Hines has launched a new $1 billion office tower in the Melbourne CBD, with plans to offer 60,000 sqm of premium-grade space.
Hines said the new 600 Collins Street project was designed by international architecture practice WilkinsonEyre and Australian architecture and design firm Architectus to push the boundaries of how a modern office building could bring together the best of working, socialising, dining, and staying healthy.
The 180-metre-high tower will feature podium terraces, casual and formal food and beverage offerings, and experiential end-of-trip facilities.
The end-of-trip facilities will include a hotel-style reception lounge, showers, lockers, and bike parking, wellness centres, collaborative work zones, and dedicated green spaces.
The 600 Collins property will be the first fully electric building in Australia designed under the new Green Star Buildings tool, as part of Hines’ plan to be carbon neutral across its global portfolio by 2040 without buying offsets.
The building’s design was said to incorporate strong biophilic characteristics including numerous outdoor terraces, green walls, and will be open to the sky laneway retail and dining.
Hines is targeting the highest sustainability credentials for 600 Collins, being a 6-star Green Star and 6-star NABERS Energy rating, as well as a Platinum WELL Certification for shell and core, which will make it one of the most energy efficient and sustainable buildings in Australia.
“When Hines acquired 600 Collins Street in the height of the Covid pandemic, we had the opportunity to define how the office could bring together the best elements of how people live, work, and play while outperforming the market in sustainability,” said Simon Nasa, managing director of Hines.
“600 Collins will be a destination shaped by experience, amenities, and our tenants partnering with us to create spaces that attract and retain the best talent. 600 Collins is setting the standard for how developments in Australia can be both environmentally responsible and cutting edge,” Nasa said.
The 600 Collins property is one of five projects that Hines currently has in development across the Asia Pacific region, including 36-52 Wellington, a 15-story heavy timber creative office building in Melbourne, and 9 Stewart Street, a 10-story boutique creative office also in Melbourne.
WilkinsonEyre Director Dominic Bettison said the architectural aspiration for 600 Collins by Hines was to create a signature building of the highest quality, including a fundamental public realm design strategy.
“The proposal submitted by WilkinsonEyre and Architectus looks to build on the Melbourne tradition of the laneway, sculpting out a generously proportioned and inviting new public thoroughfare that connects to the local area and offers a lively hospitality scene to workers in the area,” Bettison said.
Matthew Smith, National Sector Leader for Commercial at Architectus, said the landmark building with its articulated façade and engaging ground plane would redefine the west-end of Australia’s most prestigious commercial address.
“The contextual design aims to set a benchmark for office towers in Melbourne, and indeed Australia,” Smith said.
“With tenant experience at the forefront of our design response, our ambition is that 600 Collins St becomes an active partner with all tenants and visitors.”
600 Collins was scheduled to begin construction in January 2023.
600 Collins Street, Melbourne
