Daisho, the owners of Mincom Central have updated a proposed submission to build a 34 level commercial tower on 174 Ann Street. The tower has been designed by Crone Partners, the architects of 275 George Street and Sydney’s Citigroup Centre. The proposal is Daisho’s second submission following the original 174 Ann Street design.
The updated design includes facade alterations showing a huge imprint of the Brisbane River. The artistic imprint would be the first of its kind in Brisbane.
The tower is planned to have a total of 66,171m2 of commercial space which is comparable to the floor space of 111 Eagle Street.
The landscape design, surrounding the proposed building at 174 Ann St, Brisbane would function as both a cross block link and a new public plaza and breakout space for the existing Mincom Central and new buildings.
A large green wall is proposed adjacent to the proposed staircase (which would facilitate pedestrians moving through the site between Ann St and Turbot St). This installation would provide an impressive lush backdrop to the Podium 2 Retail, draw people into the cross block link, and create an iconic image and experience to the space.
Several of the existing columns are also proposed to be retrofitted with a trellis system and growing vines, to further green the space, and tie in with the new greenwall façade. A large ‘river’ motif would ‘flow’ throughout the plaza on the ground plane; created with the use of varying granite colours and finishes. This pattern will both mimic the building’s façade and create a subtle way finding device throughout the plaza.
A scattering of bespoke organic shaped seating elements will be installed in key locations within the plaza and staircase landings. Bike racks are also to be provided. These are to be both sculptural and functional pieces of external furniture.
Other landscape areas, include the area adjacent to the property boundary of the neighbouring School of Art building, and the vehicular entry/ exit. Plants species selection aims to create a lush, dark green aesthetic, while being of low maintenance and low water demanding as possible.
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This is really lovely, looking forward to the building being completed. Nice work Daisho. Nice to see you take your time to get it right. And the river on the side, nice touch.
Sketch up?
Great design, and I thought the original was bold, this is amazing.
I love the green wall and the river motif. Great to see features that break up the monotony of Brisbane CBD.
Great to recieve such postive feedback on the design!
Yes the main model was created in sketch-up but the professional renders were created using 3D Studio Max. For the detail design phases we will be using state of the art BIM REVIT modelling coordinating this information with our expert services and structural consultants FLOTH Sustainable Building Consultants and Hyder Consulting
What the article has not mentioned is the clients commitment to Green Buildings targeting a 5 Star Green Star building with 5 Star NABERS.
What a load of old $hite. Tacked on decoration is becoming rife on Brisbane’s towers as bad designers attempt to paper on something eye catching to obscure the fact that the building is fundamentally crap.
The poor old (state heritage listed) school of arts buildings next door is swamped from the north. Bye bye all natural daylighting. Bye bye ever being able to sit comfortably on the verandahs any more. This blog cries foul about the destruction of the Poles Printery (and I agree) but where is the objection to the impact on this (much more important and intact) building?
This is the best Brisbane blog of its kind. I know you have a hardon for height but what about being critical of the design?
Tyson the design of the tower is such that it maintains a street level sightline of the school of arts building. You can see that it achieves this through a kind of cantilever design at ground level.
RE the facade, artwork of this scale has not been seen in Brisbane before. Time will tell if the artwork design is done well.
Hi Eric, I understand the chunk out of the base is for sightline retention to and from the School of Arts but that is probably the least important aspect. It’s also an easy cop out for the designers in a weak attempt to be sympathetic. A previous design for this site has been rejected before on the grounds it would compromise the significance of the School of Arts. The existing Mincom building was only approved on the grounds it provided a landscaped buffer between it and the School of Arts. This new building deletes the buffer.
The School of Arts achieves passive daylighting and ventilation which will be severely compromised if this new building goes ahead.
The ‘artwork’ is superficial and pretty boring. It’s just a pattern. It is similar to oneoneone Eagle Street’s terrible wiggly ‘fig tree roots’ and not as good as the NAB extension’s cornice motif. It isn’t far removed from a big mural and I question the relevance of a map of the river applied to this building.
I would like to add, though, that I really do think this is the best Brisbane blog of its kind. It’s my first stop every day and I wouldn’t even know about half the things going on in my town if it weren’t for this site.
Congratulations and keep it up.
Michael Banak, i already knew it was a five starer. I think it was mentioned last blog on the building. We do take notice. I was impressed last time, and this design has taken the building to a new level. Nice work.
Hey Tyson, to be honest, i think the building sits quite nicely beside the other buildings, they have a synergy with the differing heights, and as for sitting next to a heritage listed building? I did not think that a crime, and imagine the lovely church that is dwafted by the skyscrapers, one of Brisbanes most interesting sites. People comment how lovely the old sits with the new. I think Brisbane is the most interesting city because of old and new sitting side by side at differing heights. I am like a kid in a candy store every time i visit, their is always a new treat.
It is a impressive design achievement when you consider that the core can’t affect the central station tunnels and the building can’t devour the arts building. These are two difficult structural requirements to adhere to and I think that the design succeeds wonderfully despite them.
For example Tyson, if you consider this design against the white building sitting on the opposite side of the arts building I think that you will recognise that is is a great design outcome for this use intensity.
Lastly, I also think that the river’s outline on the facade is an effective way to remind city dwellers that there is a gigantic river a couple of hundred metres away, a river curt by roads, fences and generally terrible access and views.
I may have finally found a new favourite Brisbane building. Hope it goes ahead as planned.
Actually, maybe throw in a rooftop bar. Cheers.
the podium is created to attract tenants, not retain view corridors.
the appeal of large open spaces proved very successful overseas, was replicated in sydney, then melb and now here.
Some great news for 174 Ann Street is upgrading the Green Star rating to a target 6 Star Green Star Commercial Office Building. A 6 Star Green Star Building represents “World Leadership” by the GBCA in green building design and shows a commitment by the client Daisho and Cronepartners Architects in creating a highly sustainable building for Brisbane city.
Cronepartners designed the Telstra Tower at 275 George Street in Brisbane which achieved a 5 Star Green Star rating for “Design” and “As built”.
Let’s hope we can achieve our target.
Too much concrete. needs more glass.
Hi Anthony,
The building has a glass curtain wall to the majority of the facades with glazing from 300mm above floor level to approximately 2850mm above floor level. The fire stair also has a glass facade. That is a lot of glass. The only section that has a solid appearance is the core which we are also proposing providing a glass facade to the upper levels to allow light to filter into the floor plates through the lift shafts. Adjacent to this part of the building is an existing high rise building so we are not missing out on views. The building performs well on daylighting and views when assessed using the Green Star Rating tool developed by the Green Building council of Australia.
Regards,
Michael
the new building looks fantastic & makes much better use of the currently dull courtyard area, but what of staging issues for existing tennants of mincom?
Thanks for that info Michael, True it does have glass now you have explained it. The River mofit is Gross though. If you look at it at a certain angle it looks like someone with a big nose and mouth open and tounge poking out. I support it without the Mofit. Im with Tyson on this one 😛
Haha well at least we have your support now Anthony even if you are not so big on the river graphic.
The river graphic has a number of design functions;
1) To provide a unique graphic that could be legible from a distance. Helping to distinguish the buidling at a glance from other buildings on the Brisbane skyline.
2) To give something “Brisbane” to the design. The river is what makes Brisbane. Its a good example of how powerful nature really is and the building is promoting “world excellence” in environmental design through a target 6 star Green star rating
3) At the centre of the “big nose” is actually where the site of the building is.
Appreciate your point of view.
Cheers,
Michael
Micheal,
The form of the previous design was heavily influenced by the tangential rectangle planning regulation and the shadow plane to the nearby square, are these still being complied with in this scheme and if so how have they been resolved? The pointy front to Ann St is interesting and will give the building real presence.
Also what a/c is proposed?
Thanks and good luck with getting it built.
Hi Andrew,
Sorry for the late reply. Time just gets away from you.
You are correct in stating the shape of the previous DA application was heavily influenced by the Sun Access Plane and overshadowing of King George Square as well as Brisbane City CouncilsTangential Triangle.
To Brisbane City Councils credit they now allow you to modify the profile of the building to get a more regular shape if you can prove the benefits of the scheme. You start by working out the shape of the building using the tangential triangle calculations and developing a form of the buidling to be compliant. You are then allowed to make minor modifications to the profile i.e. straighten chamfered corners as long as the overall area is maintanined. Our studies of the Sun Access Plane and reviewing the building accross the road(145 Ann St) allowed us to create a more regular floor plan.
The Ann Street facade tilts towards King George Square to fit within the tangential triangle and capture views back to Brisbane City council.
We are using a central plant AC system. Low temperature VAV. The previous scheme proposed on floor plant.
Thanks for your comments Andrew.
Regards,
Michael
Nice building Michael.
Hi Black Swan,
I have been away on holidays so sorry I havent replied earlier. Thank’s for your comments! We are looking forward to getting started on site and very excited about the project.
Kind regards,
Michael
One of the better buildings….
This actually isn’t the largest Brisbane river motif in the State. It’s already been done on the kinetic carpark facade at Brisbane Domestic Airport terminal.
Hi Jen,
I often fly in to Brisbane Airport and when I first viewed the kintec facade you spoke about I went “oh no”. We had already lodged our DA application for 180 Brisbane, so well and truelly finished the overall design and I promise we had not known someone else had a similar idea. Ours is different though. For starters our graphic covers the specific site of our building and I could point out where abouts on the river facade our building is. It also is on a large scale high on the building meaning it will be viewed from a great distance from various apsects of the city. We are creating the river graphic by using special performance glass with a patterned interlayer and sculpured louvres.
I do like the kinetic art at the airport. When the wind blows the facade ripples and makes a great sound from 100’s of metal panels clapping together.
Thanks for your comments!
Regards,
Michael
HI there,
Just wondering if this building has the ability to generate energy for it’s own consumption, as in PVC or similar. It just seems ridiculous to me that these buildings keep going up and yet they have no provision to make themselves realtively self-sufficient energy-wise.
How hard can it be to tack some panels onto the buildings exterior? I appreciate it’s no doubt a matter of cost but surely it wouldn’t be too hard to martket the benefits of reduced power bills to tenants?
Hi Mitch,
Ultimately it is a matter of cost and a balancing act to get the best solution to reduce energy demands.We have a chekclist of Green Initiatives that are studied and different scenaries reviewed to get the same performance results. We have used PVC on residential projects to power the common area lighting demands and we also use solar panels in residential projects to provide hot water. On 180B we found the money was better spent on fairly new technologies such as Tri-generation. In tri-generation the heat created in the making of electricity is re-used for both heating and cooling requirements of the building making a very efficient system. We also use energy saving light fittings and contol sytems, maximise daylight into the building, use high performance low e glazing and provide shading to the facades where needed. Depending on the project type PVC or Solar Panel solutions do not often give you a better reduction in Carbon emissions as does other inititiatives.
I hope this helps answer your question.
Regards,
Michael
Design looks great.
Is the building going to be targeting A or premium grade services?
Hi Fuzz,
Thanks for your comments. The building is targeting an “A GRADE” Property Council of Australia rating.
Cheers,
Michael
As a big fan of high rise construction I would like to see more developements like those in Dubai. Otherwise Brisbane will become an old modern looking city before long.