24 January 2006
Citimark Properties' $15 million contemporary makeover of Brisbane's former Magistrate's Court Building will "free up" its unrivalled river view potential.
The refurbishment, now underway by Hutchinson Builders, will create the Brisbane CBD's newest A grade commercial office accommodation. It is scheduled for completion in October this year.
The 30 year old, 16 level property was purchased by Citimark Properties for $7 million late last year.
It is located on a 1,316m2 site at 179 Quay Street overlooking the Brisbane River.
It sits adjacent to Citimark's latest high-rise residential apartment project, "Evolution", which consists of 177 luxury apartments over 37 levels.
Mark Curtain of Jones Lang LaSalle and Tim Mahony of PRDnationwide have been appointed to manage the leasing campaign, which will target a mix of government and private tenants to occupy whole floors.
Hutchinson Builders has been engaged as contractor and ML Design appointed to lead the design forum through to the completion of the project.
Citimark's Joint Managing Director, Mr Robert Pullar said that the overall upgrade would deliver a new glazed facade; complete internal finish refit; upgrade of services; and the creation of a five star quality entrance, foyer and lift finishes.
"The new façade will dramatically elevate its views to the river and improve natural light through maximisation of glazed area. New "wrap around" corners will also promote "oblique" views.
"The River is certainly this project's biggest asset. That's the wow factor we're after here.
"Opening the building up to the best possible view corridors will thoroughly enhance the working environment for all in the building.
"Owning the neighbouring Evolution site will also allow us to configure both structures to further exploit their view potential," he said.
Mr Pullar said that ground floor works would also include a coffee shop, a new awning over the North Quay entrance, disabled access and toilet facilities.
"The new five-star entrance and lobby will really lift the experience for pedestrians and tenants," he said.
The refurbishment will seek to give the new property a separate but complementary identity to Evolution.
"A similar horizontal façade element will tie in with Evolution whilst being sympathetic to the existing commercial and civic building environment of the precinct," Mr Pullar said.
"This will boost its appeal from street level and improving its coactivity with pedestrians.
"It's a unique design statement that will complement rather than blend in with the existing area," he said.
The internal demolition will include removing 16 basement holding cells to make way for additional car bays and a general redesign of the basement, increasing the car parking ration to 1:200m2.
Parking will be increased by 8 to 10 car spaces adding to the existing 13 secure undercover spots and seven tandem external car parks. A shade structure will also be built over the rear car park.
The existing judges and prisoners' lifts will also be removed; the blockwork shafts demolished; and all redundant walls and structures razed in order to create an open plan layout and maximise parking and storage.
Sprinklers will be added; lift cars and control refurbished; A-grade security incorporated; cooling towers replaced and new fire services included.
The building is centrally located amidst $1 billion of public and private infrastructure projects. These include the State Government's North Bank proposals; the Tank Street Footbridge to Southbank; the Queens Street Mall extension; the Queensland Place improvement to the Roma Street precinct; and the exciting plans forming part of the Brisbane City Council's new CBD Masterplan.
The Magistrate's Court Building was constructed in the early 1970s, with a 22.5 metre frontage to the Brisbane River.
It is located adjacent to the Evolution site and Primary Producers House. At the rear is the 18 storey Tank Apartments completed in early 2003 with 60 units.
The 1,316m2 allotment includes rear land used for on-grade parking which is accessed through the basement.
The company currently has 21 projects under development including the $120 million Evolution; a $35 million luxury beachside resort - East on Byron in Byron Bay; and a new $35 million, 25ha industrial and business park on the former Mitsubishi engine plant site in Lonsdale in Adelaide's southern suburbs.
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