Next-generation park in 'building for all of Brisbane' is open, says DEXUS
Australia’s first elevated public park within an office building is taking its first visitors – 480 Queen Street in Brisbane is now open for business.
The next-generation CBD office building, with Hobbs Park perched high above the street on Level 4; The Grove, a group of trees on its level 32 rooftop and a striking blue mural that winds through the public areas, is attracting enormous interest, with a steady stream of sightseers since the construction hoardings came down.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will officially open 480 Queen tonight, June 9, at an event held at The Grove, with Lord Mayor Graeme Quirk, Grocon chief executive officer Carolyn Viney and DEXUS Property Group chief executive officer Darren Steinberg officiating.
Owned by DEXUS and DEXUS Wholesale Property Fund and managed by DEXUS, 480 Queen was developed and built by Grocon, which is now building the Commonwealth Games Village at Parklands.
Grocon’s Carolyn Viney said the 480 Queen designers had set out to contribute to the broader CBD precinct and create a place for the community, not just the tenants who work there.
“This is a building for all of Brisbane and we’re delighted that people seem to have embraced it already,” she said.
DEXUS’ Darren Steinberg said 480 Queen’s list of quality tenants was evidence that it had also achieved its goal of being Brisbane’s ultimate business address.
“480 Queen sets a new standard – it’s a premium building in a premium location, and with people at the heart of its design our customers will enjoy the increased efficiency that comes with a flexible and inspiring workplace,” he said.
“Combine that with a focus on sustainability, public art, and precinct activation and you have a workplace that sets a new standard in Australian office.”
The building is home to some of the most progressive Australian and global businesses including BHP Billiton, PwC, Regus, Mitsui, Arrive Wealth Management, and law firms Herbert Smith Freehills, Allens, HWL Ebsworth and DLA Piper. Most of those businesses have moved into the building over the past few weeks.
OTTO Brisbane, which overlooks Hobbs Park, Customs House and the Brisbane River, officially opens next week.
OTTO is the first Brisbane venture by Fink Group, the operators of landmark Sydney restaurants Quay at The Rocks, Bennelong at Sydney Opera House and OTTO, Woolloomooloo.
The tenants at 480 Queen will have a range of facilities within a vertical village including a childcare centre, a gym with an altitude training room, a pharmacy, a barber shop and a food gallery. End-of-trip facilities include 600 bike spaces, 500 lockers and 45 showers.
A giant, 350-square-metre glass tile rainforest mural, by acclaimed Queensland-born artist Danie Mellor, provides a striking backdrop to the journey up to Hobbs Park. The artwork, like the park itself, is attracting plenty of interest from passers-by.
Hobbs Park is overlooked by a 100-seat amphitheatre for tenants’ events and has its own cafe and bar.
The 1400-square-metre park aligns with the grounds of St John’s Cathedral on the opposite side of Adelaide Street, preserving views from the cathedral to the river and creating stunning new views of both for visitors to 480 Queen.
The public open spaces, cycling facilities and innovative construction methods all contribute to the building achieving a 6-Star Green Star environmental rating.
Other Grocon projects include the Pixel in Melbourne, Rialto Towers, Eureka Tower and AAMI Park in Melbourne and No 1 Martin Place and 1 Bligh Street in Sydney.
DEXUS is the biggest owner and manager of office space in the Brisbane market. In 2011, DEXUS developed 123 Albert Street, Brisbane’s first 6-star Green Star office tower, and it now owns or manages 12 Creek Street (Blue Tower), 10 Eagle Street (Gold Tower), Waterfront Place Complex 145 Ann Street and AM60.
