State-of-the-art timber building for central Perth

28 March 2022

David Rowlinson

Brookfield Asset Management has been given the go-ahead to construct a state-of-the-art office building made entirely from timber in central Perth. The Canadian alternative-asset manager, which operates more than 32 million square metres of real estate globally, will build a 10-storey office block on the corner of Spring Street and Mounts Bay Road. 

Brookfield’s development and operating arm, Brookfield Properties, and local investment and development group Hawaiian are delivering the project, which is due for completion in mid-2023.

Brookfield Properties regional director Nicholas Ozich said the timber tower had been designed to reflect the site’s heritage importance by integrating the gardens and built environment.

“The building will complement the garden setting by extending the workplace experience into the garden itself and the lobby is treated as an extension of the garden landscape with a blurred distinction between inside and out,” Ozich said.

The 9,800 square metre office building, designed by architects Donaldson Boshard, will include a large ground floor lobby, premium end-of- trip facilities and a rooftop terrace with views across Kings Park and the Swan River.

The tower will be built of cross-laminated timber (CLT), and glue laminated timber, or glulam. The innovative materials have the structural strength of traditional methods using concrete and steel but are more environmentally friendly.

“Sustainability has continued to be a key focus for Brookfield Properties, both in Perth and globally, with this building set to become a showcase in the portfolio,” Ozich said.

“The construction methodology uses a lower embodied carbon output than typical construction methods, provides greater efficiencies with less waste, and reduces the construction period through off-site fabrication, improving site safety and minimising the disruption onsite.”

The building will aim for a 5.5 Star NABERS rating, a 6-Star Green Star rating and an IWBI WELL Gold Core rating.

For Hawaiian, the development represents an evolution in its sustainable practises and a new challenge after delivering Western Australia’s first 5-Star Green Star rated commercial tower at 235 St Georges Terrace in 2009, alongside Brookfield.

Article first appeared in Australasian Timber magazine

David Rowlinson

David hails from Lancashire, England and has lived in Australia since 1994. He studied Architecture at Sheffield University and also has an MBA from Macquarie University and a Master of Marketing from UNSW. Prior to joining Planet Ark in 2016 David was Marketing Manager then CEO of a major Sydney-based manufacturer of modular carpets used in all commercial building applications. His proudest achievement was the development of an industry-leading environmental sustainability agenda, including the unique Earthplus product reuse program.