140 St Georges Terrace
Encyclopedia
140 St Georges Terrace is a 30-storey
skyscraper
in Perth
, Western Australia
. Opened in 1975, the 131 metres (429.8 ft) tower was known as the AMP Building or AMP Tower after its owner and former flagship tenant, AMP Limited
. The building became the tallest completed skyscraper in Perth in 1975, a title which it held only until 1976, when Allendale Square
was opened.
and William Street
known as "Carr's Corner" was purchased by AMP in 1910, and in 1915 the AMP Chambers designed by Oldham and Cox were built on the corner. This six-storey building was clad with sandstone, and the interior was decorated with jarrah
.
The top of the building featured an iconic bronze statue, which became a landmark atop the chambers.
The 12 feet (3.7 m) high statue depicted four figures: a central figure symbolised protection, and it was flanked by a man, woman and child.
Weighing around 2000 pounds (907.2 kg), the sculpture was hollow with a wooden base and was thought to have been made in Europe.
When AMP announced plans to demolish the building and erect in its place a modern skyscraper, the National Trust refused to classify the building as in need of protection. The Trust Administrator N.J. Armitage instead applauded the development and the open space that would be created in the forecourt of the new tower. Although the building could not be saved from demolition, the iconic statue atop it was saved by Clive Rutty and purchased by millionaire collector Lew Whiteman, who paid $1000 for it. When the statue was removed from the building on 19 March 1972, a piece of wood was found within it with the names on it of the four men who erected it in October 1914. AMP later asked to buy the statue back from Whiteman, and he told them they did not deserve it.
After the death of Whiteman, the statue was sold to an anonymous buyer at auction for A$
60,800. It now stands in the centre of a lake of Floreat Waters, on the western side of Herdsman Lake.
The developers were allowed to build their tower beyond the allowable plot ratio
because of planning concessions awarded in return for the provision of public amenities, namely the open space in front of the building and seats provided for the public. A further bonus was given for the linking of the development with the Elders development across St Georges Terrace. Demolition of the old building started in May 1972; construction on the foundations of the office tower then proceeded, and the construction of the tower was completed in 1975.
The building originally housed an observation deck on the 29th floor, offering sweeping views across the central business district. However, when both its west and east views were blocked by the construction of the BankWest Tower
in 1988 and Central Park
in 1992, this observation deck was closed.
in 1990, where it has remained beside the Octagon Theatre ever since.
The building was used by AMP as its state headquarters from its opening in 1975 until 2002 when most of its staff moved to West Perth offices.
The last AMP staff shifted out of the building in 2003.
Since 1997, the tower has been used as a launching pad for some shells in the annual Lotterywest Skyworks
fireworks
display.
Owned by AMP companies since 1915, the building was put on the market by owner AMP Asset Management in 2000 and was expected to fetch A$
80 million. A Perth-based syndicate headed by Brett Wilkins offered to buy the tower for between $75 and 80 million.
However, the property failed to sell,
and remained within AMP ownership. In August 2005,
the building was sold by AMP Life Statutory Fund No 1 to the AMP-managed Australian Core Property Portfolio for $153.5 million.
, the $15 million project was conducted by Multiplex
. The refurbishment involved a facelift for the ground floor lobby, including polished granite flooring, wall panelling and coffered ceilings with concealed lighting, improved revolving doors, new glass and planter boxes. The facelift also saw the repaving of the building's forecourt with cobblestone
, new landscaping, further public seating and the integration of the tower's underground car parking with Central Park's.
Despite the 1992 refurbishment, by 2000 the building was already widely regarded as in need of an upgrade. In 2003, when the building was "almost empty", an extensive refurbishment of the building was undertaken, at a cost of A$
34 million. The largest office tower refurbishment in Perth's history, work started in April 2003. The refurbishment was mostly an internal one, refreshing office floors and replacing building services such as air conditioning
and lifts
.
The bulk of the facade remained unchanged, aside from a new "two-storey high, 15-metre long bronzed-glass canopy" at ground level. The glass of the canopy is coated with small white dots which have a shading effect during the day, but uplighting produces a white ceiling effect at night. This canopy was intended to give the tower a more prominent entrance. The refurbishment also involved the installation of new conference facilities.
The 2003 refurbishment was designed by architects Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland, and the refurbishment contract won by Multiplex
. The project took until 2005,
finishing on-time and on-budget. The refurbishment was a success, with the building going from "sparesely occupied" at the start of the refurbishment project to "practically full" in 2006.
The refurbishment was also expected to give the tower a "4.5 Australian Building Greenhouse Rating" due to its new, energy-efficient lifts, air conditioning, window tinting and double glazing.
core containing the lifts and two stairwells. The perimeter of the square cross-section tower features load-bearing columns, allowing the office floors to remain mostly column-free. The building has one service lift and twelve passenger lifts: six for the low-rise portion of the building (floors 1-14) and six for the high-rise (floors 15-28). The low-rise and high-rise portions of the building are clearly visible on the exterior of the building, as they are separated by a plant level
.
The base of the tower is located 15 metres (49.2 ft) above sea level, and the roof of the building rises 131 metres (429.8 ft) above the street below. The building has 28 office levels, in addition to the ground floor, basement levels and plant room. According to Emporis, the 29th (top) floor was once an observation level which closed following the construction of the taller BankWest and Central Park towers around it. The floor-to-floor height in the tower is 3660 mm (144.1 in), and the ceiling height is 2740 mm (107.9 in). The building has 29800 m² (320,764.5 sq ft) of net lettable area, and has an underground car park with 260 spaces.
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Opened in 1975, the 131 metres (429.8 ft) tower was known as the AMP Building or AMP Tower after its owner and former flagship tenant, AMP Limited
AMP Limited
AMP Limited is an Australian financial corporation. It operates primarily in Australia and New Zealand. AMP formed in 1849 as the Australian Mutual Provident Society, a non-profit life insurance company. In 1998 it was demutualised and listed on the Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges...
. The building became the tallest completed skyscraper in Perth in 1975, a title which it held only until 1976, when Allendale Square
Allendale Square
Allendale Square is a 32-storey skyscraper in Perth, Western Australia. When opened in 1976, the building surpassed the AMP Building to become the tallest completed building in Perth, a title which it only held until 1977 when St Martins Tower opened....
was opened.
Site history and construction
The site at the corner of St Georges TerraceSt Georges Terrace, Perth
St Georges Terrace is the main street in the city of Perth, Western Australia. It runs parallel to the Swan River and forms the major arterial road through the central business district....
and William Street
William Street, Perth
William Street is a suburban distributor and one of two major cross-streets in Perth, Western Australia.Commencing in western Mount Lawley it also crosses the Perth to Fremantle railway at the Horseshoe Bridge....
known as "Carr's Corner" was purchased by AMP in 1910, and in 1915 the AMP Chambers designed by Oldham and Cox were built on the corner. This six-storey building was clad with sandstone, and the interior was decorated with jarrah
Jarrah
Eucalyptus marginata is one of the most common species of Eucalyptus tree in the southwest of Western Australia. The tree and the wood are usually referred to by the Aboriginal name Jarrah...
.
The top of the building featured an iconic bronze statue, which became a landmark atop the chambers.
The 12 feet (3.7 m) high statue depicted four figures: a central figure symbolised protection, and it was flanked by a man, woman and child.
Weighing around 2000 pounds (907.2 kg), the sculpture was hollow with a wooden base and was thought to have been made in Europe.
When AMP announced plans to demolish the building and erect in its place a modern skyscraper, the National Trust refused to classify the building as in need of protection. The Trust Administrator N.J. Armitage instead applauded the development and the open space that would be created in the forecourt of the new tower. Although the building could not be saved from demolition, the iconic statue atop it was saved by Clive Rutty and purchased by millionaire collector Lew Whiteman, who paid $1000 for it. When the statue was removed from the building on 19 March 1972, a piece of wood was found within it with the names on it of the four men who erected it in October 1914. AMP later asked to buy the statue back from Whiteman, and he told them they did not deserve it.
After the death of Whiteman, the statue was sold to an anonymous buyer at auction for A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
60,800. It now stands in the centre of a lake of Floreat Waters, on the western side of Herdsman Lake.
The developers were allowed to build their tower beyond the allowable plot ratio
Floor Area Ratio
The floor area ratio or floor space index is the ratio of the total floor area of buildings on a certain location to the size of the land of that location, or the limit imposed on such a ratio....
because of planning concessions awarded in return for the provision of public amenities, namely the open space in front of the building and seats provided for the public. A further bonus was given for the linking of the development with the Elders development across St Georges Terrace. Demolition of the old building started in May 1972; construction on the foundations of the office tower then proceeded, and the construction of the tower was completed in 1975.
The building originally housed an observation deck on the 29th floor, offering sweeping views across the central business district. However, when both its west and east views were blocked by the construction of the BankWest Tower
BankWest Tower
The BankWest Tower is a 52-storey office tower in Perth, Western Australia. Completed in 1988, the building measures to its roof and to the tip of its communications antenna. It was the tallest building in Perth from its completion in 1988 until 1992 when it was overtaken in height by Central...
in 1988 and Central Park
Central Park (skyscraper)
Central Park is a 51-storey office tower in Perth, Western Australia. The building measures from its base at St Georges Terrace to the roof, and to the tip of its communications mast. Upon its completion in 1992, the tower became the tallest building in Perth...
in 1992, this observation deck was closed.
Post-completion
When the tower was first built in 1975, an "iconic" commissioned sculpture by Howard Taylor was installed in its forecourt. The sculpture, entitled "The Black Stump", was constructed of concrete and mosaic tile and weighed more than 28 tonnes (61,729.4 lb). It was relocated to the University of Western AustraliaUniversity of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
in 1990, where it has remained beside the Octagon Theatre ever since.
The building was used by AMP as its state headquarters from its opening in 1975 until 2002 when most of its staff moved to West Perth offices.
The last AMP staff shifted out of the building in 2003.
Since 1997, the tower has been used as a launching pad for some shells in the annual Lotterywest Skyworks
Lotterywest Skyworks
The City of Perth Skyworks is a fireworks show that is held over the section of the Swan River in Perth, Western Australia known as Perth Water. It is held every Australia Day on the 26th of January....
fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
display.
Owned by AMP companies since 1915, the building was put on the market by owner AMP Asset Management in 2000 and was expected to fetch A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
80 million. A Perth-based syndicate headed by Brett Wilkins offered to buy the tower for between $75 and 80 million.
However, the property failed to sell,
and remained within AMP ownership. In August 2005,
the building was sold by AMP Life Statutory Fund No 1 to the AMP-managed Australian Core Property Portfolio for $153.5 million.
Refurbishments
In 1992, the building underwent refurbishment, but this was mostly only minor cosmetic refurbishment. Coinciding with the completion of Central ParkCentral Park (skyscraper)
Central Park is a 51-storey office tower in Perth, Western Australia. The building measures from its base at St Georges Terrace to the roof, and to the tip of its communications mast. Upon its completion in 1992, the tower became the tallest building in Perth...
, the $15 million project was conducted by Multiplex
Multiplex (company)
Brookfield Multiplex is a global contracting and development company that designs, builds and maintains property and infrastructure assets.- History :Brookfield Multiplex was founded as Multiplex in 1962 in Perth, Western Australia by John Roberts...
. The refurbishment involved a facelift for the ground floor lobby, including polished granite flooring, wall panelling and coffered ceilings with concealed lighting, improved revolving doors, new glass and planter boxes. The facelift also saw the repaving of the building's forecourt with cobblestone
Cobblestone
Cobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets. "Cobblestone" is derived from the very old English word "cob", which had a wide range of meanings, one of which was "rounded lump" with overtones of large size...
, new landscaping, further public seating and the integration of the tower's underground car parking with Central Park's.
Despite the 1992 refurbishment, by 2000 the building was already widely regarded as in need of an upgrade. In 2003, when the building was "almost empty", an extensive refurbishment of the building was undertaken, at a cost of A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
34 million. The largest office tower refurbishment in Perth's history, work started in April 2003. The refurbishment was mostly an internal one, refreshing office floors and replacing building services such as air conditioning
HVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
and lifts
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
.
The bulk of the facade remained unchanged, aside from a new "two-storey high, 15-metre long bronzed-glass canopy" at ground level. The glass of the canopy is coated with small white dots which have a shading effect during the day, but uplighting produces a white ceiling effect at night. This canopy was intended to give the tower a more prominent entrance. The refurbishment also involved the installation of new conference facilities.
The 2003 refurbishment was designed by architects Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland, and the refurbishment contract won by Multiplex
Multiplex (company)
Brookfield Multiplex is a global contracting and development company that designs, builds and maintains property and infrastructure assets.- History :Brookfield Multiplex was founded as Multiplex in 1962 in Perth, Western Australia by John Roberts...
. The project took until 2005,
finishing on-time and on-budget. The refurbishment was a success, with the building going from "sparesely occupied" at the start of the refurbishment project to "practically full" in 2006.
The refurbishment was also expected to give the tower a "4.5 Australian Building Greenhouse Rating" due to its new, energy-efficient lifts, air conditioning, window tinting and double glazing.
Design
140 St Georges Terrace features a service core design, with the concreteConcrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
core containing the lifts and two stairwells. The perimeter of the square cross-section tower features load-bearing columns, allowing the office floors to remain mostly column-free. The building has one service lift and twelve passenger lifts: six for the low-rise portion of the building (floors 1-14) and six for the high-rise (floors 15-28). The low-rise and high-rise portions of the building are clearly visible on the exterior of the building, as they are separated by a plant level
Mechanical floor
A mechanical floor, mechanical penthouse, or mechanical level is a storey of a high-rise building that is dedicated to mechanical and electronics equipment. "Mechanical" is the most commonly used term, but words such as utility, technical, service, and plant are also used...
.
The base of the tower is located 15 metres (49.2 ft) above sea level, and the roof of the building rises 131 metres (429.8 ft) above the street below. The building has 28 office levels, in addition to the ground floor, basement levels and plant room. According to Emporis, the 29th (top) floor was once an observation level which closed following the construction of the taller BankWest and Central Park towers around it. The floor-to-floor height in the tower is 3660 mm (144.1 in), and the ceiling height is 2740 mm (107.9 in). The building has 29800 m² (320,764.5 sq ft) of net lettable area, and has an underground car park with 260 spaces.