This morning Steve Bracks will launch the $600 million dollar Southern Cross project. Those to anchor it are DOI, State Revenue Office, Regional Affairs and Department of Justice, 50000sq m. Interestingly there was only talk of the one tower on the radio, but at $600 million both are coming.

from todays AFR:

Melbourne to get another CBD tower
Nov 1
Karina Barrymore

Melbourne is set to have its fourth new CBD high-rise office tower with confirmation expected today that the beleaguered Southern Cross development will finally go ahead.

The Victorian Government is expected to announce it will pre-commit to 50,000 square metres of office space at the project, giving developers Multiplex Constructions and the Baron Corporation the green light to begin building.

The pre-commitment follows a similar lease deal with Industry Superannuation Property Trust, where the state government also agreed to take up 50,000sqm at the trust's $350million Urban Workshop tower last month.

The decisions are part of an almost year-long process by the Bracks Labor Government to find 100,000sqm of office space in the Melbourne CBD. The timing of today's announcement also coincides with the lead up to a new state-election campaign.

The Bracks Government is expected to boast that it has finally managed to ensure the high-profile Southern Cross site no longer remains an empty bombshell.

The government officially launched the Southern Cross office development two years ago as an example of how it was getting new development going.

However, since then it has had to wear the embarrassment of nothing happening at the empty site.

The financial terms of the new precommitment are expected to be similar to negotiations for the government's 50,000sqm at Urban Workshop.

Estimates put the annual rent bill around $16.25million, representing about $325asqm, which is the market rate for new construction in Melbourne.

Earlier this year Multiplex and Baron were given approval for a 35-storey and 17-storey office tower development on the site.

The twin-tower project is the fourth major pre-commitment deal to kick start new construction in the Melbourne CBD.

BHP Billiton was the first major tenant to underwrite a new development after it agreed last year to relocate to a new purpose-built tower at the Queen Victoria site being built by Grocon.

As well as the earlier deal by the Victorian Government for the Urban Workshop Tower, accountant Ernst & Young has also recently pre-committed to a new tower to be built by superannuation fund Cbus on the old HWT site in the Melbourne CBD.

Outside the CBD there have also been major commitments by the ANZ Banking Group, National Australia Bank and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

those involved are developer Baron, builder Multiplex and financier Babcock & Brown. Also the Chevron site is to be developed as a low rise office/residential complex. Seems like a bit of a waste, not like its a hole in the ground (is it?). Maybe they should have held onto it for another day?

Another day, another tower.

wow! great news for melb! ok what are the stats on the heights?? storeys etc. will this make impact on skyline?:)

Time to dig out the skyscraper diagrams!! Where are they? I'm sure tays will do a better job than I ..

Yes.. thank god for this announcement! The site is now a HUUUUGE hole in the ground.. my approval rating of Bracksie which yesterday was at an all time low has just gone back up a notch..

Now lets start seeing some piling! Both UWT, HWT still show no activity despite being given the final go-ahead ages ago..

YOU BEAT ME TO IT, SILVERMB!!! You guys are incredible...wake up earlier than me, read the paper earlier than me, post earlier than me!!! hehehehe:D It's on bloody page 73!!! I should've gone straight to the property section!

THIS IS SUCH GOOD NEWS!!!! YAY!!!!!!!:guns1: :D :D

PS. They've referred to FwP, NAB at Docklands, Vic Gov at Urban Workshop, E&Y Tower at old HWT site, BHP at QV.

BUT what's the reference to ANZ's precommitment outside the CBD (last paragraph)?

I hope that it's the 35 storey tower that goes ahead, not the 17 level tower! Bracksie's just split the Vic Gov tenancy requirements to kickstart 2 towers!

As predicted...

In a few months Melbourne will have 6 or 7 (Royal Domain?) towers over 150m U/C at the same time!!! We only need one more to match the mega boom of 1991 when there were 8 buildings over 150m U/C at the same time.

Eureka Tower: 297m, 91 floors
FWP North Residential: 203m, 60 floors
Ernst & Young (HWT): 165m 40 floors
SX Eastern Tower:163m, 39 floors (western tower 91m, 21 floors)
PriceWaterhouseCoopers (FWP):160m, 38 floors
Royal Domain Tower: 152m (162m to spire) 44 floors
Urban Workshop 150m, 35 floors

The ANZ has some new office space on Kings Way, South Melbourne that is almost finished. Its on the old South Melbourne Tram Depot site.

Southern Cross western tower is only 35,000 square metres, the easterrn tower is 65,000 square metres and the podium levels have about 15,000 square metres.

A 50,000 square metre pre-commitment is enough to get the entire development U/C.

Bladdyboy, AFR on the web. Here are a few pics; the awesome base makes up for the simple look of the towers. Grollo said they were double skinned if I recall. NLA is 115000 sq m, massive!

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/southerncross_model.jpg

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/sx4.jpg

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/sx5.jpg

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/sx3.jpg

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/sxbig.jpg

Thats a nice looking tower. Looks as if it would do nicely in London's Docklands. You guys over there are lucky to have government departments sign up for new office developments. The WA government would even consider doing that, to much money.

I KNEW something was going on there today!

absolutely KNEW IT

walking past at 8:00am and there was a Marquee getting set up right on the Bourke Street end

w00000000000000t :D

just need another big tenant to sign up for the other 50,000 square metres LOL :D

tays

Melbourne to get another CBD tower
Nov 1
Karina Barrymore

Melbourne is set to have its fourth new CBD high-rise office tower with confirmation expected today that the beleaguered Southern Cross development will finally go ahead.

The Victorian Government is expected to announce it will pre-commit to 50,000 square metres of office space at the project, giving developers Multiplex Constructions and the Baron Corporation the green light to begin building.

The pre-commitment follows a similar lease deal with Industry Superannuation Property Trust, where the state government also agreed to take up 50,000sqm at the trust's $350million Urban Workshop tower last month.

The decisions are part of an almost year-long process by the Bracks Labor Government to find 100,000sqm of office space in the Melbourne CBD. The timing of today's announcement also coincides with the lead up to a new state-election campaign.

The Bracks Government is expected to boast that it has finally managed to ensure the high-profile Southern Cross site no longer remains an empty bombshell.

The government officially launched the Southern Cross office development two years ago as an example of how it was getting new development going.

However, since then it has had to wear the embarrassment of nothing happening at the empty site.

The financial terms of the new precommitment are expected to be similar to negotiations for the government's 50,000sqm at Urban Workshop.

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Estimates put the annual rent bill around $16.25million, representing about $325asqm, which is the market rate for new construction in Melbourne.

Earlier this year Multiplex and Baron were given approval for a 35-storey and 17-storey office tower development on the site.

The twin-tower project is the fourth major pre-commitment deal to kick start new construction in the Melbourne CBD.

BHP Billiton was the first major tenant to underwrite a new development after it agreed last year to relocate to a new purpose-built tower at the Queen Victoria site being built by Grocon.

As well as the earlier deal by the Victorian Government for the Urban Workshop Tower, accountant Ernst & Young has also recently pre-committed to a new tower to be built by superannuation fund Cbus on the old HWT site in the Melbourne CBD.

Outside the CBD there have also been major commitments by the ANZ Banking Group, National Australia Bank and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

wow! its a beauty! quite large too! 163m is big fo that part of town! should boost the area quite nicely! even the shorter one is tall (91m).:)

Almost forgot, it will be the largest office development ever built in Australia!

Sounds like best case scenario for lovers of Melbourne...and skyscrapers. What I'm not getting is how this would be expected to impact upon elections. Is it just the general impression of "getting things done" that is in view here ? In the States, a politician would just as likely score score political points by "holding off" where holding off would amount to saving money.

Or maybe I'm just misreading the whole thing...

EXCELLENT

Southern Cross is awesome, I think it was tayser who was saying the govt. would approve this before/during the election, smart ass ;)

BTW for those who have no idea what it is, it's a 160m tower an a shorter 70m:

http://users.bigpond.net.au/stevemelb/sc/southerncross_new.jpg

http://users.bigpond.net.au/stevemelb/sc/southerncross_model.jpg

glass = class :)

damn you guys beat me to this article today, and to the pics as well, lol :)

just one pic you're missing, silvermb (you should be ashamed ;))

http://users.bigpond.net.au/stevemelb/sc/southerncross_new.jpg

I thought the smaller one was at 70m and not 90? hmm, must of missed it.

Originally posted by Grollo
Almost forgot, it will be the largest office development ever built in Australia!

By floorspace, it's well over the office space that came online when Rialto was built!

Two of the things that we grabbed from the DOI:

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/sxc1.jpg
http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/sxc2.jpg

I wonder how the Green will look at night ? :D

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/2162/1512162ml1035357817.jpg

Parisian Melbourne - nothing but more b33f in the future :D

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/5636/4465636al1031280614.jpg

tays

And The Age's article:

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/11/01/1036027028523.html

State takes space at Southern Cross site
November 1 2002

The Victorian government will be the major tenant of a $600 million office tower and retail complex on the derelict Southern Cross Hotel site.

Premier Steve Bracks said the government had secured a "very good deal" to pay about $350 a square metre per year for offices in the CBD building - totalling about $17.5 million a year.

Mr Bracks said the agreement would save the government $70 million in rent and productivity over 15 years, as staff from 15 government offices would be consolidated into the new building and one other site.

He said the rent was about half the cost of moving into the Rialto 10 years ago and was probably one of the best rental rates "going around".

"We held out for a long time, we got a good deal out of this and we're very pleased with it," he told reporters.

It is the fifth proposal for the former hotel site - the scene of the famous Beatles balcony wave to hundreds of thousands of fans in the street below - which has been derelict since 1995.

Mr Bracks said he believed securing the government's tenancy was an important factor in ensuring the development went ahead.

"All these new developments need anchor tenants, whether it's a big corporation or in this case the government," he said.

SX Developments, a joint venture between Multiplex, Baron Corporation and Babcock and Brown, bought the site last year.

Today it announced it would build two office towers and a retail area, and a public space called Southern Cross Lane.

Staff from the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, the Department of Justice and the State Revenue Office will take up 50 per cent of the 35-storey east tower.

Construction of the building, to commence this year, will create about 2,000 jobs.

It is due for completion in November 2006.
_____________________

two big mofo developments for me to keep a watch on on my walk from Parliament station in the mornings :D

I still wish they had of gone with the original proposal...

http://users.bigpond.net.au/nnatio12/scross.jpg

:ohno:

Taller and more beautiful it was.. but oh well beggars cant be choosers as we say.. and this tower is better than no tower.. and it is beefy around the sides like BHP ..

I guess with the current fad for large office floor plates - we can only expect shorter wider towers - BHP, SxC, HWT & UWT all fit into that category..

Looks like from the drawings its 35 levels above podium, and about 40+ levels in total..

Yeah... Tayser drew a great diagram of that for SSP.

the only thing I don't like about it... it seems to block 101 Collins. :(

hey stevie I do have that picture but there's something about it that doesn't sit well, too slim and plain, no detail. I've also got about another 10-15 pics of the plans on CD with all my other images/photos.

Something else to consider, the government have settled on the 100000 sq m, but there is still an issue of the Dept of Natural Resources & Environment's need for 20000 sq m. It is in neither Urban or SX. Have they found a new home yet? Last i recall 15W, Shell and 8 Nicholson St were on the short-list. 8 Nicholson was only an option if AXA moved out, 15W was too far from Spring Street and Shell was the likely option for a move in June 2003. Any Ideas?

Originally posted by silvermb
Last i recall 15W, Shell and 8 Nicholson St were on the short-list. 8 Nicholson was only an option if AXA moved out, 15W was too far from Spring Street and Shell was the likely option for a move in June 2003. Any Ideas?

Like it.

Build it.

Is there anyway to refurb S*** House so it won't make my retinas detach?

Cheers,

Adam

I think you mean it blocks 120 Collins - but actually you probably would never see it from that angle often anyway - you can just about block the view of any building from the right angle - thats' why I like some of the photos you guys post which puts the skyline in its best light --- BTW I hear the govt will call the state election on Monday (while everyone is concentrating on the Melb Cup)....

EDDIE

Yes, this is going to be such a "biggin" that it will block many structures, but that's what scrapers do; leaving that element of surprise till you get past them. Voila, 120 Collins St!!

Well I suggested this a month or so back. SX Developments will take the safe option and only build the 163m tower at this stage, as was reported on radio yesterday. So Govt will take 50000 of the possible 65000 sq m and the smaller tower will only be built when a suitable tenant is found for the 35000 sq m of space.

Will look a little weird when the 163m tower and Southern Cross Lane are complete but there's still a massive chunk of clear land onsite. I also wondered last time that if the second tower were to be dependant upon a pre-commitment and it didn't gain one at this time, could it come back as a taller tower in a few years time???

I could see it now, twin 163m towers, or better yet the previous design A-brain outlined next to the current design.

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/mode.jpg

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/mode1.jpg
.
.
.
.
Dreamer!

I don't think you can build one twoer without the other. How could you build half the Southern Cross Lane and have the western half as a hole in the ground? I would think they will build both towers, but are still calling for expressions of interest from companies to move into the smaller tower, which they should get soon.

page 4 of The Age has Multiplex's boss stating it wouldn't be built until over half the space was taken. Im sure the smaller tower would be built but its delay does open the door for other possibilties in the future. Its footprint is bigger than the taller tower, so weirder things have happened.

Bracks deal on Southern Cross site (from The Age)
November 2 2002
By Royce Millar

The State Government's commitment has ensured the construction of the taller tower on the Southern Cross site.

The State Government will rent office space for 2500 public servants to kick-start the $600 million redevelopment of the derelict former Southern Cross hotel site.

Premier Steve Bracks yesterday confirmed the government would pre-commit to 50,000 square metres in an office and retail complex to be built by developers Multiplex and the Baron Corporation.

Work on the site, at the corner of Bourke and Exhibition Streets, will begin within weeks. It should be finished by June, 2006.

The government commitment will ensure construction of one 35-level office tower. The future of a second, 17-level tower is unclear. Mr Bracks told The Age he had "no doubt" the second tower would be built.

But Multiplex director Johann Schumacher said the second tower would not be built until tenants committed to half the office space. He confirmed that no tenants had signed yet.

Mr Bracks said the government would pay in the "mid-300s" per square metre, a rent property sources described as a standard, market rate for a long-term lease.

"For too many years the Southern Cross has been one of Melbourne's most infamous derelict sites," Mr Bracks said. "Now it will become a showcase for innovation and sustainable development in Victoria."

Opposition finance spokesman Robert Clark said that with the government renting so much space, it may have got a better deal by building or buying its own offices.

"We don't want Bracks pitching Melbourne back into another office accommodation glut like the early 1990s and getting bad value for the taxpayer at the same time," he said.

Lucky bastards, those towers look great.

Southern Cross looks very bulky. A definate impact on the skyline.

I saw images of Bracks at the site on cable when they were mentioning about Sartor running for NSW state parliament.

Now that the EASTERN (taller) office tower has a pre-commitment of 50,000 square metres (total 65,000 in eastern tower) the site is gearing up for all gun's blazing.

on my walk past the site on Thursday morning and friday morning there was some action with workmen coming in and assembling huts for where the workers will obviously go for breaks, plus one of the advertising billboards has come down.

there was some confusion about a month or two ago when they started driving foundations for the WESTERN (shorter) office tower, which yes of course, are still there :D, however that tower still needs a pre-commitment before construction.

anyhow, renderings & plans:

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/sx2.jpg

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/sx5.jpg

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/sxbig.jpg

it'll look somewhat like the Citigroup on Canary Wharf:

http://www.skyscrapernews.co.uk/citigroup1.jpg

(well mainly the setbacks etc)

anyhow I dont see this tower getting delayed any longer - anyone know the official time it will start ? (same goes for HWT really ? )

tays

construction to commence 1/12/2002

other developments to officially start construction 1/12/2002 are Urban Workshop and 2 Southbank Boulevard. HWT starts cons 1/2/2003 so demolition will start in the next couple of weeks to be ready for that date. I guess this means come December 1st PwC tower will go from footings preparation to being handled by the builder. (Baluderstone Hornibrook I think)
*from the Construction Forecasting Council.

If you have a closer look at SX next time, the outline of tower one has been marked off and ready to go.
http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/sxprep.jpg

1st December looms as a day for the record books, three towers 150m plus are officially u/c.

Originally posted by silvermb
construction to commence 1/12/2002

1st December looms as a day for the record books, three towers 150m plus are officially u/c.

bringing the total to 4 (maybe 5 (RDT ?))

February 5 (maybe 6 - still unsure on RDT)

hrmmm... just one of the record 7 U/C at one time

lol!

Melbourne - Australian skyscraper heaven ;)

silvermb you da man, had a look through yer pics I have backed up, couldn't find any of a blank site though, oh well, you've delivered just on time! LOL :D

tays

wow ! three biggees for melb! whats the heights of them again? Will the Southern cross tower project be Melbs tallest new office tower?

urban 150m
PwC 160m
SX 163m
HWT 165m

Early 90's came the height in office towers, this time round were getting alot more bulk into the skyline to set off all the talls. Next we get the talls again?

Originally posted by silvermb
urban 150m
PwC 160m
SX 163m
HWT 165m

Early 90's came the height in office towers, this time round were getting alot more bulk into the skyline to set off all the talls. Next we get the talls again?

yes, let's hope so!

only one we really want now is Savoy.... but alas, that's probably done an Imperium / Church Place :(

tays

eh, all the pics have gone now... tayser has already disconnected his DSL account?

I hope we get Savoy going soon after Southern Cross Station is done, that would really top off Spencer St, considering how little else is down there

I'm glad we have the taller tower of SX going at least!

piling has commenced up against Exhibition St so the tower is now u/c. There's only one unit and an excavator at the moment, no doubt more will come through the week.

Originally posted by silvermb
piling has commenced up against Exhibition St so the tower is now u/c. There's only one unit and an excavator at the moment, no doubt more will come through the week.

damnit, beat me to it ;)

one thing's for sure, they have a shitload of piling to do....

thinking a visit to level 12 in Nauru House is a good idea, and just ask them if we can "borrow their view" from the Northern offices to sneak some pics in

hrmmmmm ;)

tays

Ey Tayser !

Stuff Level 12 on Nauru House ! Go up to the courts on level 35 !

Full Public Access & No one ever goes in there !

cheers

lozza ;)

WOW ! Another 4 Large Towers being constructed ! Imagine all the cranes early next year !

Isn't Melbourne Kicking Arse

cheers

;)

lozza

found some much better pics of Citigroup - SXC renderings remind me somewhat of this:

(Citigroup - Canary Wharf, 210m)

from the Citigroup Centre ROT thread: http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12673

http://www.fakescentral.com/skyscrapers/gallery/citigroup2-01.jpg

http://www.fakescentral.com/skyscrapers/gallery/citigroup3-01.jpg

tays

still very little action on site - was planning to go up Nauru and find a good floor to gawk down upon, but went to 42 couldnt see any real way to get to the Northern part of the building, same with 35 - apparently there are, almost always vacant, tribunal rooms on 35 ????

anyhow

tays

has anyone noticed anything "significant" on the SXC site lately ?

tays

I havent walked up close to it but things are definately happening.. construction huts are in place and there seems to be a lot of escavating happening down onsite..

Might go for a walk today and check it out close up..

I'd suggest things will ramp up in the near year..

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by tayser </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>

yes, let's hope so!

only one we really want now is Savoy.... but alas, that's probably done an Imperium / Church Place :(

tays</td></tr>
</table>
Unfortunately, you're probably right about that Tays. We'd all love Savoy.

We should do a thread of Melbourne's recent RIPs that everyone wanted built: Savoy, Imperium, Church Place.

I think Savoy still has a fair chance of going ahead.. but probably in the next cycle - remember its still mainly because of the slack ass Nauruan government botching things up..

Likewise its inevitable the Imperium site will eventually turn into something.. but again probably in the next cycle..

Our biggest prayers are that they both dont get snapped up by CE and turned into something smaller..

Went past the site on Christmas Eve on a tram. Multiplex seem to have deepened the "hole" where the Eastern Tower will stand!

I'm going to be watching this baby grow on a daily basis next year (I walk right past it to get to RMIT)

"weeeee" :D

tays

Here's a few boxing day pics of 'The Hole' as it were..

http://users.bigpond.net.au/speckled10/Cons/DSC00246.jpg
http://users.bigpond.net.au/speckled10/Cons/DSC00247.jpg

Nothing too spectactular of course but you can see the area they have to dig..

This is really a rare occurance here, where they are consructing a major tower and digging out the foundations of a *previous* major tower!

Would they possibly considering using any of the original foundations? Or I suppose it all has to come out, in which case thats a shitload of concrete to cut away..

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by A-brain </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Here's a few boxing day pics of 'The Hole' as it were..

http://users.bigpond.net.au/speckled10/Cons/DSC00246.jpg
http://users.bigpond.net.au/speckled10/Cons/DSC00247.jpg

Nothing too spectactular of course but you can see the area they have to dig..

This is really a rare occurance here, where they are consructing a major tower and digging out the foundations of a *previous* major tower!

Would they possibly considering using any of the original foundations? Or I suppose it all has to come out, in which case thats a shitload of concrete to cut away..</td></tr>
</table>

If you look at the retaining wall that holds back onto Exibition Street; you can see colours - that's the paint on walls of different rooms in the Basement/Carpark of the old Southern Cross Hotel.

w00t, go A-brain :D

I see they've even marked out the side of the tower on the right here:

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/sxc2.JPG

SXC Eastern's going to be skinnier than Nauru!

it's looking more and more like a Canary Wharf tower ;)

tays

I have word from one of the owners of a business opposite the Southern Cross site. They have been informed that the BIG TOWER ONLY (for now) will begin construction at the start of FEBRUARY. But as he says, they've been telling him so many things over the years, he'll believe it when he sees it! The little tower is not happening at this stage, but obviously if they get more tenants, it may happen.

Alllright!!

Finally it looks like we're underway at SxC Office ..

Today At least 3 escavators we're going at it hammer and tongs blasting away the existing concrete foundations of the old SxC, they were doing it a far way towards the 'little tower' part of the site too .. proabably to even it all out for the main tower and build part of the podium..

Anyway .. time to start some regular updates but it looks as if its go from here.. they have a shitload of escavating to do however and it looks like it will have mega-deep foundations ala QV ..

I'm going to be in the city on Monday, I'll grab some pics from the site then - plus I want to find a nice elevated (~5 - 10 levels up) site to look down on the site ;)

tays

Bang! all of a sudden construction is in full swing. A bit more excavation required to get the 1000 car spots under ground but concreting against the perimiter has commenced (second pic)

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/southerncross_2003_02_17.JPG

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/southerncross_2003_02_17=1.JPG

hah you got some better pics than me - who wants to bet this will be another QV job ? i.e going down 5 levels and then slowly going back up ? :)

tays

I'll 'BET' you it is Tays!!

Great stuff Grollo!

Who is building this?? It is Multiplex isn't it?

Edit: answered my own question! Big Multiplex signs in one of those pictures!

wow southern cross looks really nice from that render

so we have southern cross, HWT & urban workshop for that end of town ?? all 140m+ ?, thats pretty impressive, as that side hasn't had to much lately, and is kinda ugly
should be dam beefy !!!
to bad not many majors are going up in the other part of the skyline, or not to much in the gap other than QV and the ansett devel

Yeah they are good heights with SXeast - 163m, UWorkSh - 150m and E&Y Plaza @HWT - 165m. then there's the QV building's at 127m for BHP and 132m for QV1.

All in all, very little to complain about.

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

getting deeper!

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/sxc1403031.jpg

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/sxc1403032.jpg

w00t w00t :D

tays

Great photos. How low are they gonna go?!

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Philip Burt </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Great photos. How low are they gonna go?!</td></tr>
</table>

I am guessing it is going to be like QV! I long way down! Much more then on southbank side...althought there you can't go down very far until you hit water!

They are probably putting parking underneath as well!


Tays great photo rap from all constuction sits! nice!:D

I dont really think they will need to go down any deeper. 1000 car spaces below ground will only really need 4 sub-levels. If you look at the 4WD, it gives the massive site good perspective.
http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/southerncross_20030313=1.JPG

we'll get some great bird's eye views of this "pit" on friday, won't ya silvermb ? ;)

WHat's going on today ?

EVERY site was at work - including this one, 2 semi-s lined up on Bourke Street with one in the pit when I walked past this morning....

CMFEU got shafted ? (lol - we wish :D)

tays

update: looks like they've flattened out the earth that runs along Little Collins Street (between Nauru house and Stamford H. Towers)

two weeks more, max ?

also the piling rig look-a-like you can see in the pic I last posted was hammering away along Little Collins this morning and Exhibition Street this afternoon

tays

they're continuing to go deeper, had a quick look today, lots of visible concrete (piles / supports) skirting the Little Collins, and Exhibition and most likely Bourke edges of the site!

sorry no pics.

tays

My guess is they may just have to go right down to the bottom of the original foundations before they can start properly piling for this tower..

Is SxC supposed to have a big U/G carpark?? If not, then it will be a huge hole to fill with cement and dirt!!

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by A-brain </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>My guess is they may just have to go right down to the bottom of the original foundations before they can start properly piling for this tower..

Is SxC supposed to have a big U/G carpark?? If not, then it will be a huge hole to fill with cement and dirt!!</td></tr>
</table>

Grollo said on the last page that there is going to be 1000 car parks underneath

well.................. they dug further, exposed some foundations, and have leveled it off again ? or so it seemed to me this morning (was half asleep in class so dont quote me :D)

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/sxc3103031.jpg

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/sxc3103032.jpg

further "evidence" - they're chopping the plane trees down :(

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/sxc0104031.jpg

tays

Earth moving equipment all fired up again as of 9am this morning.

http://www.skyscraperpage.com/forum/images/smilies/party.gif

Haven't had some piccys in a while.. so here we go..

http://users.bigpond.net.au/speckled10/DSC00451.jpg

Note how there is 'new' cement pylons sitting on top of the existing ones around the perimeter wall! Does this mean they are actually re-using some of the existing pilings from the old tower?? I'm not sure if they're old but its great if they are!

http://users.bigpond.net.au/speckled10/DSC00452.jpg

In the second pic they have those big beams there ready to go somewhere.. I reckon we aren't far away from major foundation work to begin..

Although this applies to all construction threads, not just this building, I have noticed there are a lot of broken links in images.

Shouldn't these images be archived so it is possible to see earlier stages of development by looking back in the thread?

Ah and also they've created that new ramp in the right of A-Brains last pic - there's not much soil to be removed now!

tays

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by jquirke </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Although this applies to all construction threads, not just this building, I have noticed there are a lot of broken links in images.

Shouldn't these images be archived so it is possible to see earlier stages of development by looking back in the thread?</td></tr>
</table>

no, the images have more than likely been taken down from people's own webhosts as they take up space / can add to traffic (can therefore get charged for more).

I stillhave all my original pics on my hard drive, but you cant really keep pics up there for long

tays

tayser is spot on jquirke.. most webhosts only give you 10meg storage space (skyscrapercity.com does not hold any pics) so we have to taken down old pics to upload new ones ..

You know... regarding SxC it just occured to me .. if they are diggign out so much DIRT .. then WTF was holding up the old Southern Cross tower !!!

To my mind they should be digging out old concrete foundations.. but maybe this is as far down as they went?

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by A-brain </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>tayser is spot on jquirke.. most webhosts only give you 10meg storage space (skyscrapercity.com does not hold any pics) so we have to taken down old pics to upload new ones ..

You know... regarding SxC it just occured to me .. if they are diggign out so much DIRT .. then WTF was holding up the old Southern Cross tower !!!

To my mind they should be digging out old concrete foundations.. but maybe this is as far down as they went?</td></tr>
</table>

funny you should say that - next time you go past, have a look at where the old Hotel was - there's a concrete slab (fairly small in comparison to the site) visible

furthermore, they've removed the old ramp (up next to those old shops) and the new ramp going up to Bourke Street is halfway between Exhibition Street and the old shops.

I have a feeling the grey gold isn't too far away for this site :D :D :D

tays

anyone remember this thing ? ;)

http://www.urbanmelbourne.com/gallery/galleries/Tour_2002-07-16/image002.jpg

thanks to StavrosMelb for that pic www.urbanmelbourne.com

tays

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by tayser </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>further "evidence" - they're chopping the plane trees down :(
http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/sxc0104031.jpg
tays</td></tr>
</table>
Are you sure tayser they are chopping the trees down or just trimmimg them? They could even be planning to replant them elsewhere (or even on the same site after careful storage) :?

has anyone seen plans of this baby! its height above street is 163m, but whats its RL? The Nauru House is 182m (roof) or 212mRL .thus RL30m at this part of Exhibition st.
So maybe 163+30m = 193mRL?? is it fairly level at ground with nauru?
just finalizing RL's for a skyline diagram im working on!

:D

Yep, those trees were cut down and removed. There is nothing left of them along Bourke Street.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by CULWULLA </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>has anyone seen plans of this baby! its height above street is 163m, but whats its RL? The Nauru House is 182m (roof) or 212mRL .thus RL30m at this part of Exhibition st.
So maybe 163+30m = 193mRL?? is it fairly level at ground with nauru?
just finalizing RL's for a skyline diagram im working on!

:D</td></tr>
</table>

At the Exhibition St side of SxC it's definately same ground level as Nauru, give or take a tiny amount..

But thats assuming we take Nauru's ground level from the *road & sidewalk* level. The base of Nauru that is above ground is actaully sunken below the Exhibition St 'street level' by a few meters ..

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by A-brain </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by CULWULLA </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>has anyone seen plans of this baby! its height above street is 163m, but whats its RL? The Nauru House is 182m (roof) or 212mRL .thus RL30m at this part of Exhibition st.
So maybe 163+30m = 193mRL?? is it fairly level at ground with nauru?
just finalizing RL's for a skyline diagram im working on!

:D</td></tr>
</table>

At the Exhibition St side of SxC it's definately same ground level as Nauru, give or take a tiny amount..

But thats assuming we take Nauru's ground level from the *road & sidewalk* level. The base of Nauru that is above ground is actaully sunken below the Exhibition St 'street level' by a few meters ..</td></tr>
</table>
thanks abrain!
i thought it would be fairly flat.
:)

been watching the weeds grow of late here, but finally its ready. If there aren't any other delays, construction should start this week

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/scross_20030530.JPG

six footing pits have been dug for the Eastern tower, all the soil (except for ramp) should be gone by the end of today and all the walls have been 'shotcreted' so I cant see what more is left to do

moreover in regards to what silvermb said, they're still excavating, they've now dug the start of the "hole" that the bulk of the core will sit it from the looks of it.

It looks somewhat central to where the tower will rise, same goes with the 90m tower.

They'll probably build everything, except the smaller tower eh? for instance, build all of the podium / retail and just "cap off" the Western tower's core just above the podium ?

tays

for anyone interested in milestones, yesterday was the first foundation pour for Southern Cross. Giveaway's always the changeover of concrete suppliers, signifying change fron site preparation to actual construction. Fairly soon the site will be one massive slab and then Multiplex will move in to build this tower

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/scrosssub.JPG

nice pic(s)!

reckon the temp fencing on either side of the corepit are pretty much where the East and West facades of the building will be ?

i.e compare the fencing to the east and west extremities of Nauru in the pics then look at this:

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/sxc2.jpg

Also, did you get any other level plans other than the base / retail silvermb?

this is the only other SXC plan I have:

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/sxc1.jpg

sorry, but can you repost them if you have anymore?

cheers

no thats all I have as well for the podium, its an underrated tower; the renderings show it to be boxy but the plans and model do it justice. Long and slender, steps down perfectly from Nauru and the slanted podium over Bourke/Collins Lane - sensational.
The tower itself s not spectacular, but very strong in context to the skyline

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/southerncross_model.JPG

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/southerncross-wb_5.JPG

thanks champ... and I completely agree - it's quite underrated, but I'm talking about the tower itself - Melbourne doesnt really have a tower like this, which has a large vertical emphasis which two "Wings" / setbacks in that part of town [there is another U/c - Eureka, but forget that for a moment]. The Bourke Street Vista will be changing dramatically, and think about all the eastern talls, they're all very similar shapes, however SX will blow them all out of proportion with the different form - rectangular rather than square / box.

2nd Favourite tower U/C right now.

:banana:

tays

Ugh...that's not a MELBOURNE tower...it's a London or Sydney tower - the less we have of those, the better IMHO. And how's the "laneway" going to work if there's only one building on one side?

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Blabbyboy </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Ugh...that's not a MELBOURNE tower...it's a London or Sydney tower - the less we have of those, the better IMHO. And how's the "laneway" going to work if there's only one building on one side?</td></tr>
</table>

The podium will be built to the full just the second tower wont be built past the height of the podium

and BAH, we'll freaking well make it a Melbourne tower for your Blabbs. :nocrook: :D

Is it just me or does the model of SXC look shorter than what the plan height is? Look at the relative difference between Nauru and SXC model vs plan. :?

It's 120C - they've got it as the same roof height [almost] as Nauru in the model ;)

tays

Still confused Tays, it could be an optical illusion due to angle of photo, but to me the difference in height between the glassy looking model of SX Eastern and Nauru looks alot bigger than what the plans show.

In the plans the diff. between Nauru and SX eastern's height looks less.

I wasn't looking at 120 C :D But thanks Tays.

It seems that Nauru is way too tall in the model, almost at the same height as 120C. That's what's causing the confusion

Thanx Arunava you're probably right. :)

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by tayser </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>It's 120C - they've got it as the same roof height [almost] as Nauru in the model ;)

tays</td></tr>
</table>

I thought exactly the same, i.e. in the diagram Southern Cross is nearly as tall as Nauru, but on the model, Nauru looks so much taller, so there "had" to be a discrepancy somewhere, and it was bugging me.

But maybe there really is an optical illusion at work here.

I felt pretty geekish, but I got out the old tape measure and measured both buildings, on screen, in both the diagram and the model.

In both meausures, Southern Cross, believe it or not, is exactly 83% of the height of Nauru House.

"trusty tape measure" indeed!

stuff is still going along as per this morning.

The core "pit" was having more work done to it, it -almost- is in perfect allignment with the Northern, errr, I spose you'd call it a panel, of Nauru House (the northern side of the Octagon - fronting Little Collins)

A few more piles visible around the perimeter as well.

More stuff going on today..

They were assembling some of those big motha pearla McIvor scaffolding overhead support platforms along Bourke St frontage today...

And I mean BIG ones !! Except to see some construction huts on them soon I'd say ..

nicer rendering:

http://203.174.146.58/entire/project-images/large/20-02.jpg

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/sxc2406031.jpg

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/sxc2406032.jpg

The "allignment" with Nauru House I was talking about:

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/sxc2406033.jpg

http://members.iinet.net.au/~tayser/sxc2406034.jpg

This building is in such a great location, and will add to the northern cluster nicely. More density yarr! And finally looks like they are doing somthing than digging a hole..

Amazing that massive core cutout there..

So where are the foundations?? Where is the 3 months of piling!! Maybe they are using the foundations of the old buidling to a great extent ??

Or maybe they have dug down so far to the bedrock that this big square hole *is* the foundations itself?

Either way great signs of progress there!

The stage that its at now, is the same stage at what I first saw Eureka at ;)

I take it they'll just concrete over the mesh and start going skywards from there.

no foundations from the old buildings used for this one. when they're this far down its all rock, similar to concept blue or qv, just start building.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/scross_20030630.JPG

get that crane in. one crane up through the core and probably one either end of the floorplate which alomst stretches from lt collins to bourke

is it me, or is SXC firing along - quickly ?

I've watched maybe 10 sites go from nothing to having stuff rise, and this one just seems -really- quick.

carry on. :)

Great news for that end of town lets hope they do pump it up quickly.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/scross_20030704=10.JPG

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/scross_20030704=2.JPG

She's away! Fantastico! I do believe the bedrock here is more than adequate for foundation purposes.

Blue

Is that 2 crane bases I see there in Silver's cool pics???? :D

yep :D

wont be long til there's cranes actually sitting on those bases, two maybe three big momma cranes on Bourke Street again... woot :D

c/- spazpecker - the retained wall pit (dated):

http://members.fortunecity.com/gogomobile/MELB4.jpg

Thanks mb. If you look closely at the construction site you'll see alot of water laying around, particularly in the top corner. It was being dispersed by pumps yesterday in an effort to get the lads back on site.

Originally posted by spazpecker
Thanks mb. If you look closely at the construction site you'll see alot of water laying around, particularly in the top corner. It was being dispersed by pumps yesterday in an effort to get the lads back on site.

aye, it looked to have all gone this morning when I walked passed.

thanks posting the pic museumb.

tays

action today, the core for this tower is mega, looks like they'll split it into two like PwC.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/scross_20030805=1.JPG

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/scross_20030805=2.JPG

It looked like it was going to form in three parts yesterday, largest bank south, mid-sized in the middle and smaller bank north.

nice pics!

Anyhow: almost go time :D

Crane numero uno = up up and away & swinging as of this morning!

It's sort of camouflaged against Nauru, didn't notice it straight away, but eh.... :)

New Site Launched for the development:

http://www.spencerstreetstation.com.au


I'm on the mailing list and just got an email about it. Though there's not much new on it. A few construction shots.


James.

joed, this is a Southern Cross Office thread not the Southern Cross Station thread, but thanks anyway. :D

Ooops.

:)


And just realised it was already in the other thread anyway. Just a bit slow today!

Too busy thinking about the Buffy final last night.



James.

Thar be a corebox appearing

yep, the trademark metals and concrete springing skyward from the core base have started

woot woot woot :banana:

:D

:banana:

A core be constructing thar.....:

http://metropolis.tayser.net/misc/sxc1808031.jpg

There's now another full crane up (in the pic above, the crane tower closest was finished off sometime recently) - one with counterweights, one with not.

My Cam's up shit creek without a paddle atm, dunno when I can get pics :(

Am I the only one going to post in this thread or what ?

meanwhile, the southern bank of the core had its first core pour today.

I am sure when it gets going you won't be the only one Tays!

Thanks for the update! I wish I could be in there checking all these places out...just don't have the time!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483scross_20030919.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483scross_20030919_1.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483scross_20030919_5.jpg

yee haw, core rise already :guns1:

Originally posted by tayser
yee haw, core rise already :guns1:

I was thinking the same thing...

Did u get any shots of UWS silver??

Cheers (get a dog up ya!!!)

Dean - Melbourne

We have liftoff!

I wonder what they are going to do with the site of the second tower? Will they leave it as a hole or build it up to podium level?

Originally posted by Grollo
We have liftoff!

I wonder what they are going to do with the site of the second tower? Will they leave it as a hole or build it up to podium level?
great pix there. hey how come 2nd towers isnt starting?
how tall is this gonna be again? just kidding tays;)

Looks like there's been half core rise on the northern core bank too now as well.

not wasting any time!

Originally posted by CULWULLA
great pix there. hey how come 2nd towers isnt starting?
Yeh! That's what I want to know. Will they build the 2nd tower? We need some spy to ask the question!!

And we're OFF AND RACING!!

Anyone else wondering what the glass is going to look like on this green monster?

It's awesome that this end of the cbd is getting 3... no 4 nice midsized towers, to fill up the gaps between the big boys.

SWEEET:

https://www.emporis.com/files_transfer/6/2003/09/219878.jpg

https://www.emporis.com/files_transfer/6/2003/09/219879.jpg

https://www.emporis.com/files_transfer/6/2003/09/219888.jpg

that's what I'm talking about! :)

check out the angles on the podium (last pic!)

awesome find G-man ;)

Great shots Grollo. Southern X is going to look great when complete. My only wish was for it to be a bit taller, say 200m. How good would that have been?

How tall is it, 164m to roof?

Tripple decker coreboxes R Us!

Yep! the southern core bank has risen (see above) and now the lowest exposed level of concrete has been covered up by another "level" of corebox!

Seems as though the Northern BAnk will have something similar done to it.

Think: 2SB coreboxes on steroids :guns1: :D

Awesome renders. This is what we like to see!

Will they build the 2nd tower??? I hope so!

2nd tower will rise somewhere over there,
http://metropolis.tayser.net/misc/sx0210031.jpg

^^ up in that back corner there's copious amounts of scaffold - doing some basement level work I spose.

And voila, tripple decker coreboxes:

http://metropolis.tayser.net/misc/sx0210032.jpg

Aww lovely photo tays :)

nice pics tayser
sure is a large area of construction!

If it is half as sexy as the artists renditions when it is completed then yes it will be some seriously sexy eye candy for skyscraper fanatics.

Let's hope that it doesn't disappoint and that it spruces up this area of the city.

http://photos.heremy.com/prburt/222692288.jpg

http://photos.heremy.com/prburt/222702288.jpg

pics finally working Phil, nice work :guns1: :D

that is one serious core box, four levels has got to be a first?

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483sc20031013.jpg

not much since Phil's last pics, but anyhow:

http://metropolis.tayser.net/misc/sx1310031.jpg

http://metropolis.tayser.net/misc/sx1310032.jpg

"don't ask"

http://metropolis.tayser.net/misc/sx1310033.jpg

EDIT: didn't see your post silvermb, you're getting too quick :cool:

Still not happy with the fact thatt he second tower doesn't seem to be under construction and by the looks of it, may never get built!!! Grrrrrrrrrrr

my fellow model maker-Louie visited melbourne on Monday. heres a pic he took-

http://www.emporis.co.uk/files/transfer/6/2003/10/223832.jpg

both core banks are now quadruple-stacker coreboxes :eek: [cul's worksmate's pic above has a triple and a quad] and there was a rise on the southern bank along with pouring of the northern bank today.

plus, 4 permanent puntzmeisters (two filled with pumps as per this morning) on site.... !

110,000 - 120,000 sqm of office space = a crapload of concrete...!

That's sensational!! A glitzy glass monolith to fill out the Paris cluster...coming right up sir.

Blue

Core Rise, still can't get over the size of the two core banks!

http://metropolis.tayser.net/misc/sx2410031.jpg

Cool.. almost above street level ..

Yeah those boxes are amazing.. if you didn't know you'd think they were building something 250+ ..

Pity it's a pissweak ~165m but the bulk will be good..

Another FWP. Now you don't see it, now you do!

Pic thanks to SteveMelb

http://www.urbanmelbourne.com/gallery/galleries/Tour_2003-10-29/image033.jpg

Originally posted by A-brain
Cool.. almost above street level ..

Yeah those boxes are amazing.. if you didn't know you'd think they were building something 250+ ..

Pity it's a pissweak ~165m but the bulk will be good..
i think its RL is 186m? So being 163m high it will appear alot taller then it is. RL186m is higher than BHP / NAB & state bank ect at other end of town

385B is hardly at the other end of town Cul - it's smack bang dead centre of Melbourne :guns1:

...sorry, being pedantic :)

a five level core box, magnificent...

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483sc1.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483sc.jpg

lol! it just keeps growing!

5 bucks say it'll go to 6?

pushing it ;)

great last pic too - the ultimate will be when you can see the 6 (:D) level cores from the Steps of Parliament - then it's onwards and upwards :guns1:

Woah.. a 5 storey core box..

There are only two buildings taller than 5 storeys in ballarat, and another 3 that a five storeys tall.. haha

WTF? Um, why all the extra structure surrounding the core? The pours are evidently going in only at the first two or three tiers of those things, so what's the rest of the structure for?

Blue

I don't think it will go Six tays...

That core looks like it rises like PWC

http://members.optusnet.com.au/lukekasper/MelbourneNov/DSC00045.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/lukekasper/MelbourneNov/DSC00046.JPG

lol!

you rock Kasper :rock:

I am still very very unhappy that the second tower is not going ahead :(

Originally posted by Aussie Steve
I am still very very unhappy that the second tower is not going ahead :(

Relax will you!! It will go ahead eventually when the demand is there..

Be grateful at least the bigger tower is underway!! It could easily still be a bombsite what with 3 or 4 other big office towers also U/C and half committed at the mo!!

I'm not much of an expert on core construction for towers, but I had a good look at the area on Friday, and I'm sure they were creating an area for the core to be built for the 2nd tower.
The was an area that was previously left for the trucks to use when evacuating the area of soil, which now has a square area on below ground level which currently has just black plastic on it.
Can anyone check if this in fact the start of the 2nd core?

I've had the same suspicions Melb1, I'll be going past there on Tues and Wed and will have a good look then.

That corebox is chronic! You can probebly expect long waits between rises, but when it does rise you're sure as hell gona notice it.

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/7764/101187764ml1069762569.jpg

SOUTHERN CROSS
113 - 149 EXHIBITION STREET, MELBOURNE


LOCATION
The landmark Southern Cross development is situated on the iconic Southern Cross Hotel site, on the western side of Exhibition Street and adjoining the corner of Bourke Street and Little Collins Street. Southern Cross is well located at the eastern precinct of the Melbourne Central Business District. The site also enjoys excellent amenities with shops, restaurants, hotels, major office buildings and public transport nearby.

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
Southern Cross will be constructed in two stages. Stage 1 of the development comprises the construction of the five-level basement car park with parking for 951 cars, the 39-storey East Tower and the sub-structure for the West Tower pad site. The Stage 1 office tower will have a regular floor plate and a central service core, allowing for the efficient and flexible use of accommodation. The building has been planned by utilising the application of environmentally sustainable design principles of construction, design and operation of major buildings, with a double glazed facade. This will facilitate reduction in the long term operating costs for users and also substantially benefit the local environment.


This building is being developed and constructed by Multiplex. The Trust does not have a right to develop Stage 2 at this time.

Grade (PCA) A
Net lettable area (NLA) (sqm)
- Retail 2,350
- Office 75,918
- Total 78,268
Car parks (spaces) 951
Average floor plate (sqm) - 2 podium floors averaging 3,577 sqm
- tower floors range from 1,700 to 2,200 sqm

!

http://metropolis.tayser.net/misc/sxe0112031.jpg

The Southern Cross site wil be closed from tomorrow i.e. 19th Dec. until the 15th Jan.. Not so long to hold our breaths :okay:.

The beast rises from the depths...

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/135sx1191203.jpg

FINALLY getting to the "Good bit" - well start of anyhow, like all the East End towers.

What's the bet, 1/2 or 3/4 of core's full height by this time next year? ;)

awesome pic Grollo!

cheers

Yeah it's a nice angle and won't last for long, pity the weather was so shithouse for taking pics today :-(

What's the cavity / void for? I assume the car park lifts are the doorways on the core going down (der tays :D) - IIRC 2SB had a similar cavity lower down????

http://metropolis.tayser.net/misc/sx0501041.jpg

could be for a substation....

ding! didn't think of that, for building services.

still though, this is one project I'd like to go back to DOI to see the full range of plans for ;)

heres a pic i took last week! lol just kiddin, actually march61-sX hotel. some one should of told them STOP!!!

http://www.statelibrary.vic.gov.au/pictoria/a/4/3/im/a43837.jpg

Yep it would have been good if they stopped! But it is gone now that is ok!

What is U/C in the background?

btw: Thanks for the updated pics tays.

Originally posted by kasperluke
Yep it would have been good if they stopped! But it is gone now that is ok!

What is U/C in the background?

btw: Thanks for the updated pics tays.
that was the Comalco House which on completion in 1961 the tallest in melbourne! It was demolished in 88 to make way for 101 collins st.

hah interesting pic, weird seeing no Nauru!

SOUTHERN CROSS
113 - 149 EXHIBITION STREET, MELBOURNE
http://multiplex.production.atwww.com/uploads/images/1066824727031_0.7187101853582742.jpg
LOCATION
The landmark Southern Cross development is situated on the iconic Southern Cross Hotel site, on the western side of Exhibition Street and adjoining the corner of Bourke Street and Little Collins Street. Southern Cross is well located at the eastern precinct of the Melbourne Central Business District. The site also enjoys excellent amenities with shops, restaurants, hotels, major office buildings and public transport nearby.
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
Southern Cross will be constructed in two stages. Stage 1 of the development comprises the construction of the five-level basement car park with parking for 951 cars, the 39-storey East Tower and the sub-structure for the West Tower pad site. The Stage 1 office tower will have a regular floor plate and a central service core, allowing for the efficient and flexible use of accommodation. The building has been planned by utilising the application of environmentally sustainable design principles of construction, design and operation of major buildings, with a double glazed facade. This will facilitate reduction in the long term operating costs for users and also substantially benefit the local environment.

This building is being developed and constructed by Multiplex. The Trust does not have a right to develop Stage 2 at this time.
http://multiplex.production.atwww.com/page.asp?partid=25

pour it up

http://metropolis.tayser.net/misc/sx1501041.jpg

or maybe that should be pour it in?

I dunno.

.... ;)

Did u manage to rock past UWS and Landmark???

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

Originally posted by Dean
Did u manage to rock past UWS and Landmark???

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

Neither have changed much sinch Xmas - Top of UWS Core is exactly at footpath level - but I'd say soon to rise above ground. Landmark is still being dug out and foundated (is that a word?)

Haven't looked into the UWS pit though - might make an interesting view..

a crapload's changed since this pic was taken (tony's old urbPhoto pics)

http://www.urbanphoto.net/melbourne/photos/cbd/102-0269_IMG.JPG

&

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/9498/101279498ml1074145378.jpg

^^ recent from 250E (realestate.com.au)

:colgate:

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/9498/101279498ml1074145378.jpg

^^ recent from 250E (realestate.com.au)

:colgate: [/B]

Gee from this pic we're talking a major dead spot in terms of towers :down: Anything U/C or planned in the short term here? Can only see a few cranes on the left of the photo.

that's the Southern Cross Office redevelopment. The development this thread is for, I'm thinking you need to look beyond the Eureka and MCG threads once in a while ciao LOL ;) :doh: :ohno:

OK, as I promised tayser, here's a pic from my the floor where I work.


http://homepage.mac.com/jbadcock/Melbourne/misc/P1020259.jpg

:)

we'll have to contract you to do weekly updates.

that's it, this contract's non-negotiable and the act of taking the first pic is as good as signing your name, there's no backing out now joed! hah :guns1:

very nice, & thanks again!

Originally posted by tayser
we'll have to contract you to do weekly updates.

that's it, this contract's non-negotiable and the act of taking the first pic is as good as signing your name, there's no backing out now joed! hah :guns1:

very nice, & thanks again!

No probs tays. but I don't want to be going into work EVERY weekend. And that view is from the otherside of the office so I don't want to distrub people while they work. But maybe if I explained, they wouldn't mind me interrupting. :)

Originally posted by joed
No probs tays. but I don't want to be going into work EVERY weekend. And that view is from the otherside of the office so I don't want to distrub people while they work. But maybe if I explained, they wouldn't mind me interrupting. :)

Joed get your priorities right. SKYSCRAPER CITY is the Be All To End All!
Sacrificing every weekend sounds fair enough to me!
Most of us would do even more!.........Would you believe every second weekend at least..... Maybe every third or...........
Anyway great Pic :okay:

_______________________________
I collect therefore I am:cool:

LOL, what he said ^^ :D :D :D

Setup a webcam! :)

Great Pic there joed!

Once a week will be fine! i am sure if you explain to them if you take one picture they won't mind. I am sure they don't even know what building is being built there so it will be a good time to expain the world of skysrapers to them...or not!

Anyway! Keep up the top pics!

Originally posted by tayser
that's the Southern Cross Office redevelopment. The development this thread is for, I'm thinking you need to look beyond the Eureka and MCG threads once in a while ciao LOL ;) :doh: :ohno:

Hey tays, I was just making an observation about the lack of height in the foreground of the pic is all. And to make a point I do look at the other threads :rant: ;)

Thanks guys :happy:

Well, I think they'd know what the buiilding is getting built. The company does deal with property and on the side of the office are all the planners. I think!

Anyway, I'll see what I can do.

But I must admit, I can't help but staring out the window all the time.

OK, here's another pic of what's happening :D

http://homepage.mac.com/jbadcock/Melbourne/misc/P1020273.jpg

Not real sure what's changed.


James.

Well, the cement around the base of the tower crane on the left is dryer for a start ;)

Wow Joed. Your posi. @ work really captures how massive the site is.

Ayone know how large the site is in sq m..? Probably not. All we need to know are the approx. measurements of the perimeter.

It's approximately half a typical Melbourne CBD block - forgotten what the dimensionsare for the Hoddle Grid, anyone know ? cos we'd be able to work it out.

cheers

Does 200m x 200m sound right minus east-west lanes @ approx. 10m? (Closest I could find after numerous searches)

Each block in the hoddle grid is 200m X 96m.
The big streets are 30m wide and the little streets are 12m wide. So each block between the big streets is 200m X 204m.

The southern cross site is exactly half a block (100m X 96m) or 9600 square metres. The site has a plot ratio of 12:1, so 115,200 square metres of office space.

Just for comparison both the Age site and the Former Power station site on Spencer Street are 12,000 square metres :-)

Thanks Grollo :) What was found on the web wasn't too far off re: the larger block measurements and approximation for lanes b/ween.

I was about to suggest to do the old measure-the-bottom-of your-shoe techinque and step it around 2 perpendicular edges of the perimeter. Just looks kind of weird to on-lookers though.

Originally posted by tayser
It's approximately half a typical Melbourne CBD block - forgotten what the dimensionsare for the Hoddle Grid, anyone know ? cos we'd be able to work it out.

cheers

Use the measurment feature with that website you found!? Was it land.vic.gov.au?

http://services.land.vic.gov.au/landchannel/jsp/TermsAndConditions.jsp?serviceName=addressSearch

http://services.land.vic.gov.au/landchannel/content/interactivemap

should do it i have a cad files on the entire cbd but i dont how to use or web space @ optus

Originally posted by Grollo

Just for comparison both the Age site and the Former Power station site on Spencer Street are 12,000 square metres :-)

let's just hope taller than 160m towers go on those respective sites though ;)

update anyone?

Originally posted by Grollo
Each block in the hoddle grid is 200m X 96m.
The big streets are 30m wide and the little streets are 12m wide. So each block between the big streets is 200m X 204m.

The southern cross site is exactly half a block (100m X 96m) or 9600 square metres. The site has a plot ratio of 12:1, so 115,200 square metres of office space.

Just for comparison both the Age site and the Former Power station site on Spencer Street are 12,000 square metres :-)
wow, 115,ooosqm of office space!!! when do think Melbourne needs another 115,ooosqm of office space??
come 2005, The big 4 will come on line with only %40 occupancy.
If this big one ever gets of the ground i cant see it being a while yet? maybe next cycle? 10 years?
ps. Sydney is also heading for an office slump in 2005.We are currently only recieving DA's for apartment towers. Even the 188m/50st John Boyd tower has recently being relodged as an apartment tower, but staying exactly same design!
We are even getting pretty new office towers (1990's) being vacated and tennants moving into latest stock of post 2000 towers. So now we need to fill these back up even before we can commence a new office tower.
I pretty sure this is happening in Melbourne also?
but having said that remember way back in last cycle (1991) when the 5 big bitches were built (120 collins, 101 colliins, telstra copr,casseldon,Bourke pl).
Its been over 10 years since the last generation of office towers were built. before that was early 1980's.
The latest are now being built-BHP,SX,E&Y,2SB,Urbanworkshp) which will come on line in 2004/5.
So we are looking at 9-10 year construction cylcles which brand new office space gets consumed.
Thus next cycle looks like 2014?? am i being pesimistic?lol

the more office towers the better hopefully students can live in em for like 50 buks a week!!!

Only half the amount of office space that was built in the late 80's boom is now under construction so we won't see the same massive oversupply that took almost ten years to fill up.

The figure of 115,000 square metres includes the second tower which will be constructed at a later date. The first tower that is currently U/C is almost fully leased to the state government.

I did read (in some paper over the last week) that they can build the shorter tower once the podum has been completed and may build it soon if they let most of it. Let's hope someone in the CBD wants to move into the second tower!

Urban Workshop Lonsdale Tower (55,000sqm) = 90% pre-leased (50,000 to Vic.Gov).
Southern Cross Eastern (65,000sqm) = 70% pre-leased (50,000 to Vic.Gov).
Two Southbank Bourlevard (~35,000 - 40,000?) = 50% pre-leased (50% of total to PWC)
Eight Exhibition Street (~35,000 - 40,000?) = 50% pre-leased (50% of total to E&Y)
[roughly 65% overall of the big 4]

I think BHP-GHQ is now completely full or approaching it?

Just to let you know that the southern core has risen and it is dominating Exhibition Street more and more every day. I don't think people at that end of the city realise the scale of this major building!

Originally posted by Aussie Steve
Just to let you know that the southern core has risen and it is dominating Exhibition Street more and more every day. I don't think people at that end of the city realise the scale of this major building!

You said it A.S.

http://users.bigpond.net.au/speckled10/Cons/DSC00679.jpg

I don't think anyone anywhere in the city (except us) realise the scale of everything that is going on right across town!!

The thing people will probably be shocked (good or bad - I dunno, you choose) by is the street vista change, the podium, although not that high, will completely shake up that corner (A-brain's pic above), and the Bourke & Exhibition corner.

edit: Grollo: can you post those "SWEEET" (:D) renderings again please?

cheers

:guns1:

I walked past that site recently and noticed chips in the core on the side facing Lt Collins St. That can't be normal surely? A little slip with quality control from Multiplex perhaps?

Originally posted by maybach
I walked past that site recently and noticed chips in the core on the side facing Lt Collins St. That can't be normal surely? A little slip with quality control from Multiplex perhaps?
chips? thins or smiths? lol. if its chips of wood, this is normal . its just fragments from slip form walling. The builders will fix later.

this one is bigger than i thought. it will have 78,000sqm of office space which is about what KENS in Sydney will have. Although KENS is 140m high, compared to 163m with SX. This is why KENS will be largest in OZ.

some renders

http://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2003/07/203088.jpg

http://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2003/09/219879.jpg

http://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2003/09/219888.jpg

thanks Cull, hadnt seen that 2nd one.
hehe they certainly make the building 'glow' in the arial rendering

OK, here's another pic, it's a week old though.


http://homepage.mac.com/jbadcock/Melbourne/docklands_march04/P1020277.jpg

a few more pics from last week

another bhp/357 collins-style scraper with the poured floors on the steel frame
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483sc_20040318_2.jpg

floorplate width, thinner than Nauru
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483sc_20040318_1.jpg

third tower crane base, welded into the frame (i think)
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483sc_20040318.jpg

^^ When'd you take them mark?

This was friday arvo, around 3:30pm:

http://metropolis.tayser.net/projects/cbd/sxo/101e1903042.jpg

thursday afternoon,

where were those tower sections being lifted to?

Not sure, I walked past and saw them standing them up (they slid them off that truck first) - and it was standing there for 5 mins, didn't have much time to stick around so...

I walked past where your 1st pic was taken bout 10 minutes later (after going up UW way) and they hadn't lifted anything to that side, so at a guess I'd say next to Nauru or on the Exhibition Street side.

Just why are the core boxes for this building so incredibly large?

All these mid rises are gonna make this end of the cbd so damn dense, that I'm gonna have to by my mum a new washing machine.

101E ain't no mid-rise.

Originally posted by tayser
101E ain't no mid-rise.
i agree, at 165m its well over the official 500ft/152m mark for a skyscraper. I reckon a midrise is about 100m tall.

Originally posted by CULWULLA
i agree, at 165m its well over the official 500ft/152m mark for a skyscraper. I reckon a midrise is about 100m tall.

It is a mid-rise when you think of it against Eureka......we really have been spoiled.

I agree though 165 ain't no mid rise! At anyother time it will be the major thread in the forum!

Not long now

http://metropolis.tayser.net/projects/cbd/sxo/sxo2603041.jpg

Zoom & yes everyone needs a Hero (not)

http://metropolis.tayser.net/projects/cbd/sxo/sxo2603042.jpg

:)

We're getting to the business end of this project now (i.e. rapid rising of core and floorplates) - finally another office "block" to join 2SB.

http://metropolis.tayser.net/projects/cbd/sxo/sxo1404041.jpg

:angel:

http://metropolis.tayser.net/projects/cbd/sxo/sxo1404042.jpg

I'd have through the entry ceilings would be much higher - a new age thing? not so corporate-like?

http://metropolis.tayser.net/projects/cbd/sxo/sxo1404043.jpg

The setback from Bourke Street

http://metropolis.tayser.net/projects/cbd/sxo/sxo1404044.jpg

http://metropolis.tayser.net/projects/cbd/sxo/sxo1404045.jpg

It's all about the contextual side of things eh silvermb? :cool:

http://metropolis.tayser.net/projects/cbd/sxo/sxo1404046.jpg

Core was rising when this was taken

http://metropolis.tayser.net/projects/cbd/sxo/sxo1404047.jpg

Question Time.

Why are the I-Beams smaller (significantly) when it connects to the core, than in the bulk of the floorplate? Likewise, when are fireproofing mechanisms installed / added to the steel (Thinking WTC collapsing / buckling scenario here)?

http://metropolis.tayser.net/projects/cbd/sxo/sxo1404048.jpg

cheers

Shear forces (V) would be greatest in the centre of that beam so its deeper there.

for a regular I beam.. the Web carries the shear forces and the two flanges on the ends carry the bending moments.. so its easy to tell where shears are large. just look at the depth of the webs for each beam.

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

Why are the I-Beams smaller (significantly) when it connects to the core, than in the bulk of the floorplate? Likewise, when are fireproofing mechanisms installed / added to the steel (Thinking WTC collapsing / buckling scenario here)?Adding to Deano's....

(i) As in this as any other case, we talk of superstructures (not the layperson's term that you'll find in the International sections) but the innards of the building. In short, they are latching onto the huge reinforced core in turn mutually (not 50/50) stabilsing each other, all mathematically calculated and bearing the load/s. (Knee bone's connected to the legbone, legbone's connected to the...)

(ii) In regard to passsive fire systems, a few products on the market but basically are cementitious compounds mixes sprayed onto the steel beams. Depends on the selected product but generally up to 8 hours to settle. As long as it settles before it disappears under the next addition. In comparison with the WTC, those temps were reaching 750 - 800 C. range. Steel often melts at around 1370 degrees C.. It is known that structural steel begins to soften around 425°C and loses about half of its strength at 650°C. Nothing could save beams in those temps fueled by aviation petro-chemicals! Ouch! (but so many other factors involved).

(The obligatory) Great pics tayser, truly!! My heart races when I see into the guts of construction. :drool:

thanks guys, lol we;re all a bit like that muse ;)

one more question: what's the main benefit of having hybrid core + steel? Steel's usually (much?) faster to build outright, yes? but this will be held back by the sheer size of that big mumma core, no?

I should have paid more attention to BHP-B - as it was constructed in much the same way, Bourke Street's a far more visible location - so I think I'll be learning a bit more (and probably have my questions answered in good time lol) ;)

32-33 floors (depending on what's inside corebox) to go!

"Business End" tays ??

LOL - more like 'Business Start' methinks .. It's only barely begun !!

But I agree with your sentiments - great to see this big bargearse of a building finally into the main stretch..

wow, this one going to be a steel framed/composite concrete core number??? cool!
fab shots tays! If this is constructed anything like latitude be prepared for a quick construction schedule!!! keep cameras handy or youll miss it!!lol

"Business End" tays ??

LOL - more like 'Business Start' methinks .. It's only barely begun !!

But I agree with your sentiments - great to see this big bargearse of a building finally into the main stretch..

It IS the business end!

All that other shit like actually conceptualising, digging holes, ripping down 60s horrors ET AL mean nothing against "construction" - construction's the rapid part, the part where cash moves, where people move - business end.

:gunz: :bleh: :gunz:

Awesome pics tays!! How'd you get on site to take those pics? I thought someone would've bailed you up in a second with no safety gear on :)

I didn't go on site, they're all taken from footpaths around the site.

:gunz:

http://www.users.bigpond.com/Dwight.Veenman/MyPics/20040226SXOsmall.jpg

Long range pic but it's starting to look really interesting and different. This could be a winner. :runaway:

interesting and different indeed - we're seeing the podium U/C at long last!

rock on BigV :D

Very Interesting design of crane base for crane 3, anyone else had a good look?? Steel plates and dead weight loaded onto frame, anyone hazard a guess to how much weight in them????

We are now up to level 7 exposed, and there was a core pour today. Does this one rise and pour at the same time?

We are up to Level 9 with the core and 3 floor plates above ground.

wheres fabian??? we need a pic.lol

FFS I've just been in the city with my cam and thought it wasn't worth going up that end of Bourke Street :(

:lol: lol on ya tays