Status Complete Architectural style Modernist Construction started 4 March 2013 Floors 46 Floor area 12 ha | Type Office tower Height 179 m, 260 m to tip Opened October 2016 Cost 650 million USD | |
Similar Soleil, Riparian Plaza, Brisbane Skytower, 443 Queen Street - Brisbane, Infinity Tower | ||
1 William Street is a skyscraper in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and is the tallest in the city at 259.8 metres. The modernist style office building is located in the Brisbane central business district, in close proximity to Parliament House. The building was developed for the Queensland Government as part of the government's plan for a renewed Government Administrative Precinct and to meet its accommodation demands.
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Construction cost of the tower was expected to be $538 million, with a total development cost of over $650 million. It was completed in October 2016 with staff moving in over 6 weekends.
History of the site
The site was formerly bisected by Short Street and comprised a number of different allotments and uses. Buildings occupied the area as early as 1854 and it was used for a variety of functions including; manufacturing, warehousing, shipping, housing, and electricity generation.
The Queensland Government began purchasing the properties in the 1960s as part of their Government Precinct development scheme and began demolishing the existing buildings, some dating to the 1850s. The demolition of the adjacent Bellevue Hotel and construction of 80 George Street saw the spoil from there dumped on the 1 William Street site. Short Street was closed and all of the site was amalgamated into one allotment, 1 William Street.
In 1974, the site was allocated for future government offices.
1 William Street is a 6,778-square-metre (72,960 sq ft) site, owned by the Queensland Government, and from 1982 until 2013 it was used as a government car park. The site encompasses a whole city block between William, Alice and Margaret Streets and Riverside Expressway.
Since 2012, 1 William Street is often referred to as the "Tower of Power" in the media which is a reference to the political strength of the commissioning former Newman Government and that the building is filled entirely with Queensland Government public servants.
Cultural heritage significance
The site has archaeological potential of possible cultural heritage significance. Remnants of 1850s buildings are visible above the current ground level and it is likely that significant sub-surface fabric survives.
Development
In August 2012 Expressions of Interest were called for from experienced organisations interested in bidding for the project. It was proposed that the site would be available to the successful party under a long term lease arrangement and that the Queensland Government would take a long term lease over approximately 75,000 m2 (810,000 sq ft) of the office space in the development.
In September 2012 six developers were shortlisted to develop proposals for a new high-rise tower. The shortlisted companies were Cbus, Lend Lease, Brookfield, Westfield, Leighton Properties and Grocon.
In December 2012, Cbus was announced as the developer for 1 William Street. The developer was granted a 99-year lease over the site and a guaranteed 15-year government lease for 60,000 m2 (650,000 sq ft) of office space.
Design
1 William Street has a gross floor area of 119,977 m2 (1,291,420 sq ft) and a net lettable area of 74,853 m2 (805,710 sq ft) of office space, excluding retail which covers 1,169 m2 (12,580 sq ft). The design includes 318 car bays.
About 60,000 m2 (650,000 sq ft) has been allocated for government space, leaving around 15,000 m2 (160,000 sq ft) to be subleased by the private sector. It is intended to receive a 5-star NABERS office energy rating and a 3-star NABERS office water rating. The building is the first new commercial office building developed for government in the Brisbane CBD since the completion of the government office building at 33 Charlotte Street in 2004.
The theme and colour scheme for each floor has been dedicated to a Queensland icon or natural phenomena.
Construction
Construction commenced in early 2013, and completion is expected by the end of 2016.
The sod-turning ceremony, attended by the Treasurer of Queensland Tim Nicholls and the Deputy Premier of Queensland Jeff Seeney, was held on 4 March 2013.
From 1 October 2016, nine full departments and agencies, all state government ministers, most directors-general and more than 5,000 public servants moved to 1 William Street. Some sections from 11 other departments also shifted to 1 William Street, while other sections of these departments will move to other buildings in the inner-city. Three buildings will be demolished; the Executive Building at 100 George Street, the Executive Annex at 80 George Street and the Neville Bonner Building at 75 William Street.