Article first appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald
Diversified property major GPT Group will build Australia’s largest timber building, a premium 12-level office tower, on top of the Melbourne Central shopping mall, which itself sits above a metro train station.
The new wood and glass tower – called Frame – designed by ARM Architecture will be made of cross laminated timber (CLT) and will provide 19,400 square metres of office and retail space above the existing three-level Lonsdale Street building which includes a large underground car park.
The building will have a hotel-inspired sky lobby on level five connected to a rooftop native garden, espresso bar, wellness and retail tenants. Above this will be 10 storeys of “warehouse-style” commercial office space with 2000 square metre floorplates, said GPT’s office and logistics head Matthew Faddy who described it as “ground-breaking”.
ARM principal Ian McDougall said the rooftop retail precinct was a “unique concept where city dwellers and visitors gather to learn, interact, have fun and be inspired”.
When complete, the building will have a five-star NABERS energy and water rating, a five-star Green Star and WELL gold standard.