http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/12/1078594567799.html

RMIT plans for site of old brewery
By Royce Millar, David Rood
March 13, 2004

That enduring city eyesore, the CUB site in Swanston Street, could soon be redeveloped into an education precinct under a sweeping RMIT University scheme to sell surplus properties and build new facilities.

The university has a two-stage plan to consolidate its dispersed city campus and offload excess assets, which include properties in Carlton and Elizabeth Street.

It wants to build a new business school on either the CUB site or a vacant site in Swanston Street for students now in the Tivoli Court building in Bourke Street. It will sell the nine floors it owns in the Bourke Street building.

Pro-vice-chancellor Cameron Moroney confirmed yesterday that the university planned to "test the market" for development of the CUB site. It was exploring joint ventures with developers to get the best value from the site.

Mr Moroney said the university envisaged student housing on the site's northern end and teaching and research facilities elsewhere. But he did not want to inhibit developers' thinking.

The rationalisation of university properties would enable RMIT to speed refurbishment of the facilities it kept, and to build start-of-the-art premises, Mr Moroney said.

Of the university's $900 million-plus property portfolio, $700 million is in the city.

The former brewery land has been a frustration since the CUB brewery ceased operating in the 1980s. RMIT bought the site in 1998 and has been criticised for failing to make use of it.

The PDG Corporation, which is redeveloping the Ansett complex across the road, is known to be interested. Managing director Vince Giuliano confirmed he had had discussions with RMIT.

"The site has good potential. It really depends on what restrictions come with it," he said.

Residential developer Australand is also eyeing the land.

"It's a good strategic site, especially if RMIT underwrites some sort of lease term for student accommodation," Victorian manager Rob Pradolin said.

The Melbourne City Council has called on RMIT to ensure a high-quality, landmark development on the site. Council major projects committee chairwoman Kate Redwood said: "What we don't want to see is another low-standard student kennel." - lol

The university should use the site to improve Melbourne's position in the competitive international education market, she said.

In 2002, RMIT's finances dived following the failure of the AMS student software system, turning a predicted $21 million surplus into a loss of almost $5 million.

The books have since returned to the black after budget cuts, the $19 million sale of land next to the university's Bundoora campus, and a Federal Government advance of $7.5 million.

________________________________

possible advantages:
- ubar qualité low-mid-rise development possibly encompassing Educational (RMITBUS (www.rmit.edu.au/bus)), civic and retail space.
- ubar qualité mid-high-rise development ecompassing Educational, Commercial and Retail components, landmark "the other end of the city" type thing (and above too)

possible disadvantages:
- cheap-arse lefty RMIT starts wanking on about cheap and affordable student accomodation needed near it's largest campus (far-fetched, but possible) with crap design.

I'd prefer some large-ish presence up there, but I think I'll keep my mind open to what could possibly come around.

$0.02

any idea aprox how many students there are in all of the CBD's/inner city educational facilities?

Noticed some people (looked like surveyors or something of that sort) walking around the site last week.

This is THE landmark site in the Melbourne and the only way for a building to be true landmark near the CBD is for it to be tall, very tall :-) 310m to roof and 350 to spire mixed use building designed by FK sounds perfect.

Hopefully PDG wont get the site, there developments are pretty good, but nowhere near the quaility that this site deserves.

^^ :guns1:

Fire your bank!
http://images.fotopic.net/?id=515791&outx=980&oq=0

DONT QUOTE IMAGES.

I dont thinks thats swanston st.... i been going to uni there for three years???? :?

they must have changed the levels by like 7 mtrs lol

They should build Grollo Tower! 600 meters of glory!

Plot - check the bottlom left of the image dude!

hey, you guys have a CUB site aswell! were lucky with our one, its a large csite right at the gateway to the southern end of the CBD and Australand have doe to erect some big ones up to 100-150m tall!
Do you think the melb CUB site will be allowed this type of height?

It's the northern gateway to the Melbourne CBD and terminated the northern view down Swanston Street just as the shrine terminated the southern view.

There was a plan approved in 1995 for twin towers, one 153m high and the other 133m high. There was also the John Elliot proposal from the late 80's which was massive, taller than Rialto I think.

Melbourne's Never Built (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=43626)

Something like this?
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/98ixlcol.jpg

Lets hope they do build a"landmark" type pf building on this very important site.
Could be a chance for all the Fed SQ knockers at the universities to come up with something better- but I wont hold may breath

Originally posted by CULWULLA
hey, you guys have a CUB site aswell! were lucky with our one, its a large csite right at the gateway to the southern end of the CBD and Australand have doe to erect some big ones up to 100-150m tall!
Do you think the melb CUB site will be allowed this type of height?

It'll be interesting to see which of the two sites gets developed first and how the developments will end up being.

Like Cul, I was suprised to see Melbourne's CUB city site being earmarked for development. Where are CUB going?

CUB havent been at that site for many years their HQ is now at Southbank and the main brewery is in Abbotsford.

Meetings

< back
Commonwealth Games Infrastructure and Major Projects Committee
Tuesday, 2 March 2004 at 5:30pm.
Council Meeting Room

Agenda
Agenda Download (10KB)
1 Commencement of meeting and apologies
2 Declarations of pecuniary interests
3 Confirmation of minutes of previous meeting
» Minutes of 16 Dec 2003 ordinary meeting
4 Matters arising from the minutes
5 Reports from Management
5.1 Commonwealth Games Village - Status Report Download (1697KB)
5.2 Council Planning for 2006 Commonwealth Games Quarterly Report (October-December 2003) Download (65KB)
5.3 Royal Park Wetlands Update Download (1068KB)
5.4 Argyle Square - Piazza Project Release Final Master Plan Report for Community Consultation Download (1990KB)
5.4a Argyle Square - Piazza Project Release Final Master Plan Report for Community Consultation (Attachment 1) Download (3638KB)
5.5 Status Report - CH2 Little Collins Street Precinct Development Download (1982KB)
5.6 Confidential: CUB Report (This item has been withdrawn)
6 General Business
7 Urgent Business
8 Public questions
9 Closure of meeting:wallbash: :?



.... hmm what are they schemeing lol:eat:

does anyone else know of this?
good news is good news

RMIT have sought tenders to redevelop their Swanston St land, currently valued at $40 million. the successful developer will have rights to develop a mixed use southern half of the land in return for building RMIT retail and student accomodation towers on the northern section (none of which you'ld assume would go above 15 levels?) Anyway many a proposal has come and gone, but recalling some of the past proposals and having the 155m Verve over the road, i'd crack the shitties if something over 200m wasn't produced.

tenders close 19th November, the RMIT section should be built soon, as for the developers section, who knows?

a fairly crude render, but thats the part of the site that should host 1 or 2 towers of size

http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/verve_3501.jpg

the wait begins....

500 metres +

In 1997 Nauru government and David Marriner developed plans for Australia’s tallest tower on the CUB site after the 1995 ARM plans were shelved.

But like QV and Southern Cross Nauru had to sell the site before the development could go ahead. The plans have never been released to the public.

I think it is the logical site for the tallest building in Australia.

Hell yeah RMIT, go for it, make it tall! well accept one of the tallest offers. As long as it looks awsome (you dont really get great designed building for student apartments)
Go for gold!

it would create tension between north and south i like the idea

much like big e and rialto

I agree with you Grollo. I think its a perfect site for a mixed use tower on a large podium. It could be part office, part hotel and part apartments. It would be a great landmark for the northern end of Swanston St.

As a side note, hoping the RMIT part is as ballsy as Storey Hall or Building 8 :)

You mean as ugly as building 8? Story Hall's still good though. :)

today's afr article outline

*site corner swanston/a'beckett street will be developed into a 22,500sqm office/class space. prior proposal was for some the weird tube, sports building
*$60 million redevelopment of the Old Melbourne Hotel into RMIT student accomodation. (that'll be a palace in terms of student accomodation)
*north section of CUB site to have 1000 RMIT student accomodation beds and 13,000sqm of office/class space
*southern end of CUB site up for grabs with all the major developers interested

thats a fair amount of developemnt simultaneously

i wanna see a master plan :(

lets just hope its all quality/innovative... or i would rather nothing get built at all

Gosh, they were planning things for this site in the very late 80s.

Merged.

Article:

Uni stakes future on CUB site
Nicole Lindsay
22/10/04 AFR

RMIT University is attempting to revive its fortunes with the development and potential sale of up to 25,000 square metres of prime property in the Melbourne central business district.

The university has run into trouble over the past few years following the botched implementation of a new computer system that cost millions of dollars in foregone revenues, the controversial reign of of former vice-chancellor Ruth Dunkin and proposed staff redundancies.

The university is planning to develop the 19,380 square metre Carlton and United Brewery site on the corner of Swanston and Victoria streets in two parts, as well as a 4900 sq m site on Swanston and A'Beckett streets.

RMIT has tried to develop the sites in the past, to no avail.

The developments will involve RMIT office space, student accommodation and new lecture halls and class space. As part of the deal, the private sector will be able to add retail and other offerings to the new facilities.

RMIT vice-chancellor Cameron Moroney said "We are not looking for great ideas that sit on the shelf."

Mr Moroney spoke yesterday at an information session for more than 100 parties who had responded to the expressions of interest campaign.

All the major national and local developers were present, including architects and student accommodation providers.

"People will ask if we can pull it off this time around but it's fundamental . . . from a 'getting our house in order' perspective," Mr Moroney said. "We are sick of looking through chain mail fencing at our assets. We have an awful lot of capital assets tied up in underused property," he said.

However, some developers privately expressed frustration at the competitive nature of the bidding process, which will close on November 17.

Mr Moroney said in the interests of saving money and time, "it would be a short shortlist".

RMIT is the biggest landowner in Melbourne's CBD. It has a portfolio worth nearly $1 billion.

Mr Moroney said RMIT was looking for innovative financing solutions from developers, which could include selling land and leasing back the property or a BOOT build, own, operate, transfer scheme that would involve RMIT leasing a building for a fixed period.

There are two plans for the CUB site. RMIT proposes selling the 8307 sq m northern section to a developer for a 1000-bed student accommodation project. The developer would own and operate the service but RMIT would not provide rental guarantees or guarantee student numbers.

Last week, RMIT signed a similar agreement with property developer Tuscan Corporation and Transfield for a $60 million project to redevelop the four-star Apollo Old Melbourne Hotel in Flemington as student accommodation.

RMIT was looking at doing four more similar deals to boost student accommodation over the next 10 years, Mr Moroney said.

The southern section of the CUB site would be developed in either a joint venture or a BOOT scheme with a developer, although the university is leaving open the possibility of an outright sale of the 11,000 sq m site.

RMIT requires 13,000 sq m of office and class space in the proposed building.

It also needs 22,500 sq m of office and class space on the third site, opposite the main campus on Swanston Street.

The City of Melbourne's sustainable development and strategy director, Geoff Lawler, was on hand to let developers know the council was involved in the planning process.

"The south part of the CUB site is one of the most critical sites in Melbourne," he said. "It's part of a long vista from the Shrine to the place where beer was brewed in Melbourne."

Swanston Sports Complex
http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~lerma/swanstonsports.jpg

The swanston sports centre will have a large hall with three courts (netball, basketball, badminton and volleyball) and associated facilities such as a gymnasium and change rooms.

http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~lerma/swanstonsports1_small.jpg

I remember a twin tower complex with a distressed center between the towers like a exploded section........alas as time goes by this may be not be correct in post 9/11 world but! this site is in the Melbourne scene a landmark site! We don't have so many sites for something beyond functional.....Can you imagine an Icon Building at the top of Swanston St. I can but that's just me?

OK I'm back........Do you remember the Grollo Tower.......it got approved for Docklands.....it DID.....but in a silly stand off about extending Collins St, etc ended it.......then it was off to Dubai...not! so lets go for it here it's home town.....well I can wish can't I..........

Please Don't Excommunicate Me From The Forum But Dare I Say...a Park?
Yes A Park!! With Some Mature Trees Would Look Great Here And Off Set The Shine At The Other End.
Ohhh I Can Feel The Scourn.
Yes, I Know It Wouldn't Be Viable But It Would Be Nice...wouldn't It?

Please Don't Excommunicate Me From The Forum But Dare I Say...a Park?
Yes A Park!! With Some Mature Trees Would Look Great Here And Off Set The Shine At The Other End.
Ohhh I Can Feel The Scourn.
Yes, I Know It Wouldn't Be Viable But It Would Be Nice...wouldn't It?
Yes it would be great to have some open sapce at that end of town - but it aint goung to happen.

to illustrate the size of the site, exhibit A, c/o Hacksaw's Up up and Away (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=147128) thread.

http://img23.exs.cx/img23/3354/PA292698.jpg

There's a tonne of sites available just infront (city side) of the largest Uni Square building eh - tought time trying to get the CMFEU moving out though.

And that f**king car park at the Queen Vic. FFS SOMEONE DEVELOP IT PLEASE.

[/rant]

Phew Barney...thanks. It Was With A Shakey Hand I Hit "post" With That Idea 8)
I'm No Tree Hugging Lefty, I Love My Concrete And Glass. I Know We Got Lotsa Trees But We Can Always Use More.

^ are you trying to type with caps lock on or something?

Yes I Generally Type In Caps When At Work. I Work For Madman Entertainment In Dvd Production And Submit My Work And Reports On Dvd Production In Caps.
When I Have A Peep At The Forum I Am Always At Work And If I Type A Post The Caps Are Generally On. It's A Case Of Doing Several Things At Once. Is There A Problem With Using Caps?

CUB Proposals that failed

http://www.thecollectormm.com/private/BreweryProposal1.jpg

http://www.thecollectormm.com/private/BreweryProposal2.jpg

This site reminds me of the Jolimont Rail Roof saga, the never-ending story!

By the way, I can't see why we can't have a landmark building and park/plaza on the same site. It's big enough. :)

Would love to see a dirty great big bluestone - clad monolith here ala the old brewery buildings in Bouverie street. Nothing shorter than 300 metres and maybe called AXIS TOWER as it and the Shrine would be at opposite ends of the major north south axis of melb. :cheers: :cheers:

i like the design, looks kinda cool.

Hope you can follow this......can you imagine a straight site line along Flemington Rd. beyond the roundabout at the top of Elizabeth St. intersecting with the site line north on Swanston though the CUB site.The intersecting point is just south of Queensberry St, and west of Bouverie ST. Then remove Berkley, Barry and Leicester south of Pelham and Bouverie south of Queensberry St.Create a huge roundabout ( Canberra type ) Then extend Flemington from the North -West and Swanston from the South. Both these sections would be more asthetic than actual traffic roads. Landscape with lawn and trees whole area with site lins continued from the roads etc. THEN at the centre of the ring road build the Grollo Tower........Can you imagine the landmark straight ahead as you arrive in Melbourne from the Tulla freeway then onto Fleminton Road and also the view from the Shrine through the city to the natural focus.....Lots of postcard opportunities. More gardens around the CBD and maximum use of site lines. .........I whited out an old Melway and drew in my thoughts and it looks OK !

OK maybe my plan is over the top.........but even if the building still went in the right location on the intersecting axis of Swanston St. and Flemington Road it would still be the focal point........I also proposed a major landmark over St. Kilda junction.......an elevated Plaza over the existing infrastructure with maybe a huge Globe of the World a bit like the one at Flushing Meadows New York at the '64 World Fair Site. If hollow it could rotate in time with the Sun, so also a World Clock and a Tourist Attraction....would look great in the TV shots during the Grand Prix.

I also proposed a major landmark over St. Kilda junction.......an elevated Plaza over the existing infrastructure with maybe a huge Globe of the World a bit like the one at Flushing Meadows New York at the '64 World Fair Site. If hollow it could rotate in time with the Sun, so also a World Clock and a Tourist Attraction....would look great in the TV shots during the Grand Prix.

Great idea!! :okay:

There will be no tower on this site only uni apartments as dissappointing as that is.

Yes I Generally Type In Caps When At Work. I Work For Madman Entertainment In Dvd Production And Submit My Work And Reports On Dvd Production In Caps.
When I Have A Peep At The Forum I Am Always At Work And If I Type A Post The Caps Are Generally On. It's A Case Of Doing Several Things At Once. Is There A Problem With Using Caps?

you submit work and reports in Caps? But that is screaming. You scream at your work collegues. I would not read emails or reports from a screaming work collegue. I like you're idea of the trees and open space, but I think this end of town has some good patches already. Needs landmark building.

posted by tayser

AFR
RMIT contenders revealed
Mathew Dunckley
4 November 2005


The wheels are finally turning again at RMIT University's massive but idle former Carlton and United Brewery site in Melbourne's CBD. The project shortlist was leaked yesterday.

Sources close to the project, valued at more than $100 million, told The Australian Financial Review that the shortlist, originally expected in May, featured a range of Melbourne developers including Becton, MAB and PDG.

Also in the mix is super fund CBUS's construction arm, Australian Super Developments, in a joint venture with Baulderstone Hornibrook.

The 19,380 square metre site on the corner of Swanston Street and Victoria Parade has stood cleared and empty for more than 20 years.

The value of the vacant land is estimated at about $30 million, and developers were tripping over themselves to get involved - as evidenced by more than 100 responses to the expressions of interest campaign last year.

RMIT bought the site in 1998 from the Nauru government but its planned redevelopment has been hamstrung by the university's financial woes.

The design brief from RMIT to bidders is believed to include office space, student accommodation and new lecture halls and class space.

As part of the deal, the private sector will be able to add retail and other offerings to the new facilities.

RMIT's executive director property services, Chris White, confirmed the university had advised shortlisted proponents but declined to comment on the identity of the bidders.

Discussions would now begin and the requests for tender would go out by mid-2006, he said.

"RMIT was very pleased with the quality and interest shown in the site," he said.

In response to questions about the delays, Mr White said it was "important to fully brief" RMIT's new vice-chancellor, Margaret Gardner, before proceeding with the shortlist.

"There have been no significant changes to the proposed development," he said. "The CUB site is still expected to include mixed-use development with some student housing."

Mr White would provide no further details.

In plans released last year, the university said it was looking for innovative financing solutions from developers, which could include selling land and leasing back the property or a build, own, operate, transfer (BOOT) scheme that would involve RMIT leasing a building for a fixed period.

RMIT proposes selling the 8307 sq m northern section of the brewery site to a developer for a 1000-bed student accommodation project.

The developer would own and operate the service but RMIT would not provide rental guarantees or guarantee student numbers.

The southern section of the CUB site would be developed in either a joint venture or a BOOT scheme with a developer, although the university is leaving open the possibility of an outright sale of the 11,000 sq m site.

RMIT requires 13,000 sq m of office and class space in the proposed development.

It also needs 22,500 sq m of office and class space on the third site, opposite the main campus on Swanston Street.

A $100 million redevelopment planned for the site was dropped five years ago after it was labelled as uncommercial by the private sector.

Apart from the brewery site, two carparks in A'Beckett Street, behind the RMIT-owned Oxford Scholar hotel, were also on offer.

KEY POINTS

* Becton, MAB and PDG are on the shortlist of potential developers.

* Requests for tender are expected to go out by mid-2006.

doh.

'>> GUIDE TO MELBOURNE PROJECTS - LOOK AT ME!!!'

ok ok. :)

I have a bad feeling about this - it's one of the last remaining supersites in central melb - what it is crying out for is something VERY special...and i'm afraid that it may be destined for mediocrity...

I guess time will tell...

I have a bad feeling about this - it's one of the last remaining supersites in central melb - what it is crying out for is something VERY special...and i'm afraid that it may be destined for mediocrity...

I guess time will tell...
what other sites do we have left? There's a huge site on McKenzie St and the power station site... I can't think of anywhere else in the cbd. I noticed walking around southbank a while ago (to take photo's of eureka) and noticed a massive site at the very back just north of the freeway before it goes into the tunnel... wonder when that will get developed. I'd say it's large enough to accommodate 10 Eureka's

road tunnel entrance then...reopen swantston to traffic, then
tunnel leads to eastern fwy and tulla. pretty up the area with trees and a landmark bit of mad art, fountains and lighting effects.
It is an awkward angle and off set to the C.B.D. mmmmmm tricky.

Read with interest:

Was going to put this in the ANZ thread but found this more suitable.


Show must go on for RMIT
Nelson Yap
July 24, 2006


The redevelopment of the former Melbourne CUB site, on the corner of Swanston Street and Victoria Parade in Carlton, will go ahead even if the ANZ deal is shelved.

RMIT told PropertyReview.com.au that the University is running its own expressions of interests and that regardless of what happens with the ANZ bid, the redevelopment of the 20,000 sqm site will go ahead.

RMIT said it initiated the EOI for the site before the ANZ released its brief to build a new 80,000 sqm headquarters.

In addition, RMIT gave the opportunity to the bidders to tender for the CUB site with or without ANZ.

RMIT declined to release the details of the bidders, however, it is believed that Becton, CBUS, PDG Corporation and MAB Corporation have been short listed.

Property sources told PropertyReview.com.au that Becton and PDG Corporation submitted a bid to ANZ, however, their bids have been ruled out.

RMIT was unable to comment whether Becton and PDG Corporation are likely to withdraw their EOI over the CUB site after unsuccessfully bidding for the $350 million ANZ HQ project.

Meanwhile, it is understood that MAB Corporation’s bid for ANZ is still in the running.

Property sources said MAB Corporation is likely to team up with Grocon to develop the CUB site.

It is believed even if the ANZ bid falls over, MAB and Grocon could develop the site into a major mixed use development.

“RMIT is running its own bidding process and the ANZ deal will not impact on the bidding,” RMIT told PropertyReview.com.au.

RMIT said the University is committed to a mixed used development and that the EOI is in its well advance stages.

The university has retained the prime south east corner of the site for its own exclusive use. That's the corner with no facade correct? No confirmed plans on what RMIT plans to build.

While RMIT was unable to comment on the sale price, it is believed that the site could fetch as much as $50m from the competitive bidders.

The CUB site was a brewery and headquarters for Carlton and United Breweries from 1862 to 1994. In 1994, the Nauru Government bought the site.

In 1998, RMIT bought the site and has since been under pressure to redevelop the site.

The EOI of the CUB site is part of the second stage of RMIT’s property development strategy after the completion of stage one, which was the sale of a seven story building at 410 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne for $8 million.

SOURCE: www.propertyreview.com.au

Does anyone know if RMIT's land behind the Oxford Scholar is also for sale? I hope not as I think that should be used for the university.

SE corner would be the corner of Swanston and Victoria. The spot that probably unsurprisingly is closest to the existing RMIT campus. I think is a small section of some kind of facade standing at or near that corner as well.

Most of the remaining heritage structures are on the Bouverie St side.

Have been trawling through RMIT council meetings/minutes but under MG (VC)they don't seem to divulge very much in these documents anymore.

I would expect a decision shortly though. Reading between the lines RMIT really want to 'accelerate' (quote) negotiations of the site so the capital can be moved into further restructuring the city campus. They want to consolidate the swanston st campus and 'rationalise' the rest.

I hope bulldozing parts of it are in that plan of theirs somewhere ;)

There is a 3 storey building (total building, not just facade), on Swanston St, just north of Victoria St that must be retained. Its a great warehouse building.

Oh yeah, the red brick one with the pointy roofs? Forgot about that one - cheers AS.

Hope you can follow this......can you imagine a straight site line along Flemington Rd. beyond the roundabout at the top of Elizabeth St. intersecting with the site line north on Swanston though the CUB site.The intersecting point is just south of Queensberry St, and west of Bouverie ST. Then remove Berkley, Barry and Leicester south of Pelham and Bouverie south of Queensberry St.Create a huge roundabout ( Canberra type ) Then extend Flemington from the North -West and Swanston from the South. Both these sections would be more asthetic than actual traffic roads. Landscape with lawn and trees whole area with site lins continued from the roads etc. THEN at the centre of the ring road build the Grollo Tower........Can you imagine the landmark straight ahead as you arrive in Melbourne from the Tulla freeway then onto Fleminton Road and also the view from the Shrine through the city to the natural focus.....Lots of postcard opportunities. More gardens around the CBD and maximum use of site lines. .........I whited out an old Melway and drew in my thoughts and it looks OK !

Love to see your ideas in graphic form...

Reading between the lines RMIT really want 'accelerate' (quote) negotiations of the site so the capital can be moved into further restructuring the city campus. They want to consolidate the swanston st campus and 'rationalise' the rest.

Dont blame them, they'll soon have more competition on the block with La Trobe moving into the Argus building.

Also RMIT probably want to get rid of a few of their older bldgs such 56 & 57, the red bricked bldgs on Lygon St.

Dont blame them, they'll soon have more competition on the block with La Trobe moving into the Argus building.

Also RMIT probably want to get rid of a few of their older bldgs such 56 & 57, the red bricked bldgs on Lygon St.

Where was the blame?

RMIT are quite unlikely to get rid of bldgs 56 & 57. They have recently redeveloped part of those buildings and see them as part of the overall swanston street campus.

Also the new La Trobe building will only be offering Law (which RMIT don't offer) and postgraduate business. This I feel will quicken the process of RMIT moving its buisness faculty to Swanston st. The Graduate School of Business will be moving to the Emily McPherson building next year.

Anyway this doesn't have much to do with the CUB site I guess.

They should turn the site into a night life and tourist attraction. You could have a Museum of Australian Brewing (the bouverie st building would make a wicked souvenir store, filled with VB stubby holders and the like). It would be similar to the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Scotch Whisky Heritage Tour in Edinburgh, Coca-cola theme park in Atlanta and the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam (and Duff Gardens in Springfield of course). All related to the culture of the country but with a touch of touristy tackiness. I can just picture the fountain squirting beer into the air now.

The taller building on swanston st would be awesome as a massive night club.

Anyways, I think that would be a little bit more interesting than a bank HQ or apartments.

LOL. Welcome Layabout. :cheers:
:booze: :cheers1:

I love the idea, how about something like Little Creature brewery? http://www.kenmac.me.uk/assets/images/Journal/Oz%20Little%20Creatures.jpg

CUB already have the Carlton Brewhouse at the Abbotsford Brewery which has a musuem, gift shop, brewery tours...

... and is a much less accessible spot for the casual tourist market. Why not move the front-of-house display operation to a boutique microbrewery in a more central location?

I don't think a corporation like CUB is in the business of running micro breweries are they? Would make more sense for small boutique sort of operator but I can't see CUB doing anything like this. Would not be much in it for them I wouldn't think. Maybe someone else will step up and make good on the idea though.

I don't think a corporation like CUB is in the business of running micro breweries are they? Would make more sense for small boutique sort of operator but I can't see CUB doing anything like this. Would not be much in it for them I wouldn't think. Maybe someone else will step up and make good on the idea though.CUB own the makers of Redback and Bohemian Pilzner. Their main competitor runs James Squire microbrew pubs and tried to buy out Coopers.

It might not be obvious when the taps of your local are only Carl Draught, VB and token light, but they're in the business.

^ Oh ok. I didn't know that. :)

I'm gonna be ticked off if I hear the word 'campus' even whispered in relation to this site.

It's at the end of Swanston street. As a city we are in a prime position to build something huge and awe inspiring at the end of our most famous street.
A 300 metre tower in that area will spark up other high rises in that part of the CBD which at the moment is sorely lacking. The end of Swanston right now is like a big bald spot.

The end of Swanston right now is like a big bald spot.
That is theee funniest (& truest) thing I have read on the site since joining. rotfl

http://www.togermano.com/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif

CUB site fortunes continue to droop
September 28, 2006

Advertisement
AdvertisementTHE derelict Carlton & United Brewery site at the northern end of Swanston Street will continue to languish after ANZ's decision to head for Docklands.

The owner of the former brewery site, RMIT University, had pinned its hopes on developer MAB's bid to build the bank's new headquarters there.

The university said yesterday it would now sell off most of the 1.9-hectare CUB site, which has been neglected at the northern end of Swanston Street since demolition in 1989.

The land's estimated value is $50 million.

RMIT refused to release details of when sale of the land would occur or who would buy the enduring city eyesore.

Property industry sources said developers Becton and PDG were still in the running to buy it, but neither company would say whether it had bidded.

RMIT's chief financial officer, Steve Somogyi, said the university would keep the best part of the site — 3000 square metres on the corner of Victoria Parade and Swanston Street — for itself to build "an iconic development".

Property, planning and political figures hit out at RMIT for sitting on the sprawling site for so long.

State Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said the landmark site was too important to leave derelict any longer.

"It is a gateway to the city and it ought to be part of Melbourne's grid," Mr Baillieu said. "It's a testament to RMIT's inaction that this site is still empty."

Melbourne City Council also wants the university to dispose of the site. "It's critical that this bombsite and eyesore be developed," planning chairwoman Catherine Ng said.

The council's major projects spokesman, Peter Clarke, said RMIT needed to take itself out of the equation. "RMIT has played with us for long enough. If they can't make it work — and they obviously can't — then it ought move on."

Property expert Bill Russell at PricewaterhouseCoopers said RMIT's handling of the land had been disastrous.

i'd say this site will likely end up being wasted and I can only realistically see a cluster of average apartments going up there possiblly.
this will be another wasted opportunity for Melbourne...maybe the dumb Ferrris Wheel should have gone there...blah blah blah.

I agree this is a landmark site for a landmark building, heck, you could build quite high before overshadowing the Yarra.

Yeah. I dunno what the deal is with the yarra. Blahdyy blahdy blah you can't build this 5000000m skyscraper coz the tip of the 10 cm thick spire is overshadowing the yarra at night time. blahdy blah blah. I mean surely the damn 50000 bridges overshadow the yarra already. In fact you can't even see the yarra it's got so many damn bridges. Not that you'd wanna see it.

Rant over. lol. That felt good......

I was looking at the 'Age' for 2020 ( don't ask ) In the Property / Architecture section it had an article in reference to climate change that the more shade a proposed building would throw would give it a further plot ratio bonus.

i'm very interested in this site, and where its going!, as its so large has so much potential but the market just doesnt have any need for it at the moment.

What can go there?
Apartments No - too many around.
Offices No - wrong location
Civic No - no need
Entertainment - maybe
Education/Health - wrong location
Park - waste

I really dont know what could possibly go there!! How about an indoor "winter fun park" with skiing facilities all year around. Or indoor wave pool.

It could be a combo skyscraper. And the market is supposed to pick up in the next few years say the future tellers... It's gotta be a SS. I'm happy to wait for a SS rather than having campus.

Hate to be the practical one but it should be used for educational purposes. It's the best location for an educational precinct in Melbourne. Nearly half way b/t RMIT and UMelb. If RMIT had the money they would keep at least half site for a new Business Faculty among other things.

Yes a new business faculty for RMIT would be good and I would imagine would be part of any development on the site while still under ownership of RMIT. The business faculty would go great in a CH2 style building somewhere there. I could also see some commercial development on that site for strata offices.

Unfortunately it would also be an attractive place to build some more student accomadation.

Grocon in last call for CUB site
Maurice Dunlevy
THE AUSTRALIAN October 19, 2006

DANIEL Grollo's Grocon has made an 11th-hour bid for Melbourne's infamous CUB site ahead of its imminent $40million sale.

In a sale of the derelict development site precipitated by ANZ's September decision to head to the Docklands, CUB site owner RMIT University said yesterday it was negotiating with two interested parties, understood to be Grocon and Vince Giuliano's private PDG Corporation.

If successful, Grocon is understood to be planning a development along the lines of its nearby $600 million QV project, which is a mix of office towers, shops and apartments covering an entire CBD block.

Grocon was MAB Corporation's construction partner in that developer's failed bid to build an 87,000sqm office building on the CUB site for the ANZ.

Grocon has not previously bid for the site, which RMIT bought eight years ago for $25million.

According to RMIT sources, the university launched a plan to sell most of the site immediately after last month's ANZ decision to choose Lend Lease's Docklands Victoria Harbour precinct for its $630 million office project.

Mr Grollo is overseas and could not be contacted yesterday. Mr Giuliano, who has redeveloped the nearby Ansett office complex into apartments and retail, said he was unable to comment.

A mixed-use redevelopment, possibly involving offices, student accommodation and retail space, makes sense for Grocon, which is in the market for future projects.

The northern end of the Swanston Street site, once part of Melbourne's colourful brewing history until the CUB brewery was demolished in 1989, is one of three CBD sites once owned by the Government of Nauru.

CUB, Queen Victoria and Southern Cross became known as Melbourne's worst black holes and bomb sites in the mid-1990s when the cash-strapped Nauruans failed to get planned developments off the ground.

Grocon eventually purchased the Queen Victoria site, building a mix of apartments, shops and offices in a joint venture with ING, while Multiplex eventually built offices on the former Southern Cross Hotel site.

When RMIT purchased the 1.9ha CUB site in 1998, it had a $100 million plan to build a mix of student accommodation as well as educational facilities.

Those plans were later replaced by a proposal to build 700 units to accommodate up to 1100 students in three residential towers.

But the proposal, the result of a student design competition, was judged by private developers, including Multiplex, as not stacking up commercially.

In 2004, the site was offered for sale through an expressions-of-interest campaign following a 12-month review of RMIT's $1billion property portfolio by KPMG.

The review followed the disclosure that RMIT was in financial strife after a major funding shortfall caused by computer program problems and over-optimistic forecasts for overseas and local fee-paying students.

The latest RMIT proposal is to retain the front of the site, a 3000sqm parcel at the corner of Victoria Parade and Swanston Street, for educational purposes.

That leaves 16,000sqm of land up for grabs, with two existing historic bluestone buildings occupying about 2000sqm. A $40 million sale price would reflect a square metre rate of $2500.

Looks like some good news at last with Grollo's getting involved.

Grocon are itching for some 1st tier work, as industry a bit flat. So their making there own works.

Grocon buying the site? what if they dust off the grollo tower plans and build it there !WOW !

Would certainly make a statement, and look great from the other end of Swanston St.

Imagine coming down those stairs of Flinders St Stastion and seeing the monolithic 500 metre tower standing at the other end of the street.

if grocon buys it, expect a development similar to QV i reckon - which is a shame as grollo tower would totally kick arse in that location ! :rant:

Lozza

Maybe they should make it so the shadow just reaches the steps of the Shrine...

Maybe they should make it so the shadow just reaches the steps of the Shrine...

I was listening to Strauss's Zarathustra (2001 Theme) just at the exact moment as i read that and had the most beautiful image in my head.

I just saw a newsbreak on channel nine saying plans had been announced for the multimillion dollar redevelopment of this site...anyone know details? I can't find anything on the web.
Here's hoping its Grocon and not PDG.

Hi,

As yet I haven't been able to find that information you talk of. However just found this on the RMIT website. Good to see they are back spending money on things that matter.

October 30, 2006


RMIT’s capital idea


Building 22 on the corner of Swanston and La Trobe streets will be refurbished. It will house RMIT University’s “front door” and is being designed to blend with the Storey Hall next door.

RMIT University is sharply increasing its capital program – improving facilities for students and staff and adding to the university’s impact on central Melbourne.

In 2007, RMIT proposes to spend $65 million on developing its buildings, up from $28 million this year.

RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner, said: “We are investing in the university’s future by providing a first-class environment for learning, teaching and research.


“This is just the first step in a long-term, major building and refurbishment program that will establish the RMIT Quarter in central Melbourne – a university city within the heart of the city.

Building a new business complex is also part of this longer term plan. I expect it to be behind the Oxford Scholar. It will still be at least 4 years away though.

“RMIT is justly renowned for the exciting design of its contemporary buildings. This capital program will build on that reputation by adding more innovation to the city’s streetscape.”

Among the key projects are:

Establishing RMIT’s “front door” in Building 22, on the busy corner of Swanston and La Trobe streets. The street-level information centre will provide a first point of contact for potential students.

The project involves consultants Ashton Raggatt McDougall, who were responsible for the innovative design of Storey Hall, next door and blends in the greenness of that theme with the traditional red and black colours of RMIT.


Renovating Building 1 on La Trobe Street – the original home of the Melbourne Working Men’s College, forerunner of RMIT.

This project will get under way as RMIT, in 2007, celebrates the 120th anniversary of its foundation.


Creating a purpose-built home for the Graduate School of Business in the Emily McPherson Building (Building 13), on the corner of Victoria and Russell streets.

The GSB’s new home will house students, alumni, faculty and adjunct faculty with a larger capacity, teaching spaces and modern research facilities.


Inside the “front door” information centre.

Other work in 2007 will include refurbishment of the main cafeteria in Building 8 on the City campus, creating balcony areas overlooking Swanston Street.


RMIT will build a new lecture theatre in Building 56, on the corner of Lygon and Queensberry streets, Carlton, and refurbish 12 more across the university.


There will be new, direct access to the Alumni Court from the heart of the City campus through the bluestone wall that used to be the back of the police garage complex.


The open area alongside the entry ramp will be landscaped, with a half basketball court incorporated.


When negotiations between RMIT and potential developers over the sale of the bulk of the former CUB site are completed, RMIT intends to build a significant research facility on the corner of Swanston and Victoria streets. This will provide the RMIT Quarter a magnificent entry point and visible masthead.

If it isn't announced today it will be very soon. Pictures can be found here: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ib1yblszs3qb1

fingers crossed that grollo tower gets resurected in one form or another :yes:

I can't see it happening on this site though, most likely the Age site.

I'm hearing some exciting news on the radio, something about Grocon doing something big on this site, though perhaps not Grollo Tower big.
Blue

Likely to be over 45 stories. Mixed use tower.

Buildings up to 45 Levels .......awesome !:cheers:

a bigger version of QV

grocon still deliver the good stuff...

now that should prompt pdg to put something really sizeable on the site they own behind qantas now they missed out on cub

Glad Grocon got their hands on it, now let's see some FKA, Wood Marsh, Wardle buildings. With construction starting late next year it'll probably take 3-4 years to build, which means I'll be done at RMIT by the time the entire project is complete which is scary.

Looks like lower than Melbourne Central.....from south of the CBD it wont look that high......after Eureka I wonder how long till we see a supertall ( 300m or more) go up in Melbourne .....it may not happen overnight....but it will happen.

there's a few possibilities on the horizon... we'll all just have to wait and see :)

Where are you guys getting this info? I can't for the life of me find anything on the internet so I am assuming you are hearing this on Melbourne TV & Radio.

Heard the price tag? $50 Million?

There was a small clip about it on 10 news earlier. ^^^^

Looked to be about 6 towers, with plenty of public space in between in the conceptual siteplan.

Short story on Seven. No renders =(
But they're keeping the facade of the factories.

Nine news said that Grocan paid around $40 million for the site and they will create 'a city within a city' (probably something like QV). Construction would start next year and the tallest building on site would be at least 40 storeys taking advantage of the obvious vistas down swanston st to the shrine.

RMIT will keep a small parcel of land for their new buildings on the coner of victoria & swanston st.

So now all 4 major bombsites left in melbourne (Power station, CUB, The Age and 565 Collins st) now have something in store.

I have heard that RMIT will work with 3,000 square metres on a new research facility (cnr swanston & vic). By all accounts the building will be as are most RMIT buildings a 'statement' for better or worse. Expect a decision on the car park behind the Oxford Scholar in the coming months regarding a new business building. It will be part of the stage 2 or 3 of RMIT developments.

So we're looking at around 140m if the tallest is residential and 165m if its commercial..?

CUB site sale expands city’s footprint

Grocon Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Grollo, RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner, and Minister for Education and Training, Lynne Kosky announcing the development on Monday afternoon.
Melbourne’s CBD will expand to the north following RMIT University’s sale of part of the former CUB site to Grocon.

RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner, Minister for Education and Training, Lynne Kosky, and Grocon Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Grollo, announced the development on Monday afternoon.

RMIT has sold 1.6 hectares to Grocon for a new precinct that will mix shops, apartments, offices and public space.

The university has retained 0.3 hectares (3,000 square metres) on the corner of Swanston and Victoria streets – independently valued at $10 million – for what Professor Gardner called a significant and innovative academic building.

“We welcome the opportunity to expand the RMIT Quarter of Melbourne and strengthen the university’s role as a city within the city,” she said.

“We are pleased to provide the opportunity for the city to develop further and we are committed to working with all stakeholders so that the community can gain full advantage.”

Professor Gardner said she was excited by the prospect of a new community. “We hope that the site will evolve into a precinct which will add zest to our city.”

Mr Grollo said: “The heritage aspects of the old Malthouse building and the bluestone facades fronting Bouverie Street will be incorporated into the development.

“Our plans will retain the Swanston Street vista of the Shrine of Remembrance, with a public promenade extending well into the new development,” Mr Grollo said.

The CUB brewery was demolished in 1989. RMIT bought the site from the government of Nauru in 1998 for $25 million.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/807/1kdhdhdi24er1xx8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

i heard grollo say today that it was a key site, with good transport etc.

Lets hope he has secret plans and will build a massive fucker on the site to really make it worthwhile! :rock:

Lozza

I'd rather he didn't, not for that site anyway.

If the public promenade and open vista through the site is true it means ( to me) that there is not a landmark, kick butt tower powerful enough to put line ball on the Swanston St.- CUB site Shrine axis ! You'll be able to look up Swanston and beyond to ????? maybe one day they will build a landmark tower in the Melbourne Zoo - for the Giraffes? (see Melway....it works.)

From the sounds of it when looking from the southern boundary of the CBD there will be no tower at the other apex of Swanston Street.

hey. it'd be cool to get a line of sight to the zoo :D

Great news, but I really hope Grocon do a better job than the QV project.

It is still unfinished at the Russell Street end with scaffolding etc still present between two of the buildings. Can't believe it is still like that.
Plus, they have closed off the entrance on Little Lonsdale Street for some reason after a few shorts months.
Big dissappointment.

too many cooks....

...too many architects spoil the development site.

:)

I dont want to see another QV either.

The tallest tower in the previous late 90's proposal was 155m tall so expect about the same height for the tallest tower in this new development.

all i want to see is a well designed possibly tall landmark building...

too much to ask?

$800m remedy for one of the city's least lovely sites

Ben Schneiders and David Rood
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/800m-remedy-for-one-of-the-citys-least-lovely-sites/2006/10/30/1162056928167.html
October 31, 2006

ONE of Melbourne's oldest and ugliest "bomb sites" finally appears set to be redeveloped, with an $800 million office and retail plan for the corner of Swanston and Victoria streets.

Developer Grocon confirmed yesterday it had paid $39 million to RMIT for most of the former Carlton and United Breweries site, in a deal approved by the State Government.

RMIT will retain a prime part of the site to build a postgraduate research centre. However, most of the redevelopment of the site, which was demolished in 1989, will be on Grocon's portion.

The 1.9-hectare site, of which Grocon has bought 1.6 hectares, has become an embarrassment to governments with a series of proposals not getting off the ground. A casino, a head office for John Elliott's Elders and a new headquarters for ANZ are all failed projects for the site.

Grocon managing director Daniel Grollo said yesterday he hoped to start building by the end of 2007 — once the proposal had gone through the planning process. The project would be on a similar scale to Grocon's QV development, he said.

The proposal is to include a series of lanes as well as a mix of office, retail and residential space and to have a tower at the city end that will rise as high as 50 levels.

"It will have varying heights obviously diminishing out to Carlton," Mr Grollo said.

The buildings will fall to between 15 to 20 levels in the middle section of the development and 10 to 12 levels at the Carlton end. Mr Grollo said there would also be a public promenade extending from Swanston Street with views of the Shrine of Remembrance.

The project's design could change because of the planning process and the demands of future tenants, he said.

The Grocon proposal would "extend and bridge the CBD grid and Carlton grid" said project architect Roger Nelson, from NH Architecture.

A property source said it was a "bold move", particularly as he believed it was not the best location for office development. "I don't think it would be a good idea," the source added.

Possible corporate tenants include Westpac, Commonwealth Bank and Australia Post, sources said.

Grocon's David Hodgson was confident about the project's prospects despite its speculative nature.

He said it would include 120,000 square metres of office space, 60,000 of residential, 12,000 of retail and 1500 car spaces. The project could include as many as 600 residential units, although whether they were aimed at students, were serviced apartments or for some other market would depend on industry conditions, Mr Hodgson said.

RMIT vice-chancellor Margaret Gardner said the university's section would focus on postgraduate research.

The sale is welcome news for the university, which is recovering from a troubled financial past stemming from a faulty computer system that caused a $17.7 million loss in 2002.

Professor Gardner said RMIT posted a surplus of more than $25 million at the end of 2005 and expected a similar result this year. "This sale is not about RMIT's financial position. We conducted a property survey in 2003, which identified how much property we needed to retain," she said.

The university bought the site in 1998 for $25 million. The money from the sale will be reinvested in capital works and facilities.

The redevelopment of the site will retain the heritage aspects of the old Malthouse theatre and the bluestone wall fronting Bouverie Street, Mr Grollo said.

from the HUN
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20672253-664,00.html

"Grocon to fix city hangover
Peter Taylor

October 30, 2006 11:00pm


MELBOURNE'S number one bombsite will be reborn in a $1 billion project to rank among the biggest in the city's history.

Construction giant Grocon announced yesterday it would develop all but a fraction of the iconic Swanston St site formerly home to Carlton & United Breweries.
Grocon will pay RMIT University about $40 million for 1.6ha of the huge site that bookends the CBD's Swanston St spine and consumes almost an entire block.

A sweeping mixed-use "city village", made up of six large and several small buildings, will be developed in an overwhelming boost for Melbourne's already booming construction industry.

Grocon chief Daniel Grollo said plans had not been finalised.

But the development is tipped to have up to 120,000sq m of office space -- about a third more than the Rialto -- some 600 apartments and up to 12,000sq m of retail space.

About 1500 parking bays will be built below ground.

Also revealed yesterday, a pedestrian promenade, or "civic spine", will cut through the south end of the site in line with the CBD stretch of Swanston St.

It could culminate with a monument or large public art installation to be a northern marker for a thoroughfare starting at the Shrine of Remembrance.

Grocon State Development manager David Hodgson said the group hoped to be on site late next year and expected the development would take three to four years.

"As soon as we get planning approval we are off and away," Mr Hodgson said.

"This is a five-year project for us. It is, quite frankly, Grocon's next major project in Victoria."

The development partly draws on the design of another Grocon project, QV, with laneways a key feature among the cluster of buildings.

But about 30 per cent of the site is devoted to open space, including a large central "urban parkland".

Buildings would be tall on the site's southern city end and taper down at the northern end, Mr Grollo said.

The historic malthouse fronting Swanston St and bluestone walls still standing on Bouverie St would be incorporated into the development, he said.

The project is tipped to have an end value of about $800 million.

That figure will rise with RMIT's development on the 3000sq m it has kept on the south-east corner.

The university is yet to reveal specific plans but vice chancellor Margaret Gardner said it would build an academic centre on the site.

Mr Hodgson said NH Architecture had developed the masterplan for Grocon's site but the designs of the individual buildings were still open to competition.

Yesterday's announcement ends more than a decade of disquiet and uncertainty about the site among city planners.

It was cleared in 1989 in preparation for a 35-storey glass tower to be the Foster's Group international headquarters, but those plans were abandoned with the ensuing property market crash.

RMIT bought the site for $25 million in 1998 from the Nauru Government, which had paid the same price for it to developer Hudson Conway five years earlier."


OMG - this is the BEST news I have heard all year!
I really didn't expect this sort of thing to happen so quickly on this site. This development will change the face of Melbourne more significantly than any other development in recent history.
"$1 billion project to rank among the biggest in the city's history.", "Grocon's next major project in Victoria", "Buildings would be tall on the site's southern city end".....I know it's the HUN, and so prone to exaggeration, but these words are music to my ears.
God, these are becoming exciting times again for Melbourne.
Bit concerned however that the tallest building won't be able to be positioned dead centre in the line of axis of Swanston St.

I'm happy with that. Although i have a couple issues with QV, i think a QV style development will work well there. It will help intergrate the city with carlton and RMIT, almost blending the CBD with the edge of the burbs. Its better than sticking an office tower there that doesnt relate to its surroundings. Keep an office proposals for the west end and Docks where we need them.

I hate the gap!

This civic spine needs a terminus not a gap.

I hate the gap!

This civic spine needs a terminus not a gap.

I dont understand Melbourne planners and their facination with GAPS.

I hate the gap!

This civic spine needs a terminus not a gap.

Also revealed yesterday, a pedestrian promenade, or "civic spine", will cut through the south end of the site in line with the CBD stretch of Swanston St.

It could culminate with a monument or large public art installation to be a northern marker for a thoroughfare starting at the Shrine of Remembrance.

You couldn't have a tower (or any large building) there any way as it would cast a shadow directly across the 'civic spine.' QV's failure is that it's public square is too small and doesn't get enough sunlight during the winter months. If it turns out anything like they say it will (my one fear is that the 45-50 storey tower will get cut in height as seems to be the case with Melbourne projects in recent years), I'd be more than happy.

EDIT: Preliminary Siteplan from today's paper.

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/8942/cubsiteplaney0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I think the plan looks very well laid out.

Will tower 4 be the 45 level approx tower?

I personally hope it is only around 30 levels or less and makes a statement. I bet the RMIT lot will in no way reflect the buildings around it.

I hope the RMIT building is designed by students, I'd definitely take up a Design Studio that involved a building for the CUB site.

I think the plan looks very well laid out.

Will tower 4 be the 45 level approx tower?

I personally hope it is only around 30 levels or less and makes a statement. I bet the RMIT lot will in no way reflect the buildings around it.

its says somewhere the bigger towers will start at the victoria st side and downsize from there to carlton, so Id say tower 4 will the big one at 45-50 levels, 5&6 will be about 20 levels and 1,2&3 will be 10-12 levels

my one fear is that the 45-50 storey tower will get cut in height as seems to be the case with Melbourne projects in recent years

The tallest towers at QV went from 90m & 100m to 120m & 135m and then finally to 127m & 147m so hopefully we won't see any height reductions for this project :-)

This tower, Verve 501 and the next PDG tower on the Quantas site should make a nice, dense cluster of 150m+ towers :-)

Do we know exactly what use the taller building will be? If its 45-50 floors and all office then we're looking at quite a tall building indeed, something similar to the Telstra building.

Just a guess on my behalf but I would assume it makes more sense to put as much of the office space as close to the city as possible and the resi space towards Carlton.

I have purchased the corner subpenthouse apartment in Verve, overlooking this site, so you can imagine I am VERY interested in the announcements today.

Building 4 is the one planned to be up to 45 stories tall. Obviously - and I know this runs against most of the rest of you - I am keeping my fingers crossed for a nice 30 floors and no more! It would also be great if the old Carlton site at the foot of the building was turned into a micropub to honour one of the great heritage sites for Aussie ale. 1862 is a very big deal.:cheers:

The interesting issue is how this block and the planned civic spine will link with the pdg site and the redevelopment of the grassy area with cafe to be built outside Verve around the old Tram station. For the Civic Spine idea to work Swanston would need to turn into a path running through the PDG site first and then across Victoria Street and then into the new block. The last plans I saw for the PDG side of the street where just a piazza without any formal pathway.

eh if it gets to 45 levels, you might have a slightly lower A/C bill in summer ;)

it'd be a nice sun block for about an hour or so in the middle of the day.

MC's got some more friends!

eh if it gets to 45 levels, you might have a slightly lower A/C bill in summer ;)

it'd be a nice sun block for about an hour or so in the middle of the day.

MC's got some more friends!


ha h ah ah ha ha

i am so delighted with the plan
i hope the final design will be 'out there' and stylish !

the 50 fl tower - that will be same height with Melbourne central ?

vote grollo for next premier... !

i wonder whether that DCM guy will be consulted (him being state architecture) ?

do we have to wait for another 12mths for this construction to commence...?

Poor Verve Resident, now that you've told us what apartment you're in, a meet next year will be at your joint :p Well make sure you have a camera to keep us updated in this from above when it's time.

What's the scary thing about shade? OK in winter......remember when we had winters ? it may be cold and breazy out of the sun but I remember working in different parts of the city from the 70's till the 90's,where I would usually cross to the shady side of the street.....I could still see OK and it was still quite bright from all the reflected light......I'm amazed at the amount of shade along the river bank and in the Botanic gardens but don't hear too many complaints.....I don't want the trees cut down either. OK I shouldn't be sarcastic, but if you think about it.....within the project once a building goes above 6 or 7 floors it's going to block the sun in winter over the plaza areas.

Although it will be shaded for a least parts of the day I think that plaza will probably get a good amount of sun. The buildings to the north will only be low rise.

Tyson ....your right there! It would be nice to have a sunny area to enjoy in mild weather....as well as on a clear winters day.

I still wish they would build this:
http://www.thecollectormm.com/private/BreweryProposal1.jpg

Article in the Age today suggest that Grocon will go ahead with this development quickly, and build the office component speculatively. It says they have the money to do so, and by 2009 there will be no shortage of Government and corporate tenants looking for space.

I was just looking back through this thread.....to the last page and saw plotstyle post about using Swanston St....for 7 years and not recognising it? It looks so familiar to me with the CUB and Victoria bitter sign at the end of the st. Younger generations probably wouldn't realise that view and sign was somehow like .....the silos and Nylex sign vanishing from Richmond. Goes to show nothing stays the same......still have fingers crossed that Grollo takes a punt on putting up a 350m. landmark.....by the time it's finished there will be a new cycle....uptake of office space needed.I agree if any site should have a tall landmark building it's this one.

I think that this end of the city needs more density, rather than just one landmark tower. It's not developed enough at that end to warrant it. The focus should still be in the west end, spencer street areas for the taller buildings as that's where it's all happening atm.

I like the idea of the pedestrian promenade running in line with Swanston Street. That is a truely inspired idea.

Frankly, I am not convinced about the merits of having such a tall building on that site. Call be a "traditionalist", but I liked the (now abandoned) idea of keeping all the talls within the Hoddle Grid.

In any case, I sure hope Grocon does a better job than on QV.

I don't necessarily think there needs to be an 80 storey office or residential tower at the top end of Swanston St, but there needs to be a landmark, to terminate this important vista. Bourke Street is terminated by Parliament House and the spires of St Pat's Cathedral and the southern end of Swanston St/St Kilda Rd is terminated by the Shrine. All these buildings are landmarks and generally low rise. Having the civic vista continue into nothing, like it does now, will do nothing to contribute to the view along Swanston St from Flinders St let alone any other spot along Swanston St.

i always thought it'd be cool to have an arch at the end of the street, looking right down to the shrine.

BUt this seems like a good development, a nice tallish tower that'll hopefully kickstart a small cluster at that end of town.

There was an article in the Melbourne Yarra Leader this week quoting an MCC planning official who said currently there is a permit for a 172m tower, but that the developers wanted permission for a 51 storey 204m tower. Bring it on!

Froth over ex-CUB site (http://www.melbourneleader.com.au/article/2006/11/01/6661_mev_news.html)

By Lyndal Cairns
1 Nov 2006

CARLTON'S biggest block of undeveloped land could become a shopping and apartment complex rising 51 storeys from Swanston St.

Apartments, shops, offices and a university building would go up and parkland created at the 1.9ha ex-Carlton United Breweries site between Swanston and Bouverie streets under a plan announced on Monday.

But residents are worried the seven planned buildings will be too high and overshadow a heritage precinct including the City Baths.

Developer Daniel Grollo said the precinct would have public spaces and heritage aspects such as the old Malthouse building and bluestone facades.
"It's a great labyrinth of laneways and public space," he said.

Melbourne Council planning spokeswoman Catherine Ng said the site had existing approval for a 172m building but developers wanted 204m (51 storeys).

If approved the project will create Melbourne's seventh tallest building after Melbourne Central (246m) and Freshwater Place (205m).

However, Cr Ng said height was only one of many aspects to consider and was glad a developer had shown interest in the "bomb site".

Carlton Residents' Association spokeswoman Greta Bird said locals would not tolerate development higher than the 11-storey Becton building nearby.

"It might be reasonable, it might be OK, but I doubt it," she said.

"(The site) is an eyesore at the moment so something has to be done with it."
She said buildings from four to 10 stories would be ideal.

Queensberry Hotel publican Keith Barrett said he looked forward to new customers that a shopping precinct would provide and to thirsty construction workers in the meantime.

Bouverie St corner shop owner Jun Sun said she hoped the development would bring more business to a "dead" part of Carlton.

RMIT sold the land to Mr Grollo's company Grocon for an undisclosed amount and will keep 3000sq m at the corner of Victoria and Swanston streets for an academic building.

204m!, an office tower of that size would be fantastic :-)

This is why the state government approves applications on this scale so that NIMBY councillors can’t try an impose something ridiculous like an 11 storey height limit on a site of state significance.

The site is covered by an incorporated document, which means it has it's own set of planning controls, so if 176m has been approved already they cannot force Grollo build a tower any shorter than that anyways.

sounds great! 204 metres at that site would be great !

lets just hope that the silly councilors dont cause hassles for the permit for a tower that tall - i am sure daniel grollo will put something awesome on the site!

lozza:lock:

This sounds great. An 11 level tower is just a waste of time.

dont you just hat nimbys? 11 friggen storeys. in centre of a major CBD.hope the 200m tower gets up and shades ms Birds back yard.lol

What could be (ignore the fact there are a lot of buildings missing from the model :D):

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8484/cubsitedl2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/9760/cubsiteiiqk6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/8232/cubsiteiiibx9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/4261/cubsiteivfo9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Great renders Archi, got to make some more models it seems to replicate the city :p

i am quite sure that Grollo wouldnt have paid $40 mill so they can build pissy 11 storey building on that site. 200m sounds likely

I've tested it out and those towers do cast some big arse shadows in winter (over Carlton) however it's only later in the day at 4-5ish just as the sun's setting. At 3pm on June 21 they begin to cast a shadow over the City Baths.

Archibomber wins!

Pretty bold having a 200m building on the other side of the road from the CBD eh.

I'm looking forward to the view of the (even more) expanded skyline from Kew :D

^^Like this tays?:

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1817/cubsitevfm1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

sehr gut.
:banana: :D

That'd be a great view above ^^ -- I can only see the spires of 101 and 120 from my place poking above some trees.

great work arch !!
this is great news.... i anticipate this thread will last very very long time...

i just hope the design will be sleek and classy !

Very rough, but maybe something like? Apologies to Uewepeup for defacing his classic foggy morning from the Shrine:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/MrMukherjee/CUB.jpg

same deal
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/MrMukherjee/CUB2.jpg

With a rough guess for COS on Bourke St too:http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/MrMukherjee/CUB3.jpg

:yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:

So it's gone from hopefully 176 -> 204. Maybe the next move could be to 230? We could only hope :)

Anything over 200 i'm happy with. Gotta admit something 300m would just look out of place in that area. Hopegully this 200m tower will inspire some surrounding highrises in that part of town.

Good to see one of the big three sites getting something nice.

Now to get a 200+ for the Age site and a 300+ for the Powerstation. Fingers crossed. Let's not forger Prima Tower and the rumored Shangri La plus the so called 'Dubai tower'. Melbourne's highrise future is looking bright I say. Rialto inspired a skyscraper boom back in the 80's and subsequently the early 90's marked a period of several great 200+ monsters going up. I'm tipping Eureka is gonna have the same effect.

Viva la melbourne BOOM!

^^The future's definitely looking bright for Melbourne. Look for another 200m tower to go up @ 150 Queen St also.

^ Archi are you building up melbourne in sketchup??

^^The future's definitely looking bright for Melbourne. Look for another 200m tower to go up @ 150 Queen St also.

really ?
any render or more info ?

archi

200m on prudential site, is that wishul or do you have a bit of info?

really ?
any render or more info ?

Not yet. So far only a site layout plan that was in the paper. Soon though I am sure we we will see more detailed renders.

Stu

^^The future's definitely looking bright for Melbourne. Look for another 200m tower to go up @ 150 Queen St also.

Archi - have you been reading the Hun??? There is small article in there today stating that the Macquarie Trust (I think that is right) had bought 200 queen for 90mill. What plans their plans, who knows, but apparently middelton lawyers who take up a fair bit of space, are due to leave next year when their lease is up.

....I will try to find the article on-line

150 Queen St = Prudential building (known on here as the 'Prudential site'), south east corner of the intersection of Bourke & Queen Streets. Very high profile owing to its position among 'the old financial district talls', and well it's Bourke Street..... not to mention at that height it would be a very nice balancing act with the towers on the Bourke & William St intersection.

Anyhow, I'm rambling, but I would put this site (and the shitty 12-15 level buildings on the north east corner) on par with Power Station and Age in terms of offering a real focal point in the skyline.

West End über alles.

150 Queen St = Prudential building (known on here as the 'Prudential site'), south east corner of the intersection of Bourke & Queen Streets.

sorry...got height mixed up with address....thats what you get for speed reading an article

lol, dinnae you worry pal, I've made many mistakes like that on here ;)

200 Queen has changed hands a lot recently. Doubt it'd be up for demolition though!

hey archi, would you be so kind?

http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/cubvictoriastvista.jpg

kudos to silvermb for pointing that shot out yesterday.

200m, outside the [old] central core, sensational, talk about a 'gateway'.

More than happy to, might have to wait till tomorrow though.

A day late.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4521/cubvictoriastvistaav8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^ Archi are you building up melbourne in sketchup??
Sorry I missed your post vytux, didn't see it till now. I'm building Melbourne up in Rhino and once I've filled it with all the buildings will export it to 3dmax. Actually I may do that sooner and then just add the buildings to the 3dmax model.

:yes: :cheers: :yes:

^^Archibomber is DA MAN!!:master: :rock:

I hope it looks something like that, that's a great tower! Nice render.

And yes, please put Melbourne in 3Dsmax sometime, then you've got to texture the city :D

Is that meant to be the CUB redevelopment?

it's a mock up of what 'could be'.

it's a mock up of what 'could be'.

But whatever it will look like, it will be that tall right?

going by what's been reported: yes.

cool addition....

what about a 170-200m tower to the rear of qantas for PDG archi?

Sure (tower's inspired by Verve & I made it mixed-use):

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/4691/cubvictoriastvistaah4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I'm pretty pleased with how it's turned out. Sweet dreams guys. :D

Love ya work arch!:righton:

Very nice Archi :D

Cheers guys. :cheers:

Cool. Good work!

ALLL CLASSS..

Sure (tower's inspired by Verve & I made it mixed-use):

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/4691/cubvictoriastvistaah4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I'm pretty pleased with how it's turned out. Sweet dreams guys. :D

As Borat would say: "I like!"

I noticed the other day, the horrible Ibis Hotel being painted!!!!!
It appeared to be a greyish colour, so not sure if that is the new colour or an undercoat. Either way, anything would be an improvemant!

Good to see you back online Melb1.. lets hope it's not grey.

Had a feeling RMIT might do something like this:

November 10, 2006

RMIT Design Hub to be city, industry landmark (http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=5qpbd34fkcxf)

RMIT University is building on its design strengths, which saw current and past university members win six out of 12 categories in the Premier’s Design Awards for 2006. Here, an inhabitable bridge design produced by Steven Swain won the Premier’s Student Built Environment Design Prize.

RMIT University will deepen its engagement with industry with the construction of a landmark building to house a new Design Hub.

The Design Hub will be built on 3,000 square metres retained by RMIT when it sold the former CUB site, on the corner of Swanston and Victoria streets, Carlton.

“RMIT has a long and productive history of engaging with industry in a process of design, innovation and creation that benefits industry, the university and the community,” said RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner.

“The Design Hub will build on this record by bringing together academics and research students from across disciplines, creating the space for vibrant interaction between RMIT and our industry partners.”

The Design Hub will include RMIT’s new Design Research Institute, post-graduate education in design, exhibition space, modelling and prototyping workshops and facilities and collaboration space.

“RMIT understands that it is very important to encourage greater thinking on design and people’s ability to strategically deploy their design skills.

“The Design Hub will provide space within which RMIT researchers and industry can combine expertise and facilities to deal with design and innovation issues, and where industry can engage in more speculative, long-term projects,” Professor Gardner said.

Design and consultation on the Design Hub will take place over the next year, with architects appointed in late 2006. Construction will begin in early 2008 on what will be a multi-storey building, which is expected to be completed in early 2009.

RMIT will launch a pilot Design facility in an existing building next year.

and archibomber will be a member...?

I would definitely consider it.

How exciting is this development shaping up to be?

I just wish to god RMIT would do something with it's awful concrete bunker buildings opposite the City Baths. I noticed in all it's new redevelopment plans they are nearly the only buildings not included for any makeover. Crazy! They are the ones that most desperately need it. They are a real blight on Swanston St. - a street wihch is quickly becoming a showcase for modern architecture.

^ I just want them to do another storey hall on their corner of the CUB site. Eh in the grand scheme of things that whole stretch of Swanston st might not look very consistent (see said concrete bunkers) but they'll have left their mark. And there's the sites on the other side of Swanston street, nextdoor to Oxford Scholar hotel....

How exciting is this development shaping up to be?

I just wish to god RMIT would do something with it's awful concrete bunker buildings opposite the City Baths. I noticed in all it's new redevelopment plans they are nearly the only buildings not included for any makeover. Crazy! They are the ones that most desperately need it. They are a real blight on Swanston St. - a street wihch is quickly becoming a showcase for modern architecture.

Some slight changes (for the better) have been made to some of those concrete bunkers on the corner opposite the baths. Not a great change, but nevertheless, something of an improvement.

Those concrete bunkers have had some facade improvements carried out by APM.

What I'd like torn down are TAFE buildings 56 & 57 on lygon st (the red brick ones)

RMIT Design Hub to be city, industry landmark 10/11/06

RMIT University will deepen its engagement with industry with the construction of a landmark building to house a new Design Hub.

The Design Hub will be built on 3,000 square metres retained by RMIT when it sold the former CUB site, on the corner of Swanston and Victoria streets, Carlton.

“RMIT has a long and productive history of engaging with industry in a process of design, innovation and creation that benefits industry, the university and the community,” said RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner.

Design and consultation on the Design Hub will take place over the next year, with architects appointed in late 2006. Construction will begin in early 2008 on what will be a multi-storey building, which is expected to be completed in early 2009.

RMIT will launch a pilot Design facility in an existing building next year.


I think the changes to the windows on the RMIT building you talk of is quite an improvement. It will never be torn down so I think that is just about the best you can hope for. This building above will be a statement (for good or bad) no doubt about it!

The RMIT End of Swanston street will only get better in the coming years.

I hope they apply more of those window changes to more of the building and not just that one corner that its on. Those buildings are IMO just as bad on the inside as they are on the outside, although they have improved the interiors a bit recently.

The main problem with the brutal RMIt Swanstons Street building are not how ugkly they are but thier relationship to Swanston Street at street level whcih is non existent.

http://web.aanet.com.au/nmharrison/07-12-2005/rmit%20web.jpg

They really should fix that propblem before they start with new buildings on the CUB site.

The street level is almost exactly between two floors in the buildings. As you as go in the door you can either go up a flight of stairs or down a flight of stairs, there are no other options. Also the Lift shafts and stairwells are right on the street as evidenced by those two masses of blank wall. Having the lifts open out directly onto the street could be a possibility I suppose. Whatever thjey do would be a lot of work if they were to make it good. But it would be worth it.

IMO they should demolish them or completely gutter them. They aren't worth saving and interiors are ugly and poorly designed. Small offices, little to no natural light, etc...

Data and pix from Grocons website

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/5479/cubsitepage1wh5.jpg
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/4399/cubsitepage2dj5.jpg

If #4 is going to be our big friendly giant, it's going to have an interesting floorplate - gotta be residential primarily, perhaps office in podium / lower tower levels - otherwise with all the other big mofo office floorplate options around, how'd you get the tower to hit 200m, commercially & physically speaking.

mental note: go to planning info centre.

Well I think #4 could still turn out to be box(ish).. I think going by that diagram the podium could be interesting shaped but doesn't really give any hints to how the tower might look.

I don't think tower #4 will follow that footprint, I'd say it's only for the podium. It'll probably be office as it's supposed to be 51 storeys @ 204m. Might even be an L shape.

still 6 months away from lodging at DSE apparently.

Today's Capital gain

Grollo six-pack cleans up

Grocon executives will lodge plans for the old Carlton & United Brewery site before the middle of the year. The developer bought it from RMIT last Octo-ber for a little less than $40 million. It is expected to make way for a mixed-use development, but with more offices than its QV project in the city.

^ 50,000sqm? 60,000sqm? 70,000sqm? ...100,000sqm? :D

The QV complex has more than 70,000 square metres of office space. So you can probably cross out your first three guesses Tayser :)

I saw some civil works occuring last week. Must be checking existing pipework and services.

CUB will have twice as much office space as QV. Daniel Grollo has indicated that the project will be built speculatively construction will start before the end of the year.

CUB project:
$800 million
120,000 square metres of office space
12,000 square metres of retail
600 residential apartments.

QV:
$600 million
58,609 of office
45,799 of retail
594 residential aprtments.

Nice. How big is the development site compared to QV? ie: is this gonna be spread out in the same way over some low/ mid-rise with alleys and some high rise... or are we more likely to see at least one big tower? Be another nice cluster forming up there if we get some bigguns, what with 501 and Milano keeping company.

Stu

From what I gather there'll only be one big tower: 51 storeys/204m then a few in the 15-20 storey range with the rest being around 10-12 storeys.

This is exciting, cant wait to see renders!!
How many shopping destinations/precincts is our city going to have? Hope it's viable although 12'000 sqm i guess is probably not a lot.

This is going to be one hell of an exciting development! :D

If only the major tower was a well designed landmark building at this most important location at the head of the Swanston St. St. Kilda Rd. axis. If the building is around the same height as Melbourne Central it may look dominant coming into the city from Flemington Rd. direction but will shrink on the skyline from anywhere south of the CBD. Rialto height would have been the minimum to really make a statement.

I think that my (as yet unborn) kids will be talking back to me by the time this gets up...but it's still exciting...that's how sad we've become...there's so little scraperaction going on in Melbourne that we're going nuts over something that is still so far away!

^How is it "so far away"? Construction due to start this year...

If only the major tower was a well designed landmark building at this most important location at the head of the Swanston St. St. Kilda Rd. axis

I know!! This idea of 'protecting the civic spine' is a load of rubbish and will be a huge planning mistake.
It will make the development look lop-sided when looking down Swanston St.
The real opportunity with this development has always been a chance to 'book-end' the civic spine with an iconic landmark at either end. Why bother forgoing that for the sake of extending the uninterrupted view of the street a few more metres? It doesn't make sense. The CUB site is the end of Swanston anyway as it veers east up into Carlton.
Even if the idea is for the internal courtyard of the development to have a view down to the Shrine, this could still be acheived by having the tallest building smack-bang in the centre of the Swanston St axis, but raising it on stilts.
I just don't understand their logic behind the current plan.
Please please please don't f**k up this particular development!!

I agree, the idea of continuing the view through this project to???? what???? A future building beyond in that site line will have a big responsibility.eg. a 14 story budget office block may end up being the final visual point. Here was the chance to finish off the view.

I can see your point - the vista ends about 100m past Victoria St anyway.

You would need a elegant building to terminate the vista though - nothing tacky.

Though I'm quite happy with the current proposal.

How would it look from say Richmond or the Monash fwy? Would it even be visible?

I know it will look great though when coming in over CityLink.

Work it out yourself - it isn't hard

If the article in todays 'Age' is true the RMIT may have bragging rights for the building at the focus of the CUB site ??? Architect Sean Godsell together with Peddle Thorp will design the building to look down Swanston street to the shrine? From memory if this site is on Swanston st. it maybe to the right of the axis looking up Swanston.

^^ I've been scouring The Age's website for the article for the last 20 mins. Which section was it in? Otherwise could somebody please post it?

I haven't been able to find it either. Can't find anything on RMIT's site.

Factiva isnt bring back anything either......

do you remember the title of the article redbaron?

Guys the Article was ..IN BRIEF column right hand top corner...on page 11 News section...heading Construction New Look for CUB site

New Look For CUB Site - Age Sat 10/3

RMIT University has appointed architects to design a building for its part of the dilapitated CUB site on the corner of Swanston and Victoria Streets.

RMIT kept the prime corner of the site when it sold the rest of the land to developer Grocon last year. It has appointed architect Sean Godsell to design a building that will look down Swanston Street towards the Shrine of Remembrance. Peddle Thorp Architects will assist in the design, and construction is expected to begin next year.

^^ Thanks for posting it Tyson. It sounds like the Godsell & Peddle Thorp scraper IS going to be a decent height, especially where it reads "that will look down Swanston Street towards the Shrine of Remembrance", which reminds me...

...Just curious Archi about how you came to conclusion on the heights, number of levels & number of scrapers (even though you only say "a few" for the "15-20 storey range") in regard to the overall development:

From what I gather there'll only be one big tower: 51 storeys/204m then a few in the 15-20 storey range with the rest being around 10-12 storeys.

...

^^Just from reading different sources of info ie news articles, Melbourne City Council, and NH Architecture. And RMIT's new Design Hub will be 8 stories.

a sean godsell scraper? wtf? is it going to be a giant wooden slatted box? hehe...hey, don't get me wrong...i love his work...but i just can't imagine him doing a scraper!

8 storeys isn't really a scraper, and it is in conjunction with PT so steel, glass and timber, something like a cross between CH2 and Northbank Place I reckon. Funnily enough though Godsell did do a concept for a resi tower clad in timber screens, I think it may be on his website.

Well, RMIT is Sean Godsell's spiritual home...hey, does he scan these forums? He should...! hehe

Courtesy of RMIT:

Architects appointed for landmark project

March 13, 2007

RMIT University has appointed Sean Godsell Architects in association with PeddleThorp Architects to design and construct the landmark Design Hub building on the former CUB site.

RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, said: “The Design Hub will be a landmark building, confirming RMIT’s reputation for commissioning innovative architecture and adding an exciting new component to the Melbourne cityscape.

“The Design Hub will strengthen the RMIT Quarter of Melbourne. It will house The Design@RMIT Research Institute, which through collaboration between RMIT and industry will lead our communities to technologies and tools to improve design for the world around us.

“I welcome the appointment of Sean Godsell Architects, who have been responsible for such projects as The Future Shack, a mass-produced, relocatable house for emergency and relief situations, and who won the 2001 World Architecture Awards in London.

“PeddleThorp Architects also bring an excellent record to the table. They are currently responsible for the Millennium Library project in Brisbane and the Australia-Bali Memorial Eye Hospital in Indonesia.”

Sean Godsell said: “I am delighted by this appointment. The development of the CUB site has been a missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle of Melbourne for far too long.

“Our role involves dealing with the most prominent part of the site at the corner of Swanston and Victoria streets alongside the civic axis to the Shrine of Remembrance.

“Our goal is to produce a world-class facility for RMIT in which all Melburnians can feel a sense of pride."

Has there been any word or rumour on who has, or will have, the job of designing Grocon's big tower in this site?

NH Architecture who are working on the masterplan will also be involved in the towers' designs like they were at QV when they were the B+N Group. I'll take a punt and say FKA will design the big one, although I say that about nearly every project. ;) I'd really love to see Wood Marsh design it though, if they were given a decent budget (like with Yve, YE5, Blaencea etc) then watch out!

:lol: ^^Agree,agree!!
:master: Wood Marsh.

I'll take those responses to mean that no one really has any idea ;)

Wood Marsh would be good. I presume that both Grocon and FKA view Eureka as a success so I wouldn't be surprised to see Grocon ask them to come up with another one.

Is the school of architecture involved? I haven't heard anything from my school (civil engineering).

Also a must is an underpass under Victoria st linking City and Carlton campuses and another linking RMIT to Melbourne Central Station (food court level).

NH Architecture who are working on the masterplan will also be involved in the towers' designs like they were at QV when they were the B+N Group. I'll take a punt and say FKA will design the big one, although I say that about nearly every project. ;) I'd really love to see Wood Marsh design it though, if they were given a decent budget (like with Yve, YE5, Blaencea etc) then watch out!My misunderstanding on the Godsell and/or Peddle Thorp then.

Mr Grollo hopes to receive a planning permit by the end of the year for Grocon's mixed-use development at the old CUB site in Melbourne. It is soon to launch an architectural competition for the project.

One thing that is for sure is that the project will have a mix of office, retail and residential. "The only thing we are working on now is the proportion of each," he said.

Grocon is also part of the Plenary consortium for the Royal Children's Hospital project and is the preferred bidder on the new rugby and soccer stadium in Melbourne and Media House, where The Age is set to move to in the Docklands.

"We know exactly what it is we can and want to do in Victoria," Mr Grollo said. "We haven't got quite there yet, there are probably one or two more projects we want to win then, at that point, we are very comfortable and focusing on execution."

the age 23/3/07

Mr Grollo hopes to receive a planning permit by the end of the year for Grocon's mixed-use development at the old CUB site in Melbourne. It is soon to launch an architectural competition for the project.
the age 23/3/07

That's good to hear.

That's good to hear.

Yes, yes it is.

Yes, yes it is.

Indeed.

Wouldn’t we all like to see something like this built at the CUB site, it would be iconic and bookend Swanston Street with the Shrine perfectly.:yes:

The mile high Illinois Tower proposal by Frank Lloyd Wright that was never built.

http://www.thecollectormm.com/private/Illinois.jpg

Pity that it will never happen.

Nah, much, much too large. Would look stupid. Another 300m tower to 'book-end' as you say with Eureka would be more than enough.

Stu

maybe the mile high is going too far but the Grollo Tower.( between 420 and 560m)...as an obelisk looking straight down Swanston with it's illuminated crown and rooftop deck would be awesome :)

i spoke with NH architects and they said they will send me some stuff within 6 months. the guy indicated the tallest tower would be between 150m-200m high.

^^
150-200m Boring!!!!!!!

It could be the best looking skyscraper in Melbourne for all we know. As for the Mile High I'd like that Dubai tower to be modelled on it, 400m+ but with the same sort of proportions, I think it would suit Melbourne well.