Multiplex delivers new ‘wave-like’ tower to Melbourne CBD

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Premier global construction company Multiplex has reached completion on Fragrance Group’s new iconic $315 million Premier Tower, delivering a unique new 79-level high-rise residential tower to Melbourne’s CBD.

Prominently located on the corner of Spencer and Bourke Streets and designed by high-profile architects Elenberg Fraser, Premier Tower presents a striking new addition to Melbourne’s skyline with its distinctive ‘wave-like’ curved facade.

Standing some 246 metres above street level, Premier Tower offers sweeping views of the CBD and surrounds and comprises a mix of apartments and hotel accommodation.

A six-level podium houses 172 hotel rooms with guest facilities including an exclusive pool, lounge, restaurant and bar. Premier Tower sits above this with a total of 795 premium apartments in a range of one, two and three-bedroom configurations.

Exclusive resident facilities include an indoor heated pool, sauna and steam rooms, gymnasium and yoga, barbeque areas, virtual golf, billiards/poker rooms, karaoke, private dining facilities and theatre rooms.

Key members of the project team include engineering firm WSP, architects Elenberg Fraser and development managers PDS Group.

“We are thrilled to complete one of the most distinctive residential towers in the city. It’s been great working collaboratively with the team to deliver this unique tower, despite all the challenges faced during the pandemic,” said Graham Cottam, Regional Managing Director at Multiplex.

“What has been achieved by Multiplex working collaboratively with Fragrance Group, ACCOR, architects Elenberg Fraser, international interior designers Greymatters and PDS Group in bringing the Premier Tower MOVENPICK food & beverage concept to fruition despite COVID has been a major achievement and testimony to determination, grit and a ‘can do’ approach of the project team,” said Pieter van Rensburg Director of PDS Group and project lead on the project.

Work on the project spanned more than four years and according to Multiplex over 1,000 people at any one time worked on-site throughout construction.

Throughout construction, Multiplex had to develop and implement many innovative techniques to provide added protection to the public and the busy CBD intersection as construction progressed above, including the use of the customised retractable cantilevered protection deck at the top of the podium.

According to Multiplex, the wave-like design of the building also presented several challenges to construction with the changing floor plates and cantilevered slabs requiring innovative approaches to support both formwork and installation of the façade.

Multiplex has completed several new residential projects in Melbourne in recent years including the 50-storey Capitol Grand in South Yarra, 71-level Swanston Central in Carlton, and Central Equity’s new $470 million Melbourne Grand in the CBD.