Waterfront Place, Brisbane
Encyclopedia
Waterfront Place is the fifth-tallest building in Brisbane
and sixth-tallest in Queensland
. It is located downtown at 1 Eagle Street, beside the Brisbane River
. It was constructed by renowned Queensland builder and developer F. A. Pidgeon and Son who led the projects development in a joint venture with Folkestone Limited. Construction was completed in 1989. The building stands 162 metres (531.5 ft) tall.
The Waterfront Place foyer is regularly used for Australian exhibits of photography, art and various other items of interest. A grand piano is featured in the southern end of the foyer and can usually be heard playing during the morning as office workers arrive at the building.
. The Waterfront Place complex includes a two level restaurant, entertainment and retail complex known as The Eagle Street Pier. The building features views of the City, the Brisbane River and the islands of Moreton Bay
. Waterfront Place is only a short walk from stops of ferries (Eagle Street Pier), CityCats (Riverside), buses, and the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens
.
The architects for Waterfront were Cameron Chisholm & Nicol. The building was completed in December 1989, and was officially opened on 15 February 1990 by the Honourable Wayne Goss
, the then Premier of Queensland
.
The site now occupied by Waterfront Place was part of Brisbane's original port. In 1888 Naldham House, (part of the original Waterfront Place development, but subsequently sold in 1994), was built for the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company. By the late 1970s the site was in ownership of both the Queensland Government
and the Inchcape Group
of the UK. F. A. Pidgeon and Son
purchased the part of the site owned by the Inchcape Group in 1982 with the intention of developing an office building in the future.
The original waterfront site covers approximately 5200 square metres (55,972.3 sq ft), has two prominent street frontages and 110 metres (360.9 ft) frontage to the river. However, the adjoining Norman Wharf site owned by the State Government was unsightly and acted as a barrier between the site and the rest of the Brisbane central business district. In order to develop the site to its best potential it became necessary to purchase the Norman Wharf site from the State Government. The final site area was approximately 23400 square metres (251,875.5 sq ft) including both freehold and leasehold, and enjoyed frontages on Eagle Street, Felix Street and Mary Street
.
The building became a concern in the interest of public safety in November 2007, after a window pane fell from the building's 27th storey and landed on the road below. The pane shattered before it hit the ground, narrowly missing pedestrians and cars. The same sort of incident involving Waterfront Place has occurred previously to this. Since then, additional awnings have been constructed across Felix Street to prevent falling window panes from landing on vehicles and pedestrians, and the marina
in the Brisbane River has been dismantled.
Typical floor size ranges from approximately 1816 to 1867 m² (19,547.3 to 20,096.2 sqft). Floors are a column free space with a 12 metres (39.4 ft) window-to-core distance. There are ten corner offices per floor. Other statistics include; floor to ceiling height window sill height
The building is serviced by 22 lifts: six each for three floor sections, two goods lifts, and two lifts between the foyer and two underground car parks.
There are stand-by power facilities designed to generate 100% backup power in the event of mains power failure. Part of the equipment installed on the roof serves the communications needs of the Queensland State Emergency Service
.
During the buildings construction over 600 people worked on the site, 53000 cubic metres (69,321.4 cu yd) of concrete was used, 9,500 panes of glass were used, 30000 square metres (322,917.3 sq ft) of granite was used and 3000 square metres (32,291.7 sq ft) of marble was used. In December 1989 AMP Society
purchased the Waterfront Place complex from the Joint Venture partners.
The office tower is the dominant element of the complex. The architectural design outline of the tower is framed by matching elliptical curves with triangular projections in each of the east and west faces to create ten "corner" offices per typical floor. The elliptical shape maximises the views to the river and city.
The forty storey tower is of reinforced concrete construction and externally is clad in polished granite with double glazed solar tinted windows. The building has thirty six lettable floors with a Total Net Lettable Area of approximately 60000 square metres (645,834.6 sq ft). The major features of the lobby are granite floors and walls, water features, high ceilings
and polished steel columns.
Consulate
, the 21st Governor-General of Australia
, Bill Hayden
, senator
Ron Boswell
, and the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia
. The first federal cabinet meeting of the Rudd Government
was held in the building on the 6 of December 2007.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and sixth-tallest in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. It is located downtown at 1 Eagle Street, beside the Brisbane River
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
. It was constructed by renowned Queensland builder and developer F. A. Pidgeon and Son who led the projects development in a joint venture with Folkestone Limited. Construction was completed in 1989. The building stands 162 metres (531.5 ft) tall.
The Waterfront Place foyer is regularly used for Australian exhibits of photography, art and various other items of interest. A grand piano is featured in the southern end of the foyer and can usually be heard playing during the morning as office workers arrive at the building.
Architecture
Waterfront Place is one of Brisbane's landmark office towers, located on the edge of the Brisbane River in the heart of the Brisbane central business districtBrisbane central business district
The Brisbane central business district , sometimes referred to as the city, is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and is located on a point on the northern bank of the Brisbane River. The triangular shaped area is bounded by the Brisbane River to the east, south and west...
. The Waterfront Place complex includes a two level restaurant, entertainment and retail complex known as The Eagle Street Pier. The building features views of the City, the Brisbane River and the islands of Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
. Waterfront Place is only a short walk from stops of ferries (Eagle Street Pier), CityCats (Riverside), buses, and the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens
Brisbane City Botanic Gardens
The City Botanic Gardens is located on a point known as Gardens Point on the Brisbane River adjacent to the central business district of the city of Brisbane...
.
The architects for Waterfront were Cameron Chisholm & Nicol. The building was completed in December 1989, and was officially opened on 15 February 1990 by the Honourable Wayne Goss
Wayne Goss
Wayne Keith Goss was Premier of Queensland from 7 December 1989 until 19 February 1996.-Early life:He was born at Mundubbera, Queensland and educated at Inala High School and the University of Queensland...
, the then Premier of Queensland
Premiers of Queensland
Before the 1890s, there was no developed party system in Queensland. Political affiliation labels before that time indicate a general tendency only. Before the end of the first decade of the twentieth century, political parties were more akin to parliamentary factions, and were fluid, informal and...
.
The site now occupied by Waterfront Place was part of Brisbane's original port. In 1888 Naldham House, (part of the original Waterfront Place development, but subsequently sold in 1994), was built for the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company. By the late 1970s the site was in ownership of both the Queensland Government
Government of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
and the Inchcape Group
Inchcape plc
Inchcape plc is a multinational automotive retail and services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has operations in 26 countries across Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe and South America....
of the UK. F. A. Pidgeon and Son
John Pidgeon
Sir John Allen Stewart Pidgeon is a successful contractor and property developer, who have been along with his sister, Valmai Pidgeon, involved with the Queensland construction industry since joining their father's business in the 1940s....
purchased the part of the site owned by the Inchcape Group in 1982 with the intention of developing an office building in the future.
The original waterfront site covers approximately 5200 square metres (55,972.3 sq ft), has two prominent street frontages and 110 metres (360.9 ft) frontage to the river. However, the adjoining Norman Wharf site owned by the State Government was unsightly and acted as a barrier between the site and the rest of the Brisbane central business district. In order to develop the site to its best potential it became necessary to purchase the Norman Wharf site from the State Government. The final site area was approximately 23400 square metres (251,875.5 sq ft) including both freehold and leasehold, and enjoyed frontages on Eagle Street, Felix Street and Mary Street
Mary Street, Brisbane
Mary Street is a major road in the Brisbane central business district. The street is one of a number that were named after female queens and princesses of the royal family shortly after the penal colony was settled...
.
The building became a concern in the interest of public safety in November 2007, after a window pane fell from the building's 27th storey and landed on the road below. The pane shattered before it hit the ground, narrowly missing pedestrians and cars. The same sort of incident involving Waterfront Place has occurred previously to this. Since then, additional awnings have been constructed across Felix Street to prevent falling window panes from landing on vehicles and pedestrians, and the marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
in the Brisbane River has been dismantled.
Office floors
- Granite floors and marble wall tiles in the bathrooms.
- Ability to install connecting stairs for multiple floor tenants
- Separate lobby for goods delivery light and ceiling grid system
The building is serviced by 22 lifts: six each for three floor sections, two goods lifts, and two lifts between the foyer and two underground car parks.
There are stand-by power facilities designed to generate 100% backup power in the event of mains power failure. Part of the equipment installed on the roof serves the communications needs of the Queensland State Emergency Service
State Emergency Service
A State Emergency Service is an Australian volunteer organisation that provides emergency help during and after declared disasters. The SES is also the primary or secondary agency for emergencies, such as storm damage,flood damage, building damage, traffic hazards and road crash rescue...
.
Construction
In 1986, Folkestone Limited decided to join the project, and entered into a joint venture arrangement with F. A. Pidgeon & Son. Obayashi Corporation of Japan was invited to participate on the basis of becoming the Project Head Contractor. The Joint Venture appointed Indosuez Australia to arrange finance. Cameron Chisholm & Nicol Architects were appointed to design the complex. Construction commenced in September 1987 and was completed twenty seven months later on Christmas Eve 1989.During the buildings construction over 600 people worked on the site, 53000 cubic metres (69,321.4 cu yd) of concrete was used, 9,500 panes of glass were used, 30000 square metres (322,917.3 sq ft) of granite was used and 3000 square metres (32,291.7 sq ft) of marble was used. In December 1989 AMP Society
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...
purchased the Waterfront Place complex from the Joint Venture partners.
The office tower is the dominant element of the complex. The architectural design outline of the tower is framed by matching elliptical curves with triangular projections in each of the east and west faces to create ten "corner" offices per typical floor. The elliptical shape maximises the views to the river and city.
The forty storey tower is of reinforced concrete construction and externally is clad in polished granite with double glazed solar tinted windows. The building has thirty six lettable floors with a Total Net Lettable Area of approximately 60000 square metres (645,834.6 sq ft). The major features of the lobby are granite floors and walls, water features, high ceilings
and polished steel columns.
Tenants
The building's tenants include many major Australian and international firms. Among the tenants are the BritishForeign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
Consulate
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
, the 21st Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
, Bill Hayden
Bill Hayden
William George "Bill" Hayden AC was the 21st Governor-General of Australia. Prior to this, he represented the Australian Labor Party in parliament; he was a minister in the government of Gough Whitlam, and later became Leader of the Opposition, narrowly losing the 1980 federal election to the...
, senator
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
Ron Boswell
Ron Boswell
Ronald Leslie Doyle "Ron" Boswell , Australian politician, has been a National Party member of the Australian Senate since 5 March 1983, representing Queensland. Since 2008 he has been the Father of the Senate....
, and the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
. The first federal cabinet meeting of the Rudd Government
Rudd Government
The Rudd Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia of the Australian Labor Party from 2007 to 2010, led by Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister. The Rudd Government commenced on 3 December 2007, when Rudd was sworn in along with his ministry...
was held in the building on the 6 of December 2007.
External links
- Waterfront Place home page
- Waterfront Place at EmporisEmporisEmporis GmbH is a real estate data mining company with headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. The company collects and publishes data and photographs of buildings worldwide....