Plans submitted for Melbourne CBD Skyscraper

London-based Wilkinson Eyre has submitted proposals for a 180-m tall skyscraper in Melbourne’s CBD that the design team says will transform a swathe of the area, Building Design reports. The plans, created with Australian practice Architectus, will deliver 60,000 m² of new office space at 600 Collins Street, along with food and drink offerings, rooftop terraces and outdoor spaces, conferencing facilities and collaboration zones. Designed for real-estate firm Hines, the proposals incorporate what the project team described as “strong biophilic principals” and are targeting a minimum 6 Star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of Australia, as well as a Platinum WELL Certification for the building’s shell and core. With a curved façade, the tower will create a sculptural addition to the Melbourne skyline. The ground level looks to build on the Melbourne tradition of the “laneway” with a generously proportioned new public thoroughfare connecting the local area and offering a “lively” hospitality scene to workers. Construction is expected to start in January 2023.