Frasers Property Australia (Frasers Property) and the GPT Wholesale Office Fund, have revealed a new cutting-edge lobby redesign at 2 Southbank Boulevard in Melbourne’s Freshwater Place.
The dynamic, unique and high-quality design was led by BVN architects, and focused on repositioning the building as one of Australia’s leading commercial spaces. The carefully considered design balances premium finishes with an inclusive and timeless feel that provides a first-class entry experience for all guests and employees of the building.
Embodying a business lounge-like atmosphere, the lobby has been converted into a vibrant space for tenants and guests to work collaboratively, whilst enjoying a coffee and nourishments. The redesign utilises a greater use of technology, offering guest wi-fi, charging points, and a monolithic LED screen that constantly displays evolving digital art, commissioned specifically for 2 Southbank Boulevard. In addition, the lift interiors and amenities formed part of the comprehensive transformation, as well as recent upgrades to the end of trip facilities.
Sally Campbell, Senior Practice Director, BVN, said, “To reposition the building as a 21st century asset equipped to meet the demands of a shifting workplace landscape, we needed to consider the provision of new types of space and new models of operation. Service models that capture a flexible and holistic approach are gaining in popularity, and appeal to a wider tenant mix to create a healthy building community.”
Reini Otter, Executive General Manager, Commercial & Industrial for Frasers Property Australia, said, “The objective was to retain a high-quality building and offer an edgier, dynamic and engaging environment that would enhance the building’s appeal to a diverse range of tenants. The collaborative and intuitive design had to balance these elements without being polarising and required the careful selection and use of materials and finishes.”
“Office lobbies are no longer solemn spaces, but accomplished, multi-purpose places where tenants are arriving to a welcoming atmosphere and growing sense of community, to go with premium facilities,” said Martin Ritchie, Fund Manager, GPT Wholesale Office Fund. “A lot more is now expected from the podiums and lobby areas of office towers from tenants, and the GPT Wholesale Office Fund has embraced this demand for greater amenities, as is the case with this refurbishment.”
The repositioning of the premium asset coincided with the need to re-lease 23,000 sqm across 15 office levels, and to ensure 2 Southbank Boulevard remains at the forefront of prime office buildings in Melbourne. The strategy has been very successful, with approximately 22,000 sqm leased within 12 months and extensive enquiry fielded on the limited remaining space.
New commitments include CUB, WPP, Saputo, Select Solutions, Built., Cliftons and GPT’s flexible coworking business, Space & Co., who will occupy the entire 19th level and accommodate the ever-growing demand from tenants for flexibility in lease terms and workspaces.
With a diversified mix of high-quality tenants, the building has cemented its market positioning as a dynamic and vibrant business hub, housing global companies such as Microsoft, Apple, Heinz and Ausnet. Such leasing success is complemented by existing tenants showing no desire to move on, with 14,000 sqm of lease renewals in the past 12 months accompanying the aforementioned leasing to new tenants.
The lobby is able to transform into three distinctive areas, utilising a series high steel and glass pivot doors. The first zone is a digital collaborative space in which guests and tenants are encouraged to meet, and utilise a variety of seating configurations as they do business.
The second zone, Espresso Lane, connects the main lobby to the external Freshwater Place piazza and brings an element of the outdoor space to the lobby, as well as a new café, Upright Citizens. The third zone offers a flexible event space designed for tenants to use, whether it is for large-scale meetings or more formal functions.
Sally Campbell, Senior Practice Director, BVN, said, “To reposition the building as a 21st century asset equipped to meet the demands of a shifting workplace landscape, we needed to consider the provision of new types of space and new models of operation. Service models that capture a flexible and holistic approach are gaining in popularity, and appeal to a wider tenant mix to create a healthy building community.”
Freshwater Place operates as a 5.5 Star NABERS building (with green power) or 4.5 Star NABERS without. Sustainability initiatives include:
- Daily online monitoring of energy and water consumption;
- Solar panels providing solar hot water heating;
- Base building lighting replaced with LED lighting throughout;
- New office lighting also LED and motion sensor controlled; and
- Implement a five-stage heating program to cope with various types of weather conditions in Melbourne to further reduce gas consumption.
Source: Frasers Property Australia