Adelaide's $300m GPO Exchange has smart technology at its heart
Adelaide CBD’s newest A-grade commercial office tower, GPO Exchange, will officially welcome occupants from October, with its two major tenants BHP and the Attorney-General’s department each set to occupy almost half of the 20-level building.
The $300 million development spans 24,500 square metres and integrates with the heritage Telephone Exchange building, 400 square metres of lobby retail space, with potential links to laneway activation and piazza with Australia Post occupying the street-facing shop of 300 square metres.
The technology-focused and enabled building has been designed to achieve a 5-Star NABERS energy rating, and has a targeted 5-Star Green Star Design v3 and As Built v2 ratings and has been built to a WELL Building standard.
“It’s a building that has been built around its inhabitants. We talk about a high performance workplace and this building is designed to bring out the best of the people who work in this building, and it does that in a number of ways,” said Simon Stockfeld, regional development director at Charter Hall.
“At its core, it has a good design, large floor plates, lots of natural light, great airconditioning and all those other things you expect from a great building but it is also a first technology-enabled smart building. It has a whole lot of technology that has not been seen before in Adelaide.
“Through technology we are able to curate a community through the building.”
GPO’s ground-breaking technology includes smartphone access instead of an access card, number plate recognition where the roller door will open if it recognises the number plate, and a Smart Building app enabling occupants to make the most of the building’s amenities from ordering a coffee to booking a smart locker via their phone.
An electric vehicle charging station, fast and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity, and ergonomically placed power points and USB ports in fixed furniture, benches and other locations are among the building’s features.
GPO’s lowest eight floors will accommodate more than 800 BHP staff across some 10,000 square metres of office space.
BHP Adelaide property and workplace manager Kristie Strano said BHP had a long and proud history in South Australia.
“We look forward to seeing our logo take its place on the Adelaide skyline in this iconic location in the heart of the city,” Ms Strano said.
“Our employees can’t wait to move into Adelaide’s newest building, which has been built to support our growing, diverse workforce and flexible working culture.
“We’re also proud that our office design will incorporate touches of Roxby Downs and Olympic Dam, recognising the resources we produce and the environment we work in.”
