Tall & Urban News

Melbourne to Add New Skyscraper

The planned height was reduced from 250 to 182 meters, due to the potential for overshadowing the streetscape and Yarra River throughout certain periods of the day.
The planned height was reduced from 250 to 182 meters, due to the potential for overshadowing the streetscape and Yarra River throughout certain periods of the day.
16 October 2019 | Melbourne, Australia

The highly-anticipated new addition to the Melbourne skyline, 435 Bourke Street, has undergone a significant design iteration process to ensure it meets council compliance and regulation. A Future Melbourne Committee meeting was to be held on 15 October 2019 to reach a final decision regarding the building’s height, which the architect, Bates Smart has reduced from 58 to 49 floors (including 4 additional basement levels) since the first planning application was submitted in 2018.

Despite upsetting many skyscraper enthusiasts, one of the main reasons for height reduction from 250 meters to 182 meters was due to the overshadowing of the streetscape and Yarra River throughout certain periods of the day.

While older buildings may exceed modern shadow limitations, modern skyscrapers such as 435 Bourke Street must follow stricter compliance guidelines.

In addition to the height change, one bank of lifts will also be removed; however, the ground floor layout will remain unchanged. With regard to heritage overlays, the site has been assessed, and the conclusion was drawn that the existing heritage building was in poor structural condition, meaning a new street-level tower podium will be constructed in its place.

“A number of structural engineers have assessed the condition of the building’s façade, and have concluded that the façade is in poor structural condition, and therefore, retention of the building is not possible/viable.” (Comment sourced from Future Melbourne Committee meeting agenda).

According to a recent report, Melbourne’s CBD is likely to require an additional 4.4 million square meters of office space over the next 17 years. The majority of 435 Bourke Street will be dedicated to commercial tenancies, catering to high demand for additional workspaces within central Melbourne. The tower will also provide a range of modern amenities, including a lavish wellness hub, sprawling landscaped terraces and a selection of retail offerings.

Completion is currently slated for 2023 (subject to change).

For more on this story, go to Urban.com.