An artist’s impression of the proposed Knowles Place building. Image: JPW.
The southern anchor to Capital Property Group’s London Central development in the CBD will be a six-storey mixed use office block, described as a landmark building that will define the southern end of one of Canberra’s most important civic boulevards – Northbourne Avenue.
CPG has submitted a Works Approval application to the National Capital Authority for the project, which will deliver nearly 10,000 square metres of office space above a ground floor café/restaurant.
It is an accompaniment to the approved application for 60 London Circuit, the main body of its London Central development on the former law courts car park consisting of a 65,000 sq m of floor space across three buildings up to 12 storeys high.
The proposal will address an extension of Knowles Place to Northbourne Avenue and hold that key corner.
The curved structure will integrate with 60 London Circuit and form part of a significant city precinct, being adjacent the Magistrates Court and across Northbourne Avenue to the new Lyric Theatre.
The bulk of the proposed building will rise to the limit of 25 metres, with a double height ground floor foyer and cafe/restaurant beneath five levels of offices and plant room, which will be set back and screened but add nearly four metres to the height.
Two basement levels for parking have already been approved as part of the previous WA. Access will be from the extended Knowles Place.
The building will also contain extensive end-of-trip facilities, consisting of bicycle parking and changeroom facilities.
The building will deliver almost 10,000 sq m of office space. Image: JPW.
Like CPG’s other office developments, this building is designed to meet the Commonwealth’s new net zero requirements for its tenancies and include a high level of sustainability measures.
It will be a fully electric building plus net zero carbon in operation, and be of 5 Star Green Star standard with a 5.5 star National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) with a potential for 6 stars, and a minimum 4 Stars NABERS water rating with potential for 5 stars.
An integrated vertical and horizontal façade will provide efficient solar shading and large vision panels will flood the offices with natural light.
On the roof, a solar array will generate electricity while rainwater will be harvested for non-potable use.
Electric vehicle chargers will be available in the basement.
The building is designed by Johnson Pilton Walker (JPW), the award-winning architects for the National Portrait Gallery.
Red Box Design Group landscape architects are behind the public realm and landscape design.
The western Stage 2 of London Central could include residential apartments and a hotel.
London Central is one of three city precincts Capital has taken on. The others are Constitution Place, which is being extended with the Vernon Circle office block, due to be finished by October next year, and the proposed mixed-use residential neighbourhood on the former cloverleaf land opposite the QT Hotel.
This represents a $1.5 billion investment in the heart of the city.
CPG is confident that the quality of its office developments will attract big tenants such as the Commonwealth and stem the leakage of commercial office tenancies from Civic.
Consultation on the proposal ends on 28 November.
