500 Bourke Street
The redevelopment of the ISPT-owned 500 Bourke Street commercial tower preserves an iconic part of the Melbourne CBD, drawing upon the building’s late 1970s brutalist detailing, celebrating existing elements while softening other aspects of both the base building and fitout.
The refurbishment of the 47,000sqm office building includes upgrading and replacing building services and finishes with a focus on the building’s interior. Integration of natural greenery to the mostly concrete façade and throughout the project is a key aspect of the sustainable design.
A cultural connection is also made with local Australian designers and makers for key spaces in order to weave an Australian narrative throughout.
New holistic upgrades to the ground floor reinvigorate the space. To the eastern side, a laneway with a living green natural wall draws in light and air to illuminate the lobby.
The proposal also includes a boutique restaurant and retail plaza, maximising the lookout over the Supreme Court precinct as well as activating the city laneways on either side of the site.
Connecting the greenery of the ground floor lobby to the external plaza to the north is the ‘forum stair’ which functions as an extension of this activated zone. Aside from enabling movement up and down levels, it provides occupiable seating to gather for talks and presentations.
At the mezzanine level is a wellness area for group classes and programmes. On the upper levels, state of the art improvements to the base building amenities such as lift lobbies bring them into alignment with the new ground floor. These are also being softened through the incorporation of expansive timber waffle ceilings and natural finishes.
The ground floor is also home to Flex, a series of lounge and coworking spaces including a conference facility by ISPT, with new amenities to accommodate a 1:8 capacity office fitout. Additionally, a major upgrade is proposed for the basement with high-quality end of trip facilities a part of ISPT’s vision for wellness.
Refurbishing the existing structure rather than demolishing and building anew significantly reduces the carbon footprint. The project will be a leading example of sustainable office accommodation and aspires to be accredited with a five-star Green Star rating once completed.