A vibrant, activated marketplace planned for 80 Ann Street, Brisbane
Ground plane vision reveals revitalised city precinct.
Mirvac Group has released the vision for the ground plane at 80 Ann Street, Brisbane, revealing a revitalised Brisbane Fruit & Produce Exchange on Turbot Street that will be activated through retail and public art, creating a unique destination for the City.
The 80 Ann Street development delivers a premium 35 level commercial building and an activated city precinct at a pedestrian level with 1,900sqm of public space. The ground plane design improves pedestrian connectivity from Ann Street to Turbot Street through public laneways and thoroughfares, maximising flexibility, permeability, and subtropical layered greenery, creating an urban garden oasis.
Mirvac co-created the vision for the precinct with pre-committed tenant Suncorp, which is taking over 39,000 square metres of the building. Flexible workspace provider, Spaces, has signed a long-term lease for 6,000 square metres at 80 Ann Street, securing its third location in Brisbane. The lease ensures the building will deliver uniquely adaptable workspaces for tenants, taking the building to approximately 73 per cent leased.
Mirvac’s General Manager, Commercial Development, Simon Healy said, “We collaborated closely with Suncorp on the vision for 80 Ann Street, to deliver a world-class office tower and workplace, alongside a diverse community offering.”
“The ground plane design is porous, and pedestrian focused, emphasising collaboration, connectivity and community. Reviving the historic, bustling marketplace at Turbot Street and returning it to Brisbane, we have created a modern interpretation of the old fruit and produce exchange, through an urban retail lane, an eat street that provides a place for employees and visitors to meet and connect over food.
“The lobby has been elevated to Level One of the building, thereby gifting the entire ground floor to the public domain, welcoming the community by creating new shared places and experiences for all.”
Designed by global architects Woods Bagot, the ground plane design at 80 Ann Street will enrich the quality of Brisbane’s public realm and increase public interaction with the historic site.
Woods Bagot’s Associate Principal, David Lee said, “Creating a connected and contiguous campus was crucial for Mirvac and Suncorp. The historical relevance of the site has been drawn into the new architecture of the tower, with a striking glass veil referencing the profile of the existing sheds and which wraps around the podium levels. There is also a focus on enhancing biophilia at the precinct as it will be heavily landscaped with native Australian flora, providing green spaces within the city fabric.
“Reflecting the site’s history, location, and subtropical climate, we have worked to design a new type of breathable office tower experience that is quintessentially Queensland.”
The workplace will bring a uniquely Queensland design to the office building, creating ample, light-filled workplaces with open air terraces that will be adaptable to future workforce and tenant needs. Following COVID-19 people are looking for more flexible and outdoor workspaces with natural air and light, all things which 80 Ann Street will deliver.
To foster a sense of community at 80 Ann Street, Mirvac has developed an activation strategy for the building which encompasses activities during construction and into completion through a variety of programmed experiences, events and entertainment. The programme is already underway with a unique public art installation on the hoarding of 80 Ann Street. The activation was developed in partnership with Vast Yonder as part of Brisbane’s Street Art Festival, and saw four local Brisbane street artists create large-scale artworks on the hoarding that will remain in place until building completion in 2022.
Construction is currently underway at 80 Ann Street with the building progressing through COVID-19 and employing an average of 250 workers onsite each day. To date over 2,500 tonnes of reinforced steel has been installed, with practical completion expected for 2022.
Mirvac co-owns the site with M&G Real Estate, one of the world’s leading financial solutions providers for real estate investors.
The 80 Ann Street development is targeting 6 Star Green Star, 5 Star NABERS Energy, 4 Star NABERS Water and Gold Shell and Core WELL ratings.