; Grant Amon Architects</li>
</ul>
Commendation(s) :

<ul>
<li>MeatworksCo, South Melbourne</li>
</ul>
Heritage Conservation

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/palais_copp.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Palais Theatre restoration. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="366" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/palais_copp.jpg?itok=ji3QU_y2" title="The Palais Theatre restoration. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Palais Theatre restoration. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>Winner(s) : 

<ul>
<li>Albert Park College Environmental Arts Hub – Six Degrees Architects</li>
	<li>Palais Theatre – Development Victoria with DELWP and City of Port Phillip</li>
</ul>
Commendation(s) :

<ul>
<li>Acute House - OOF! Architecture</li>
	<li>Beetson-Reid House -  RBA Architects &amp; Conservation Consultants</li>
</ul>
Out of Bounds Citation

<ul>
<li>Icon, St Kilda - Pace Development Group</li>
</ul>
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Winners of 2018 City of Port Phillip Design & Development Awards announced

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Following on from <a href="/news/escala-newquay-in-focus-part-one">yesterday's Q&amp;A with MAB's David Allt-Graham</a>, Apartments.com.au today discusses the design approach to Escala in NewQuay with Six Degrees Director Mark Healy and how the office's experience in the residential sector and within Melbourne's laneways, informed the key design drivers and composition of the project's architecture.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/escala-facade-1140x430.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Escala's podium will comprise a series of buildings, providing a fine grain approach to the streetscape. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="219" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/escala-facade-1140x430.jpg?itok=GFjFo7YJ" title="Escala's podium will comprise a series of buildings, providing a fine grain approach to the streetscape. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Escala's podium will comprise a series of buildings, providing a fine grain approach to the streetscape. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>Apartments.com.au: Escala represents Six Degrees jump into high-rise development. What was Six Degrees' approach for designing Escala and how did your experience working on more low-rise to mid-scale projects help inform the design of Escala? 

Mark Healy: Escala represents a new challenge for Six Degrees, but it is precisely our experience in low-rise and mid-scale projects that informed this project. Rather than approaching this as one high-rise project, we envisage it as a series of smaller buildings making up a community. For example, priority is given to the lived experience of the resident, rather than the view of the tower from a helicopter window – as is so often the case with high-rise development design. The bottom-up approach so clearly embraced at Escala is reflective of Six Degrees’ human-driven approach to design.  

UM: Why do you think MAB engaged Six Degrees for the project?

MH: As Melbourne’s first laneway bar, Meyers Place in many ways gave birth to the laneway culture this city knows and loves today. Six Degrees continues to design laneway projects all these years later, and I think MAB sought to bring the authenticity inherent in these spaces to NewQuay. When we designed Meyers Place, Melbourne’s CBD was not at all the vibrant place it is now, but having a long-term vision for what could be was crucial – and that’s how we approached this project.    

UM: One thing Docklands has been criticised for is that it lacks some of that finer grain quality of say parts of the CBD both in terms of how buildings are articulated and the tactile quality of them. Were Six Degrees conscious of this criticism and did you seek to address this in the design for Escala?

MH: It's a big ask when you're tasked to build a new high-density city building, on a piece of vacant land, with little heritage surrounds. So, we asked ourselves how we could introduce the best bits of the CBD –  like finer grain, scale and material diversity –  to speed up the sense of community and placemaking. Our use of handmade tiles, breezeblocks, delicate metals like bronze and stained glass embodies this, so too does the introduction of a Melbourne-scaled laneway at Escala.

UM: How does Escala respond to the buildings that are already there and what were some of the challenges and opportunities that you faced in an area that is still trying to find its identity? 

MH: Overcoming the cold, southerly winds that plague the Docklands was a challenge that we overcame by creating the intimate laneway buffeted from the breeze. When it came to responding to buildings already in place at NewQuay, we designed a T-shape tower as it maximises the northern light, city and water views, as well as creating more corner apartments.

We were conscious of a new supermarket soon to be built across the way from Escala, so the placement of the piazza deliberately provides interests along the path that people will use when they buy groceries. The movement of not just residents, but visitors and workers through the square will help generate activity and buzz in this area of NewQuay.

UM: And how much influence do you have in helping to shape the identity and character of the area through a single or this instance a collection of buildings?

MH: At Six Degrees we are firm believers that social life should generate what a building looks like. For example, we’re aware that many office workers venture to the city for drinks or coffee, so we designed the piazza with space for a buzzing north facing café to encourage people to stay in the precinct

UM: What do you consider to be the most critical aspect of Escala's design and what distinguishes it from some of the other buildings in Docklands?=

MH: The most symbolic aspect of Escala’s design is the piazza because it is a genuine public space not just for residents, but for the wider community to socialise. What also stands out about Escala is the significant amount of active street frontage. Even the car park entry is presented like a shop window, with bike racks making it feel like an inner-north bike shop – we’re highly conscious of activating every space.
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Escala NewQuay in Focus - Part Two

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After a brief stint during summer, the City of Melbourne's Elizabeth Street pop-up park will close on 24 March to allow for private development works at Riverview House with the Council postponing the permanent upgrade of the area to create new public space, now due to commence in 2019.

The upgrade will more than double the amount of pedestrian space in the street. We will also create a better space for people with new bluestone paving, street furniture, lighting and trees.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/elizabeth-street.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Artist's impression of Elizabeth Street South upon completion. Image : City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/elizabeth-street.jpg?itok=z3lSGk-n" title="Artist's impression of Elizabeth Street South upon completion. Image : City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Artist's impression of Elizabeth Street South upon completion. Image : City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>The design for the new public space at Elizabeth Street South involves five key components:

<ul>
<li>Removal of Southbound traffic</li>
	<li>Provision of a new pedestrian area</li>
	<li>Retention of trams and terminus</li>
	<li>Upgrade of western footpath</li>
	<li>Northbound traffic retained </li>
</ul>
Construction works at 276 Flinders Street, fronting this section of Elizabeth Street, are due to commence in the next month, limiting Council's ability to build upgrade the street immediately.

The decision to postpone construction of the permanent public space is based primarily on maintaining pedestrian safety around construction activities at 276 Flinders Street and preventing damage to new public space infrastructure that would likely result from construction vehicles accessing the area.

<ul></ul>
The development at 276 Flinders Street comprises the construction of a 4,600 sqm tower building on the northern part of the podium due for completion by the end of the year. 

Designed by Baldasso Cortese who have been involved in the revistilisation of Riverview House since 2001, the new 5-storey office building will be built utilising lightweight steel and timber construction and accessed via a bridge-link from the existing tower lobby.  

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/riverview.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Riverview House's second tower is set to commence construction. Image: Baldasso Cortese"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="403" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/riverview.jpg?itok=t-Z8TDQK" title="Riverview House's second tower is set to commence construction. Image: Baldasso Cortese" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Riverview House's second tower is set to commence construction. Image: Baldasso Cortese</figcaption></figure>​​​​​​​Lead Image: City of Melbourne

 
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Elizabeth Street pop up to close as development works commence on Riverview House

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Urban.com.au <a href="/news/a-double-design-delight-for-docklands">recently highlighted</a> two projects within <a href="/new-apartments/docklands-vic-3008">Docklands</a> that have strong design credentials which stand to add to the ever-evolving precinct's body of architecture. One project in particular, <a href="/buildings/escala-newquay-381-docklands-drive-docklands">Escala</a> - <a href="/developers/mab-corporation">MAB's</a> latest offering at its NewQuay development - has sought a different approach to previous residential buildings in the area, with the aim of introducing some <a href="/new-apartments/melbourne-vic">Melbourne CBD</a> fine grain and character to the eastern precinct. 

To that end, MAB Corporation tasked architects <a href="/new-apartments/melbourne-vic">Six Degrees</a> - synonymous with the rebirth of Melbourne's laneway culture - to design a set of buildings which not only meet rigorous design criteria for apartments but also provide a unique mixed-use development which capitalises on its location and changing context.

Urban.com.au recently asked David Allt-Graham, General Manager Residential at MAB to provide a bit of background on the approach and process for conceiving Escala, and what it will add to the precinct. This will be followed by a piece with Six Degree's Mark Healy who will discuss the design in greater detail.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/180108_lot_5_new_quay_v02_tower_hero_final.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Escala will add a unique dimension to the NewQuay precinct. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="670" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/180108_lot_5_new_quay_v02_tower_hero_final.jpg?itok=habFA7tR" title="Escala will add a unique dimension to the NewQuay precinct. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Escala will add a unique dimension to the NewQuay precinct. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>Urban.com.au: NewQuay has continued to evolve over nearly 20 years, with greater diversity in the architecture and product offering, with buildings by <a href="/architects/plus-architecture">Plus Architecture</a>, McBride Charles Ryan, <a href="/architects/dko-architecture">DKO Architecture</a>, <a href="/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> and now <a href="/architects/six-degrees-architects">Six Degrees</a> making their mark on the precinct. How has MAB's vision for the precinct evolved and have you had to revisit it over the course of 20 years?

David Allt-Graham: In 1997, MAB saw the opportunity to bring NewQuay to life, with a vision of creating a 24-hour city for Melburnians to live, play, work and stay on the shores of Victoria Harbour. This was extremely bold thinking, as, at the time, the Harbour was surrounded by dilapidated sheds and the <a href="/new-apartments/docklands-vic-3008">Docklands</a> looked very different. Now, more than twenty years later, MAB’s vision is realising its full potential. The important elements are falling into place, with a new primary school, supermarket, cinema complex and two hotels being only some of the new additions due to be built in NewQuay over the next few years.

Our vision for NewQuay remains unchanged, however our approach has become more sophisticated as we respond to a maturing suburb and an evolving housing market. Escala is arguably the best example of MAB’s adaptability as it includes a proprietary, split-level internal design which was developed to offer affordable, double height living spaces within apartments.

UM: What was it about Six Degrees' work that attracted MAB to engage the practice for Escala? 

DA-G: MAB’s open-minded approach to art and design has produced some remarkable collaborations. An example of this is the creation of ‘Monument Park’ and the multi award-winning ‘The Quays’.

Escala is the result of a new collaboration between MAB and Six Degrees. Six Degrees is a practice that, like MAB, has over 20 years’ experience in the industry as well as a passion for city living in Melbourne. Six Degrees are undoubtedly the pioneers of transforming Melbourne’s city into a liveable place. Their work is synonymous with Melbourne’s laneway culture and it is exciting to see their ideas being translated into a tower development. Working with Six Degrees has inclined our team to think more about scale and has also helped us to further understand how people use and enjoy different spaces.

Six Degrees’ work is timeless and it aligns with our mission for integrity over fashion in the final product.  

UM: The approach to Escala differs slightly from some of the previous buildings in NewQuay particularly with multiple buildings which form the podium -  what was the brief to Six Degrees?

DA-G: The intention of designing Escala as a collection of buildings was so to deliver a development which presents variety, as well as one that presents an idea of spaces being built over time. This approach saw Six Degrees prioritise materiality, scale, and to embrace diversity.  This concept is clearly expressed in the uniqueness of each streetscape of Escala, with buildings of different character.

Simple, robust materials, including brick and bluestone are integral to each streetscape.  These materials are carried into the interiors of the building, with concrete ceilings in the apartment living areas and corridors lit from stain glass feature windows.  We also expressed to Six Degrees that we wanted to offer some relief from plasterboard and carpet at Escala.

UM: Will Escala be the final residential development completing NewQuay East?

DA-G: Escala is MAB’s thirteenth boutique project in NewQuay and we have subsequently learnt a great deal about apartment living over this journey.

Escala is the final stage of development in the Eastern precinct and it will be a ‘keystone’ project that unifies the neighbouring developments in the area.  Escala will deliver a new piazza on Docklands Drive, which will become a focal point for street life and provide a sunny and restful space to simply hang out in or to have lunch at.  There is a great buzz around Escala and the feedback from everyone who has seen it, including Council planners, has been fantastic and positive. We look forward to completing it!

UM: What impact do you think the proposed Docklands Primary School, the overhaul of the former Harbour Town retail and entertainment precinct which will include a Fresh Food Market, Supermarket and cinemas, will have on the attractiveness of not only Escala but NewQuay?

DA-G: These amenities have been in planning for a long time and NewQuay is currently experiencing a major ‘step change’ as they each come through construction over the next few years.  We’re not selling the dream anymore, it is now happening.

NewQuay is becoming increasingly diverse, with expanding retail in the District Docklands (including a new H&amp;M store), entertainment areas, a modern school, and sophisticated new residences like Escala and <a href="/buildings/banksia-newquay-429-docklands-drive-docklands">Banksia</a>.  This means that we can cater to a much broader cohort of residents and businesses.  This further expands our markets and makes the whole precinct more vibrant – it is a virtuous circle.
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Escala NewQuay in Focus - Part One 

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Golden Age Group has recently launched the website for its Sky Garden Residences, to be developed above airspace as part of The Glen redevelopment project. City of Monash initially approved plans for the $500 million redevelopment of The Glen shopping centre in Glen Waverley in 2015.

Key features of The Glen redevelopment include:

<ul>
<li>an expansion of the retail centre across the existing car park in Springvale Road, Glen Waverley</li>
	<li>three apartment towers above the retail podium, with the highest being 20-storeys</li>
	<li>a new public square at the entrance to the shopping centre, with cafes and restaurants creating a cosmopolitan connection between Kingsway and The Glen.</li>
</ul>
In November 2016, Council approved an amended permit for the residential towers at 235 Springvale Rd, Glen Waverley which was once again amended and approved in January 2018. 

Key aspects of the proposed amendments relate to modification of the overall massing, layout and mix of residential apartments of Building A, (Signature Building), B (Urban Building) and Building C (Kingsway Axial Building). 

Each building will increase in overall height by 1m and will adopt a new facade treatment to what was originally approved.

The revised plans prepared by RotheLowman include an additional 89 car spaces and the provision of 555 apartments across the three towers comprising of: 

<ul>
<li>127 x 1 bedroom apartments; </li>
	<li>371 x 2 bedroom apartments; and </li>
	<li>57 x 3 bedroom apartments. </li>
</ul>
<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/the_glen_skygardens.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Sky Gardens as the name suggests has 4,000 sqm of communal open space. Image : skygardenresidences.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="221" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the_glen_skygardens.jpg?itok=bGaRtxSZ" title="Sky Gardens as the name suggests has 4,000 sqm of communal open space. Image : skygardenresidences.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Sky Gardens as the name suggests has 4,000 sqm of communal open space. Image : skygardenresidences.com.au</figcaption></figure>A large part of the project's appeal according to Golden Age Group is the 4,000 sqm of open space across the three towers and the views on offer from within, which encompass the Dandenong Ranges and the Bay.

The new residences will also take advantage of their position within the newly revitalised shopping and entertainment precinct of The Glen Shopping Centre.

<ul></ul>
The first stage of the redevelopment of The Glen - the Fresh Food Market Hall - opened in September 2017 and is located on the lower ground level offering a wide choice and variety of fresh produce and specialty ingredients in one location.

The Fresh Food Market Hall features an ALDI, latest format Woolworths, Coles and 60 boutique food retailers and specialty stores.

Vicinity Centre's redevelopment of The Glen will occur across five stages spanning three years which will create a new 'town square' with dining over two levels, new mini-majors, a fresh food market hall and 240+ select stores on completion. The five stages of the redevelopment are summarised below.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_8048.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Probuild has advanced construction on The Glen "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="377" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_8048.jpg?itok=o_dIE0Op" title="Probuild has advanced construction on The Glen " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Probuild has advanced construction on The Glen</figcaption></figure>The Glen Stages :

<ul>
<li>Stage 1 - Now Open: Fresh Food Market Hall</li>
	<li>
	Stage 2 - Early 2018: New Food Gallery
	</li>
	<li>
	Stage 3 - Late 2018: Fashion &amp; Lifestyle
	</li>
	<li>
	Stage 4 - Late 2019: David Jones, Premium Fashion &amp; New Town Square
	</li>
	<li>
	Stage 5 - Early 2020: Mini Majors Precinct
	</li>
</ul>
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l0Atr-Luux4" width="560"></iframe>
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Sky Garden residences launched as construction progresses on The Glen

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Cedar Woods' first strata office building within Williams Landing, comprising 47 strata office suites and a ground floor medical centre has sold out in just under seven months. 

Located at 111 Overton Road within the Wlliams Landing town centre, construction on the 5-storey building is due to commence shortly with completion expected in March 2019.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/v02_ext_hero_landscape.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="111 Overton Road is the first strata office for Williams Landing. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="393" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/v02_ext_hero_landscape.jpg?itok=zt9ys_bG" title="111 Overton Road is the first strata office for Williams Landing. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>111 Overton Road is the first strata office for Williams Landing. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>According to 2016 Census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Wyndham remains one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia, with 55,500 people moving to the area since 2011, a growth of 34.4 per cent.

This population growth is also seeing more businesses invest in the west, and in turn Williams Landing. According to a report prepared by economists MacroPlan Dimasi, on completion the Williams Landing town centre has the potential support in excess of 21,000 jobs, the majority of which will be white-collar roles.

To further support this demand, Cedar Woods is currently in the planning stage of its next strata office building, 101 Overton Road, which will offer premium commercial suites in the heart of the Williams Landing town centre.

Urban.com.au asked Cedar Woods Chief Operating Officer Patrick Archer what he credited the sell out success to and how the project fits into the overall vision for Williams Landing.

Urban.com.au: What do you attribute the sell-out success of 111 Overton Road to?

Patrick Archer: Williams Landing is located at the gateway between Melbourne and one of Australia’s fastest growing communities with 34 per cent population growth over the past five years. This strong growth is creating opportunities for businesses to grow and expand in the area.

Furthermore, Williams Landing provides an ideal location for businesses with numerous amenities within walking distance such as the Williams Landing Train Station and Williams Landing Shopping Centre.

The success of 111 Overton Road can also be attributed to the attractive price points, with an average sale rate of $5,000/sqm, in comparison to strata offices in the CBD commanding in excess of $10,000psm.

UM: A second strata office at 101 Overton Road is already on the cards. Do you envisage any future commercial development which would be lettable to larger tenants?

PA: 101 Overton Road will bring a further 6,000 sqm of high-quality strata office space to the west. With areas ranging from 50-160 sqm, we hope to launch this project in the next couple of months.

We currently have another office development, 95 Overton Road, in town planning which will comprise a further 9,000 sqm building over 10 levels. We are actively looking to pre-lease this space. The recent relocation of Target Headquarters from Geelong and Williams Landing has also boosted interest in the Williams Landing Town Centre.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/116084-targetwilliamslanding-170316-tprevision-targethq402ed01-1939552_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="111 Overton Road will join the Target Headquarters with a second strata building also at planning. Image : Cedar Woods"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/116084-targetwilliamslanding-170316-tprevision-targethq402ed01-1939552_1.jpg?itok=W3sGy0xp" title="111 Overton Road will join the Target Headquarters with a second strata building also at planning. Image : Cedar Woods" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>111 Overton Road will join the Target Headquarters with a second strata building also at planning. Image : Cedar Woods</figcaption></figure>UM: How do these projects fit into Cedar Woods' overall vision for Williams landing?

PA: We envisage the Williams Landing Town Centre as a dynamic commercial and retail hub in Melbourne’s western region. We see the suburb acting as a major centre for business and retail, as well as providing contemporary public spaces for leisure and recreation.

The two strata office projects are keeping in line with this vision, as the convenient location of Williams Landing gives proximity and linkage to a safe, convenient and fully integrated transport network for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and public transport users.

The two office buildings also tie into the already established Williams Landing Shopping Centre and the new Target headquarters to be completed by the end of 2018.

UM: Do the two Overton Road projects reflect a change in the market, in terms of moving focus away from residential development to commercial?

PA: We believe that both the residential and commercial markets are undersupplied. We continue to see strong demand for both types of product, with 111 Overton Road selling out in just seven months.

The buyer profile of 111 Overton Road comprises local investors and owner-occupiers, with various white-collar small businesses securing the suites at 111 Overton Road. Some of these businesses include accountancy firms, financial planners, IT companies, law firms and architectural practices.

This evolution of a demographic who live and want to work within the west is the basis for ongoing high-quality commercial development at Williams Landing.

UM: And building on this do you believe 2018 will be the year for commercial development in Melbourne?

PA: We are seeing a clear trend of tenants making the decision to move to a suburban office. This is driven by a lack of supply and rising rental values in the Melbourne CBD along with many businesses looking to decentralize.
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Cedar Woods' first strata office at Williams Landing sells out

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Global engineering consultancy Aurecon has signalled its intentions to expand its digital design capabilities by acquiring leading digital agency, Studio Magnified (formerly Squint Opera Australia).

Studio Magnified’s team of 25 designers and creative strategists renowned for their work in infrastructure and the built environment have joined Aurecon effective 1 March 2018. Studio Magnified's approach to finding the ‘why’ at the heart of each project and bringing it to life through film and print, and by leveraging installation, apps and interactive technologies was a large part of the agency's appeal to Aurecon.

In response to a growing demand globally, the new digital design team has been tasked with growing the firm’s existing digital and visualisation services, as Governments and developers respond to a growing demand to be able to visualise, understand and support the value of investment in large-scale infrastructure projects.

The growing use of digital technologies is having a major impact on the booming Australian infrastructure sector, according to Aurecon’s Global CEO Giam Swiegers. Swiegers says this is being driven by the Federal and State Governments’ $75 billion worth of nation-building projects including key city-changing projects such as the Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project.

The acquisition by Aurecon of Studio Magnified and its research and development arm, Unsigned Studio, reflects a company-wide transformation and digitisation across Aurecon, under the leadership of Chief Digital Officer Dr Andrew Maher, who Swiegers hired over two years ago to spearhead Aurecon’s investment in developing innovative solutions.

The advent and evolution of technologies such as augmented reality, gaming technologies, AI and 3D modelling are changing the landscape for companies and how they analyse and solve complex design and infrastructure challenges, and then present their projects to clients.

Over the last two years Aurecon has made a conscious effort to boost its digitally skilled staff numbers by 58% as it continues to diversify its workforce. Its core digital team has grown to include Global Digital Leaders, a Digital Futures Team and Digital Practice Leaders across its regions.

Dr Maher believes these new technologies have become a key differentiator for future-ready global engineering companies such as Aurecon, helping to dramatically enhance customers’ experience, while improving collaboration and decision making.

According to Studio Magnified Directors Dave Mackenzie, Foo Chi (Fooch) Sung and Nic Hamilton, Aurecon’s reputation as one of Australia and New Zealand’s most innovative firms in the recent AFR 2017 Most Innovative Firm list that helped seal the deal.

 

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/54mcObAHJ68" width="560"></iframe>

A recent example of Studio Magnified and Unsigned's capabilities is their work on Lendlease's Melbourne Quarter project where they produced a comprehensive set of planning and marketing still imagery, film and VR360s, and also designed and produced interactive tools and displays using creative technology to enhance the impact and experience of the display suites.

These included a physical/digital context model, an interactive projection wall, VR 360 applications for headset and iPad, a dynamic multi-­display video wall, and custom display software and operating hardware to enable intuitive interactive engagement.

The digital context model presented a scale model of Melbourne’s ground plane as the physical base for multiple and interactive layers of site and context information. The complete installation included precision CNC machined acrylic models, solid clear 3D printed models, large commercial displays, custom hardware, new display software and an iPad application for control and user input.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/mq-model.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Studio Magnified and Unsigned were instrumemental in the marketing of Lendlease's Melbourne Quarter development. Image : Studio Magnified"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="274" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mq-model.jpg?itok=dSuXEYhk" title="Studio Magnified and Unsigned were instrumemental in the marketing of Lendlease's Melbourne Quarter development. Image : Studio Magnified" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Studio Magnified and Unsigned were instrumemental in the marketing of Lendlease's Melbourne Quarter development. Image : Studio Magnified</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
Augmented reality, gaming technologies, AI as well as 3D modelling are powerful tools that are changing the way we analyse and solve our client’s increasingly complex urban design and infrastructure challenges. We are also using them to assist owners and investors better visualise how infrastructure assets will perform, in advance of being built.

This is critical to the set up and execution of major projects. It can cut time and costs during design and construction, improve decision making around investment, while assisting Governments and asset owners to present a far more engaging story to their key stakeholders and communities.

- Giam Swiegers, Global CEO​​​​​​,​ Aurecon
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
Studio Magnified is a digital agency specialising in ‘informed’ communication to explain complex ideas by combining technology with story-telling techniques.

Studio Magnified’s innovative expertise will play a key role in allowing our clients to experience their projects in a way they never have before – completely reimagining an end-to-end experience, from visualisation to planning, construction and launch

Gaming technology, augmented and virtual reality as well as 3D are having a huge impact on how the vision for major infrastructure and built environment projects are being communicated to project stakeholders, including Government, investors and the public.

- Dr Andrew Maher, Chief Digital Officer, Aurecon
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
As a company, Aurecon brings ideas to life using cutting edge technology and visualisation tools. Joining forces with Aurecon will allow Studio Magnified to scale up and work on city-changing projects around the globe.

Both companies want to be much more than a ‘tech buyout’. This is a meeting of like-minded leaders, striving to do things differently, on a global scale.

- Dave Mackenzie, Director, Studio Magnified
</blockquote>
</body></html>

Aurecon acquires Studio Magnified as it looks to expand its digital design capabilities

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The University of Melbourne has announced the appointment of the team of architects and designers for its $229 million New Student Precinct on the Parkville Campus.

Led by Lyons Architecture, the successful team was chosen from a shortlist of five design groups.

The New Student Precinct will be located on the corner of Grattan and Swanston Streets, and is bound by Monash Road to the north, and the Melbourne School of Engineering Precinct to the west.

Locating the centre adjacent to the University’s traditional college accommodation to the north and new purpose-built student accommodation to the south will ensure it provides a successful platform for the University’s 60,000 students to easily connect.

Additionally, the project will neighbour the University’s innovation precinct - the Carlton Connect Initiative being designed by Hayball and Woods Bagot and to be delivered by Lendlease.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image32_14.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The New Student Precinct joins the Carlton Connect Initiative as Campus transforming projects. Image : Hayball"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="398" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image32_14.jpg?itok=3rN6H54e" title="The New Student Precinct joins the Carlton Connect Initiative as Campus transforming projects. Image : Hayball" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The New Student Precinct adjoins the Carlton Connect Initiative. Image : Hayball</figcaption></figure>The New Student Precinct is being co-created, with over 5,500 students partnering with the project as active contributors and decision-makers. The project aims to deliver a new series of student spaces that will include a diverse range of social spaces, mixed-use retail, food and beverage outlets, and increased contemporary study spaces for the whole campus community.

Encompassing nine buildings, the Precinct will bring together the University’s student unions, academic services, and the Institute for Indigenous Development, Murrup Barak for the first time; significantly reshaping and revitalising the landscape and built environment of the site. 

Much of the development will be through the adaptive re-use of existing buildings, including extensive refurbishments and façade treatments.

The New Student Precinct intends to "make a significant contribution to the transformation of the on-campus student experience at Parkville by delivering a world-class student hub for the whole campus community."

Design lead Lyons Architecture will collaborate with a team of specialists and fellow designers to create the Precinct, including Koning Eizenberg Architects from the USA (led by alumni Julie Eizenberg and Hank Koning). Aspect Studios, Breathe Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Glas Urban and Architects EAT are also present.

The design team has been tasked with creating a vibrant centre of activity that will co-locate student services and activities closer to the new heart of the campus, and to primary transport links.

<h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
The selection process fostered and supported submissions from some of the most speculative and innovative design and spatial practitioners in Australia and overseas. The finalists each provided a unique vision for how the University of Melbourne embraces the changing role and experience of education, research and community engagement.  The winning team fulfils the ambitious goals of the New Student Precinct process to produce a lasting legacy in the new centre for the campus.

- Professor Donald Bates, Melbourne School of Design Chair of Architectural Design and member of the selection panel
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
Our design team, who are all university alumni, are looking forward to working closely with students so that the design positively reflects their aspirations for a campus experience.

- Carey Lyon, Founding Director, Lyons 
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
The Precinct, which will be co-created with students, will transform the cultural, social and engagement opportunities for students and set a new benchmark.

- Paul Duldig, New Student Precinct Project Sponsor and Head of University Services  
</blockquote>

Works commenced on site in January 2018 with a completion scheduled for 2021–2022.

An exhibition of the architectural Concept and Design Responses from the five shortlisted architect teams is currently on display in the Basement Foyer of the Melbourne School of Design until Friday 23 March.

The teams will also make a presentation on Friday 16 March as part of Melbourne Design Week.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/231031907" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe>

<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://vimeo.com/231031907">New Student Precinct at the University of Melbourne</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user70233184">New Student Precinct - Uni Melb</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.
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Design team for University of Melbourne's Student Precinct announced

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DesignBUILD - the construction industry's only dedicated trade show conference - will for 2018 have a strong focus on product compliance and conformity that has been driven by the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London last year and also the 2014 Lacrosse building fire in Melbourne. 

Bringing together Australia’s leading architects, building professionals, contractors and design community together with manufacturers, suppliers and service providers, DesignBUILD will host three days of networking, inspiration and with the added impetus of serving as a forum for thinking through the bigger issues affecting the industry.

Through a series of speakers and panel discussions, just some of the many topics the event will explore include compliance (particularly cladding), how architects and town planners can collaborate rather than clash and build to rent.

Pia Argiratos, conference director for DesignBUILD 2018, has been instrumental in driving the new showcase of ideas and innovations in construction, design and architecture, she spoke to Apartments.com.au about her approach and aspirations for this year's conference.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/designbuild_day_1_0220.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Attendees can expect a series of speakers and panel discussions at DesignBUILD 2018. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/designbuild_day_1_0220.jpg?itok=8dC95O6D" title="Attendees can expect a series of speakers and panel discussions at DesignBUILD 2018. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Attendees can expect a series of speakers and panel discussions at DesignBUILD 2018. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>Apartments.com.au: How did you become interested in the construction industry?

Pia Argiratos: My interest in the construction industry grew from an understanding of the importance homes, workplaces, schools and public spaces to our lives. I saw joining the industry as an opportunity to contribute to improving where we live, work and play.

UM: What drew you into the role of Conference Director for DesignBUILD 2018?

PA: I have been working alongside the DesignBUILD team for a number of years, and I know how committed they are to making the event relevant, informative and useful.

The role of Conference Director was a great opportunity for me to utilise my knowledge of the industry and the thought leaders within it to put some important topics on the agenda, and bring to the stage presenters who can turn on lightbulbs and inspire our visitors.

UM: Key issues for DesignBUILD 2018 include compliance, innovation and sustainability. How do you see these issues being addressed?

PA: We have a number of exciting sessions that take on the big topics. This includes building regulatory control and product conformity, and how we MUST make changes if we want to avoid disasters such as the UK’s Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The conference program is focused on how we can do things better, from improving the sustainability of our buildings, to changing how project teams work together using technology and collaborative processes.

We talk about how the design of a building can influence the wellbeing of people who live and work there, and what our communities might need from buildings in the future. These kinds of improvements come from the combination of new approaches in design as well as new, innovative products that solve problems. DesignBUILD offers an opportunity for the entire industry to communicate and learn together as a team.

UM: What is your aim for DesignBUILD 2018? What are you hoping those in attendance take away with them?

PA: My aim for DesignBUILD is for people to leave with a head full of ideas but also a clear path to achieve the next step. We want to stimulate big picture thinking, but also give pragmatic information that visitors can use in their next project.

For me, “It’s all in the detail” talks of improvement by increments, so if we can give people information that helps them tweak their work here and there to become a bit better each day, then we have contributed to the industry and the community.

DesignBUILD takes place from Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 May at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

https://designbuildexpo.com.au/

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/designbuild_day_1_0020.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="DesignBUILD will host three days of networking and provide a forum for discussing the big issues affecting the industry. Image : Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/designbuild_day_1_0020.jpg?itok=WrbOb6yj" title="DesignBUILD will host three days of networking and provide a forum for discussing the big issues affecting the industry. Image : Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>DesignBUILD will host three days of networking and provide a forum for discussing the big issues affecting the industry. Image : Supplied</figcaption></figure>
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Conference Director Pia Argiratos talks DesignBUILD 2018

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

&nbsp;

The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

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The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

Laurence Dragomir

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