Tall & Urban News

Hines, one of the world’s largest privately-owned global property groups, has made its foray into Australian development, purchasing of a corner site in Collingwood where it will build a timber tower.

Hines, which has acquired, owned, managed and sold more than AU$850 million (US$610 million) worth of assets in 24 countries, paid AU$28.5 million (20.4 million) for the site north-east of the Melbourne CBD and has set plans in motion for a commercial tower using Hine’s T3 brand. T3 stands for timber, transit and technology.

The sale of the site was negotiated by Colliers International’s Andrew Ryan and Peter Bremner.

“This is a vibrant suburb which hosts a range of warehouse conversions and now is fast becoming a corporate headquarter mecca with the likes of Swisse, Aesop and T2 already calling Collingwood home. Collingwood is undergoing a significant transformation as we speak, with a number of cranes in the air with large developers such as CBUS, Pace, Grocon and Gurner all having an impact in this precinct.” Ryan said.

The site, a 2,120 square meter corner site at 36-52 Wellington Street, is currently made up of a collection of neighboring warehouse-style properties.

The real estate giant has hired Jackson Clements Burrows Architects to design an AU$200 million (US$143.5 million) office project to be constructed out of prefabricated timber with the architectural form reflecting both the area’s industrial heritage and the wave of contemporary new projects.

“This project marks a significant milestone for our expansion in Australia and we are thrilled that the firm’s first Australian development will be with this T3 asset in Collingwood,” Hines managing director David Warneford said.

Hines completed its first T3 project in Minneapolis in 2016 and has similar developments under way in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver and Toronto.

“Hine’s T3 construction methodology replaces traditional structural systems such as concrete and steel with prefabricated solid wood systems, to create best-in-class projects in a fast, clean, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing manner.” Hines director Simon Nasa said.

“The location in an amenity-rich creative office market will enhance the live, work, play lifestyle that progressive tenants are seeking, to recruit and retain the best of today’s talent.”

The building will cater to tenants who are seeking to improve the quality of their work/life balance and workplace experience, with amenities including common social areas, large tenant terraces, public third-space activation and premium end of trip facilities.

For more on this story go to the Urban Developer.