Suncorp has announced that it has chosen the Anthony John Group‘s Southpoint development in Southbank as their new Australian headquarters.
The decision was between AJG’s Southpoint and Grocon’s 480 Queen Street proposal. Suncorp has decided to take up 33,600 square meters of stage one which will be a $350 million, 18 storey office tower built by Brookfield Multiplex.
The lease will be 15 years and will bring together 3000 Suncorp staff from up to 10 different offices spread across Brisbane. Suncorp will spend up to $80 million on its new office fit out, while rents were rumored to be negotiated at $600 a square metre.
Suncorp chose Southpoint as their new home because the company wanted to make a visible statement as well as a cultural shift to a new exciting environment. The development has been designed by architectural firm Jackson Teece who originally worked on a design concept for the Southpoint project.
Anthony John Group Founder and Principal Tony John said AJG was committed to delivering outstanding design outcomes and saw the Suncorp brief for a Campus Building as a perfect fit.
“Southpoint is unquestionably in the best location for this style of accommodation in Brisbane and offers Suncorp the opportunity to leverage a building’s design, operations and the amenity of the location to help transform the culture of their workplace” , he said.
Mr. John said that Southpoint will bring together what will be a uniquely Queensland Development.
“A Queensland based developer, a Queensland iconic building purpose designed in a Queensland precinct that is the cultural and sentimental heart of Brisbane in a partnership with Queensland’s largest corporate”.
Stage 1, to the South of the site and incorporating the heritage-listed Collins Place will be a 43,000 sqm A- grade commercial office building anchored by Suncorp which will pre-commit to 70% of the commercial space.
This 18-storey office building will be built to a 6 Star, Green Star (Green Building Council of Australia) standard and be designed to deliver an excellent standard of performance relative to its operational impacts on the environment.
Directly below the office component will be two levels of retail, including a neighbourhood-style retail offering and a 1700sqm full-range supermarket. Stage 1 will also include a major upgrade to the SouthBank Rail Station, including new station facilities, ticket office, sheltered passenger waiting areas and retail concourse
Stage two of the development will comprise of 179 residential apartments, a 178 five star boutique hotel which will become Brisbane’s second Emporium Hotel, cafes, restaurants, bars and a day spa.
Southpoint had already received planning approval from the South Bank Corporation, therefore it was seen as a more stable choice. With approval given, and a major anchor tenant now in the bag, it won’t be too long before we hear the rumble of construction.
Premier Anna Bligh today said, “My understanding is this will be one of the most significant non-CBD developments in Brisbane’s history.”
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Fantastic atrium
This idiotic decision, will only suit managers with co. cars or people on that train line – wont suit the people that count which is the 3000 staff. This is a ridiculous decision made with absolutely no thought of the staff in mind or any input by the staff. The CBD is the only place to be, it is central to all bus/train lines. Not to mention the increase in public transport costs over coming years, will the staff be compensated for the extra cost -no.
To Numbers – I couldn’t disagree with you more. The location of Southpoint is next to both a major rail line as well as a huge busway station. They couldn’t have chosen a better location for their staff. So many transport options as well as eating/dining/entertainment options. I congratulate Suncorp for choosing this over 480 Queen.
Eric is right on the money. Why would you want to live in the hustle and bustle of the CBD when you have access to the South Bank precinct and everything it offers – plus of course the exceptional transport options available. Great choice Suncorp.
I agree with Eric and tim disagree with Numbers.
@ Numbers, ever used the busway, trainline, city cat or three bridges to cross from S’Bank to the CBD, or the first two modes to travel South? If you have then you would know how connected the inner river are, and how connected S’bank is. Personally, I’d love to work next to one of the world’s best cultural precincts. Watch as Woolloongabba comes ‘on-line’ and the box gets its lid, will really shine then.
Of course, Suncorp would have already weighted the decision towards the Anthony John Group for the simple reason they are a Brisbane based group, unlike Grocon who are based in Melbourne.
Grocon seem a little heavy handed to me. I have looked at a few of their projects. Brisbane needs to stay open and sunny, not doom and gloom that Grocon seem to bring. It has nothing to do with where they are from, Goma was designed by Sydney Arks. I just think Grocon need to lighten up, then they might get more work.
“heavy handed”, “oikster”, what are you talking about, “doom and gloom”…What on earth are you raving about? Grocon are building community housing for homeless/low income earners in South Brisbane, also building the ATO building in Elizabeth St, you would hardly call these developments “heavy handed”. I’m keeping an eye on your comments to see whether you improve their quality.
What does CBD mean? Isn’t it for business purpose? How long does it take from Square to Southbank?
In my mind, Brisbane Square is the best location for all, Plaza the second. There is no express bus to Southbank !!!!! and the train line will across city and for those who would enjoy the environment and fresh air, can I ask how long would like plan to spend outside there?
Oikster Goma was designed by Brisbane based architects… the Claires who directed the brisbane office of architectus. Also the grocon building would have been considerably better for the pedestrian realm than this budget conscious stacked floor plate and cold atrium.
Bigbuildingsarebetter, ? stacked floor space and cold atrium? Do you even live in the sunshine state. ? Some comments on here sound to me like people who have no idea what they are talking about. Look at this place, open light and cold? if it is cold then they have succeeded. You do realise that Brisbane is sub-tropical, so cold is good. Even in Winter during the day it can get warm, and most people i know work during the day.
Now, lets have a look at this building itself, i had those building blocks issued at school as a kid, remember those. Now if you stacked a few green o9nes i think were worth 7, on top of each other and slightly twisted it at one end, this would be the result, simple but effective. We are not trying to build a bee-hive, thank goodness, it is just a nice working inviroment in a fantastic area, i would say the best work and play area in the world, if you can find better, get back to me, we can debate your findings.
Goma was designed by Lindsay and Kerry Clare who are definately from Queensland. Architectus is the national firm who partnered with them on the project.
Being a long term Suncorp employee, I for one am very excited to move into this new building! @Cloud, that you have rated the plaza as second best goes to show the lack of quality office space currently owned by Suncorp. I would much rather be surrounded by parklands at work over congested city streets. Good job Suncorp!! (one little negative however, I will miss my view from level 30+)
Numbers…….get this, my daughter who works for Suncorp at Toowong lives in East Brisbane, a mere stone’s throw but has to catch two buses to get to work. Only other option is $10/day parking which is what she’s elected to do. Southpoint is by far the better choice………and ditto to all the other Southbank supporters.
Disagree 100% with Numbers, I think you should get out there and walk around to see what a top location this.
Failed. Suncorp Pulled out of the deal.
Better start scrambling for somewhere new before all their leases run out end of 2013