Plans for 600 Collins, a new premium grade office tower in the heart of Melbourne’s central business district (CBD) was announced on 10 August 2022 by the developer Hines. The building is designed by international architecture practice WilkinsonEyre and leading Australian architecture and design firm Architectus. 600 Collins will have a strong focus on sustainability, amenity, wellness, and experience. The site is strategically located in the heart of Melbourne’s commercial core and features over 70 meters (229.6 ft) of prime frontage on Collins Street. As the newest addition to the Melbourne skyline, it is proposed to stand 180 meters (591 ft) tall with a world-class articulated curved facade. This site had previoulsy been under different ownership with a proposed tower design by Zaha Hadid Architects in 2016 that was later canceled.
The tower will offer over 60,000 square meters (645,835 sq ft) of premium-grade office space, market-leading amenity provisions, including curated casual and formal food and beverage offerings, podium terraces, experiential end-of-trip facilities including a hotel-style reception lounge, showers, lockers, and bike parking, wellness centers, collaborative work zones, and dedicated green spaces. It will have immediate access to tram super stops on both Collins and Spencer Street, and in close proximity to Southern Cross Station – providing access to regional workforces of Geelong, Bendigo, and Ballarat.
Hines plans for 600 Collins to be the first fully electric building in Australia designed under the new Green Star Buildings tool, which rates the energy efficiency of buildings. The emphasis on sustainability is evidenced in the building’s design, which incorporates strong biophilic characteristics including numerous outdoor terraces, green walls, and will be open to the sky laneway retail and dining. 600 Collins is targeting the highest sustainability credentials, being a 6 Star Green Star and 6 Star NABERS Energy rating, as well as a Platinum WELL Certification for shell and core which will make it one of the most energy efficient and sustainable buildings in Australia.
600 Collins is also one of five Hines projects currently in development across the Asia Pacific region including 36-52 Wellington, an 18,200-square-meter, (195,903 sq ft.) 15-story heavy timber creative office building in Melbourne and 9 Stewart Street a 5,000-square-meter (53,819 sq ft), 10-story boutique creative office also in Melbourne.
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