Multiplex completes new $950m Bourke Street tower

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Leading global construction company, Multiplex, has today completed the $950 mixed-use precinct at 405 Bourke Street, effectively delivering one of the largest commercial office precincts in Melbourne’s CBD.

Jointly owned by investors in Brookfield and ISPT, and managed by Brookfield Properties, the 405 Bourke Street office tower rises 40 storeys above street level and delivers 66,000 square metres of A Grade commercial space that will be fully occupied by NAB.

The project also includes Makers Lane which connects Little Collins and Bourke Street, providing a mix of retail stores and food and beverage offerings. Other amenities include more than 170 car spaces, over 600 bike racks and premium end-of-trip facilities.

Designed by high-profile architects Woods Bagot and with interior tenancy fit out by Hassell, 405 Bourke Street represents an iconic new gateway to Melbourne’s South Eastern growth corridor.

A signature feature of 405 Bourke Street is the cantilevered section of the tower, extending some 16 metres over the heritage apartment building below, which was also restored as part of the project.  

The cantilever was constructed using three mega trusses to support the upper 30 levels of the building, creating large-scale floor plates, triple height ceilings, and views in both directions along Bourke Street.

Multiplex Regional Managing Director Graham Cottam said, “405 Bourke is a fantastic addition to the Melbourne skyline. The delivery team employed a range of innovative construction techniques to deliver this outstanding commercial tower for Brookfield and ISPT, and we’re proud to have been part of the challenging and exciting project.”

The six-storey “lantern” façade of 405 Bourke Street’s entrance lobby soars 25 metres in height and was built using 23 metre vertical trusses clad in stainless steel and glass. The lobby is clad in more than 3,000 square metres of Italian travertine tiling.

According to Multiplex, construction commenced in 2018 with some 3,300 workers on-site throughout the three-year build. Approximately 10,000 tonnes of structural steel and 31,795 cubic metres of concrete were used to build the tower.

Brookfield Properties Project Director Will Green said: “405 Bourke Street is a true engineering feat that Multiplex has achieved amid the on-going impact of the pandemic on construction in Victoria during the past 18 months. 

“405 Bourke Street is testimony to Brookfield’s transformational development strategies and ability to both identify and unlock hidden potential in under-utilised space. This innovative project was achieved using a complex combination of freehold land, existing building structure and airspace rights,” he said.

The development is targeting a 5 Star Green Star Office Design rating and a minimum 5 Star NABERS Energy Rating.