The Building Economist - September 2014 - The Mega Issue

THE JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF QUANTITY SURVEYORS

FEATURING

THE MEGA ISSUE

THE MAN BEHIND THE ICONIC

BE TALKS TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GROCON, DANIEL GROLLO

AUSTRALIA 108: THE NEW ICONIC ALL THE MAKINGS OF BECOMING A NEW ICONIC BUILDING

WHEN AN ICON IS ICONIC BE CONSIDERS WHAT MAKES A BUILDING ICONIC

SEPTEMBER 2014

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THE

BUILDING ECONOMIST

16

THE MAN BEHIND THE ICONIC

Think of Executive Director of Grocon, Daniel Grollo, and projects such as Eureka Tower and Pixel spring to mind. His projects are quickly gaining iconic status for their sustainability and innovation. Karen Jamal speaks to Daniel Grollo on behalf of BE, and finds out more about what drives the man behind the next generation of iconic green buildings.

20

AUSTRALIA 108: THE NEW ICONIC

Creating a building that will stand out as a representation of a generation is never going to be easy. The new Australia 108 project has all the makings of becoming a new iconic building for Australia. BE takes a closer look at a future icon that could change the way the world looks at Melbourne.

10

03 07 08 24 REGULARS 26 SEPT 2014

CONTENTS

IWHENNSIANGICHTON IS ICONIC

Paris is identified by the Eiffel Tower, Sydney by the Sydney Opera House and India and the Taj Mahal. BE considers what makes a building iconic and which buildings today will be the icons of tomorrow.

Managing Editor Jenna Harfield Executive Editor Emma Marshall Art Director Julian Brown - Nose to Tail Chief Executive Officer Michael Manikas

SNAP SHOT

FROM THE CEO

NUTS & BOLTS

QS KIT

SOCIAL

Contributions Articles relevant to construction economics and related subjects, pictorial material, letters etc are welcome. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited material. All contributions should be addressed to the editor: Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, National Office, Level 6, 65 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

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Tel: (02) 9262 1822 Fax: (02) 9279 1400 Email: editor@buildingeconomist.com.au www.buildingeconomist.com.au

Tel: (02) 9262 1822 Fax (02) 9279 1400

Cover: RMIT University, Swanston Academic Building.

Architect: Lyons Architects. QS: Wilde and Woollard.

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ISSN 0007-3431 Designed and printed for the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (ACN 008 485 809) by Nose to Tail Pty Ltd

THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014 – 1

Mark your calendar for the Construction Industry event of the year.

The Infinite Value Awards Gala Dinner Sustainable, Cohesive, Future Proof

We invite you to join us this year in Brisbane for the 2014 Infinite Value Awards Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony.

The Gala Dinner will be held in the Ballroom – Sofitel Brisbane Central, Brisbane on Friday, 24 October 2014 Tickets go on sale early September.

Visit the Infinite Value Awards website for more information and to secure your tickets.

www.infinitevalueawards.com With thanks to our sponsors:

SNAPSHOT

STEPHEN BALLASTY APPOINTED TO IFMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rider Levett Bucknall’s Director as well as Head of Advisory and Research, (not to mention AIQS Infinite Value Award 2013 Professional of the Year Award winner), has been appointed to the board of directors of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA).

IFMA is the world’s largest and most widely recognised international association for facility management professionals, supporting over 24,000 members in 96 countries across 131 chapters and 17 councils worldwide. Stephen’s appointment is the first Australian representative ever to join the IFMA’s global board.

IN BRIEF

BREACH OF AIQS CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT IKEA CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO RENEWABLE ENERGY

The AIQS have received a professional conduct complaint in reference to a member, Rowan Smith who was in breach of the Code of Professional Conduct. Upon thorough investigation and deliberation, the Board of Directors have found Rowan

Ikea’s ongoing commitment to using only renewable energy by 2020

in breach of the Code of Conduct. As a result of this, and

will be on show with Australia’s largest single-roof photovoltaic

in accordance with the Articles of Association Section -

installations being installed at the company’s Tempe store, and the big

Responsibilities of Members, Partnerships and Corporations,

switch on of the 714 kilowatt system at the Logan, Queensland store.

specifically breaching codes 3.2, 3.3 and 3.10 as outlined in

UK firm Kingspan Energy, who will handle the installation at Tempe of nearly 4000 Yingli polycrystalline solar photovoltaic modules, 43 SMA Sunny TriPower inverters, and a Schletter mounting system, says the installation will be complete in mid-September.

has been suspended for a period of six months from Monday, 4 April 2014 through to Monday, 6 October 2014.

To review the AIQS Code of Professional Conduct, AIQS Articles

The PV cells will also be installed across its Springvale, Richmond, and Rhodes facilities, as well as the new stores planned for

the AIQS Code of Professional Conduct, Rowan’s membership

of Association or AIQS Code of Professional Conduct Complaints Procedures please visit the AIQS website.

Canberra, Victoria, Queensland and Sydney.

THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014 – 3

SNAPSHOT IN BRIEF

AUSTRALIA’S FIRST GREEN ROOF POLICY LAUNCHED The City of Sydney has unveiled Australia’s first green roof and walls policy as part of its larger Sustainable Sydney 2030 program, and includes a three-year implementation plan to ensure it is understood, adopted and integrated correctly.

According to the new policy, vegetation must cover at least 30 per cent of available rooftop space to qualify. Green walls are either free-standing or part of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation.

The city currently has 58 green roofs, five of which include a green wall, and 28 green walls, most of which are publicly accessible. There is a further 50 green roofs approved in the pipeline.

EAST BRISBANE TO WELCOME NEW $30 MILLION DEVELOPMENT Sophie James / Shutterstock.com

A new planned $30 million mixed-use development has been unveiled by QM Properties on the back of the sell-out of the group’s Mowbray East Brisbane project.

Having sold all 56 one and two-bedroom apartments of the original project, selling six months ahead of building completion, along with strong interest for the ground-floor commercial space, QM Properties have acquired a new

$3 BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE SPEND FOR PERTH Two construction mega-projects totalling $3 billion announced by the Western Australian government are expected to bring a dramatic upgrade of transportation infrastructure and foster the growth of Perth’s eastern suburbs.

1,214square metre site at 54-58 Manilla

The Forrestfield Airport Link, an underground tunnel between Bayswater and Forrestfield,

Street, 50 metres from Mowbray

is expected to significantly improve traffic to and from WA’s chief air traffic hub at a cost of

East Brisbane.

$2 billion, while an additional $1 billion will be spent on Gateway WA – a vital transportation conduit between Perth’s eastern suburbs and other key parts of the city.

4 – THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014

SNAPSHOT

IN BRIEF

AUSTRALIAN COMPANY ACHIEVES ENVIRONMENTAL FIRST Australian manufacturer of interior fit-out solutions has achieved a double environmental first, with SAS International gaining independent verification for its Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), for its entire range of suspended ceiling systems. This follows an announcement last week that it is the first metal ceiling manufacturer to have its products accredited to Green Tag™.

GREEN STAR FIRSTS FOR KINGS SQUARE An office tower in Perth’s Kings Square master-planned precinct, KS1, has gained a 5 Star Green Star – Office Design v3 rating. Not only is it the first project in the precinct to achieve a Green Star rating, but also the first in

Provision of EPDs is now a requirement for construction products to meet criteria in ratings

Australia to incorporate Green Star’s

systems such as Green Star and LEED. Providing additional transparency on product

new life cycle assessment points.

declarations, independently verified EPDs mean customers benefit from a simpler reference point for specification.

KS1 is also on track to achieve one of the first Green Star – As Built v3 ratings in Western Australia, and the

RMIT LIFELINE FOR SUSTAINABILITY SECTOR

remaining three towers of Leighton Properties’ Kings Square are also targeting 5 Star Green Star and five star NABERS ratings.

Victoria’s sustainability sector has been provided a lifeline with RMIT University’s $98

Each of the towers will include energy

million energy and water efficiency upgrade program. There are more than 60 separate

efficient systems, local materials and

works packages currently under-way, including Honeywell and Siemens becoming the first

efficient destination-controlled lifts,

projects moving into the construction and installation phase.

and features such as rooftop terraces,

Both Siemens and Honeywell have signed EPC contracts for the project, which commits them to achieving the energy efficiency targets proposed in the feasibility studies for the works. Should those not be achieved within agreed eight year investment payback

garden views and green spaces that can be used as alternative meeting places.

periods, the firms are liable financially for the shortfall.

THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014 – 5

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FROM THE CEO

THE MEGA ISSUE

AS THE GLOBAL ECONOMY CONTINUES TO SLOWLY IMPROVE SO IS THE INCREASE IN ICONIC BUILDINGS AROUND THE GLOBE. IN THE PAST MONTH AUSTR ALIA HAS SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME THE PROPOSED DESIGN OF WORLD RENOWNED ARCHITECT, DAMA ZAHA HADID’S FIRST PROJECT IN AUSTR ALIA, THE FLOWER TOWERS FOR BRISBANE. We have also been advised that in the United Arab Emirates there are plans for a huge expansion of the already large Dubai Airport. This will probably make it the largest airport in the world.

The Barangaroo project and exhibition and convention centre sites in Sydney Australia are also well underway with the first tower at Barangaroo nearing the completion of the structure.

Iconic buildings and projects are once again on the rise with numerous projects around the globe by leading international architects. The AIQS recognises the important role of the Quantity Surveyor in ensuring these iconic projects with their exorbitant expectations still come in on time and on budget.

Recently the AIQS has concluded the first stage of the biggest overhaul of the AIQS for several decades. The AIQS launched our new website which allows a much better user experience and members can now log their CPD through their profile on the website. The member benefits program was relaunched as the Benefits Collective with numerous offers available and growing constantly. In the last year the AIQS has rolled out several webinars and recently also launched the new on demand CPD program called the AIQS Academy.

Members can now maintain the required 40 hours of CPD per triennium at their own pace. More courses will be available in the coming months and will continue to grow and evolve.

Finally the AIQS has announced the finalists to this years Infinite Value Awards. The Gala Awards presentation dinner will be held at the Sofitel in Brisbane on October 24th. Once again this year we received a very strong field of nominations which again made the judging process extremely difficult. We once again thank the members for their continued support for this initiative and welcome all the new companies and organisations that have nominated people and projects in 2014.

“ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED A VERY STRONG FIELD OF NOMINATIONS WHICH AGAIN MADE THE JUDGING PROCESS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.”

The Gala Dinner is going to be a night not to missed in the AIQS calendar of events and we encourage all our members to make the trip to Brisbane to join in the celebration of the Quantity Surveying profession.

Regards,

Michael Manikas CEO The Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors

THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014 – 7

NUTS AND BOLTS

ICONIC BUILDINGS OF THE WORLD 1

1

2

EIFFEL TOWER, PARIS

• Famous icon of France and Paris • Built for the Exposition of 1889 by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel • 984ft high (1,056ft including the television tower) 2

BURJ KHALIFA, DUBAI

• World’s tallest man made structure – 828.9m high • 160 floor building opened in 2010 • Created by American architectural and engineering firm Skidmore, Owings and Merril LLP 3

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, NYC

8

COLOSSEUM, ROME

• Considered to be one of the greatest architectural feats achieved by the Ancient Romans • Finished in 80AD • Design and shape inspiration for many modern day stadiums 9

THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON

• Grand Art Deco skyscraper • Designed by Irish architect James Hoban • Took just 410 days to complete • Completed in 1801 construction • Home to every US leader since the • Declared to be one of the Seven Wonders country’s second president John Adams of the Modern World 4

PETRONAS TOWERS, KUALA LUMPUR

• 170 metres above ground • Held title of tallest building in the world 1998-2004 • Created by architects Cesar Pelli and Achmad Murdijat 5

BURJ AL ARAB, DUBAI

• Luxurious hotel that defines the Dubai landscape • Built in 1994 to mimic the sail of a dhow • Designed by Tom Wright 6

TAJ MAHAL, INDIA

• Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan • An amalgamation of Persian, Turkish and Indian styles • Construction began in 1632 and completed in 1648 7

SPACE NEEDLE, SEATTLE

• Built for 1962 World’s fair • Stands at 184m high • Can survive wind velocities of 200mph and serious structural damage during 9.1 magnitude earthquakes

10

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, SYDNEY

• The most famous Australian architectural icon • Innovative design came from architect Jorn Utzon • Comprises of three groups of interlocking shells 11

LLOYDS BUILDING, LONDON

• Also known as the “Inside-Out” building • Built between 1978 and 1986 • Features 12 outside lifts – the first of their kind in the UK 12

LEANING TOWER OF PISA, ITALY

• Most famous for its tilt • Construction took 300 years • Controversy around true identity behind the design 13

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, LONDON

• Started as a little red brick house in 1735 • Worked on by various architects including John Nash, Edmund Blore and Sir Aston Webb • One of the few working royal palaces remaining in world today

8 – THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014

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5

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THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014 – 9

INSIGHT

WHEN AN

IS ICONIC 10 – THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014

INSIGHT

TRAVEL THE WORLD, AND YOU WILL FIND ICONIC BUILDINGS STANDING PROUD – BUILDINGS THAT DEFINE A NATION, GENERATION, A MOMENT IN TIME, OR A WAY OF LIFE. BE CONSIDERS WHAT MAKES A BUILDING ICONIC AND WHICH BUILDINGS TODAY WILL BE THE ICONS OF TOMORROW. THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014 – 11

INSIGHT

You can’t define what makes a building iconic. There is no standard

Leading designer Rafael Vinoly, from Rafael Vinoly Architects,

definition, no set of rules to create one. Look at the buildings we

agrees that developers can’t go out to design an iconic building.

label as iconic today and they all vary in size, shape, height and

As the man behind the design of the “Walkie Talkie” skyscraper

materials used. It is not the technicalities of the architecture that

being developed in London, he believes that new buildings should

draws millions of visitors to these buildings, so what really makes a

be designed to fit with the current surrounding skyline, not as

building iconic?

standalone iconic landmarks.

Paris is identified by the Eiffel Tower. Simply say the word “Sydney”

“You don’t set out yourself to make iconicity. It’s a process of

and everyone mentions the Sydney Opera House or think of India

time,” said Vinoly, who also recognises that, if a building becomes

and the Taj Mahal immediately comes to mind. All these buildings

“iconic,” it can cause problems for the building’s owner as it makes

not only define their city’s skyline but they come to embody the

it harder to remove from the skyline in future.

place in which they stand.

Take the Eiffel Tower for example. Turning 125 years old on 31st

However, it is not just these historic buildings that have gained iconic

March this year, this now iconic monument was created for the

status. New buildings that have popped up in the past few years have

1889 Exposition Universelle and opened to opinions of it being

already gained notoriety. Dubai, for example, is now recognised by

called ugly and a monstrosity.

the 160 floor Burj Khalifa building, which opened in 2010.

Developers are now quick to tell us that their next new building will

However, the Parisian public took it into their hearts. When French officials considered tearing it down after its stipulated 20 years had

be iconic, but according to the City of London Corporation Chief

lapsed, their minds were changed by the towers designer and

Planning Officer, Peter Rees, its not up to developers to decide

the public, and so it remains as one of the most recognised

whether their building is iconic, rather it is whether the public

monuments in the world. It is a prime example of a project

takes them to their hearts.

that has outlived all expectations and is now visited by over

“You can’t design an icon. Many have tried and failed,” said Rees.

7 million visitors a year – a symbol of love, romance and a whole nation.

He immediately points to 30 St Mary Axe in London, which was not seen as an icon when it was completed in 2003 – until it was given the name the “Gherkin”.

“It wasn’t the architect that produced the icon.

It was the public who saw it and gave it the nickname, [and] nicknames are a sign that the public embraces the buildings. If you don’t have a nickname at your pub, you’re nobody,” said Rees.

12 – THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014

INSIGHT

It is not just longevity that gives a building an iconic status. New

Sometimes, the newest buildings that have been created with the

buildings are popping up all the time, longing for that iconic label

intention of being “the next big icon” are often the worst buildings

to be given to them. However, in a time of increased population and

when judged in the context of place. But sometimes there is an

limited space, the concern for many new developments is what they

extraordinary building that not only becomes an icon, but also

are taking away rather than what they are adding to a place.

enhances the community. That is the secret and something that is intangible and cannot necessarily be planned.

“ YOU CAN’T DESIGN AN ICON. MANY HAVE TRIED AND FAILED”

Whilst it is exciting to see developers put new construction

For example, take CH2 (Council House 2) in Melbourne.

technologies to use and watch as innovative additions to our city skylines pop up around the world, are they coming at the expensive or their surroundings?

Back in 2006, CH2 opened its doors to critical acclaim. Labelled Australia’s greenest and healthiest office building, it was considered to set a new benchmark for sustainable design and construction.

Featuring technologies that, at the time of design and construction, were not commonly used, CH2 became an icon for sustainability.

The public saw it as inviting and it was embraced by both the industry and community. Seen as a teaching tool and it was designed as a “showcase” of sustainable building features that could be used as a model for others to learn from.

THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014 – 13

INSIGHT However, at last year’s Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air

that. It becomes a part of history — standing the test of time and

conditioning and Heating’s Preloved Buildings Conference in

serving the people who visit as it does so.”

Sydney, energy experts Exergy told attendees that the beloved CH2 was found to be significantly under-performing.

Using the NABERS rating tool, it has been found that the base building rating was a feeble 3.24 – well below what is expected for such an impressive building. However, it was not all doom and gloom as the experts feel that with the problems now identified, and a few subsequent tweaks, this can be turned around.

Would this poor performance affect the iconic label given to CH2?

Probably not.

That is what an icon is, a symbol; something that can be recognised at anytime and anywhere in the world.

So maybe it is easy to know what makes an iconic building – one that is ‘ground breaking’ and one that sets new standards in its field and becomes a benchmark, a design others wish to emulate.

It must stand the test of time, remaining a good design, despite the passing years, decades and even centuries.

But only if the public says so.

YOU DON’T SET OUT YOURSELF TO MAKE ICONICITY. IT ’S A PROCESS OF TIME

When a whole industry and the public – not just here in Australia, but around the world – have embraced a building so strongly it would be difficult to shake its status as an iconic sustainable building. Regardless of performance, CH2 captures a moment in time when ‘green building’ was new and experimental, and will always stand for generations to come as Australia’s icon of sustainable innovation. It is a perception; an emotion that once invested cannot easily be retracted.

Some buildings are so great, and so memorable, that they must be preserved and shared, and re-visited again and again, and remain part of our city skyline – regardless of the “job” they do.

American architectural designer, author and researcher, Maria Lorena Lehman, believes that it is a combination of authenticity, uniqueness and whether or not a building is innovative in any way that can add to its fame, and therefore be labelled as iconic.

“You see, authenticity shows that a building sits within its surrounding context well, while contributing toward it in its own right. Uniqueness lends itself toward famous architecture because it helps a building stand out from the rest, becoming memorable and highly sought after. And the innovative qualities of a building are important because if it creates a “first-time” for something, then it is creating history. In fact, famous architecture does just

14 – THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014

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PEOPLE

THE MAN BEHIND THE ICONIC THINK OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GROCON, DANIEL GROLLO, AND PROJECTS SUCH AS EUREKA TOWER AND PIXEL SPRING TO MIND. HIS PROJECTS ARE QUICKLY GAINING ICONIC STATUS FOR THEIR SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION. KAREN JAMAL SPEAKS TO DANIEL GROLLO ON BEHALF OF BE, AND FINDS OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT DRIVES THE MAN BEHIND THE NEXT GENERATION OF ICONIC GREEN BUILDINGS. 16 – THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014

Over his 26-year career, Daniel Grollo’s hands have left their mark on many iconic projects, from Sydney’s dazzling 1 Bligh Street to Melbourne’s tallest residential building, Eureka Tower.

But for Grollo, the Executive Chairman of one of Australia’s leading real estate businesses, Grocon, his legacy will be less about bricks and mortar, and more about the values embodied in each building.

“I don’t spend much time thinking about my legacy,” he says. Instead, Grocon is “focused on ensuring that each building expresses our values around safety, sustainability, innovation and community. We try to raise the bar each time we at the foundation of my skill-set, and

start a new project.”

A commitment to core values is important to Grollo.

“Your core values – when they are well-defined

everything we do today originates from our building capabilities.”

and can be easily interpreted by everyone in your

Grollo’s father, Bruno, was an early influence. “I

business – become the foundation for decision-

spent a lot of time around him as I was growing

making across the organisation. We recognise that

up,” he says. “The organisation itself has great

everyone in our company makes daily decisions –

capabilities and I was fortunate to be immersed

“BUILDING IS IN MY BLOOD... AFTER NEARLY THREE DECADES IN THE INDUSTRY, BUILDING IS AT THE FOUNDATION OF MY SKILL-SET, AND EVERYTHING WE DO TODAY ORIGINATES FROM OUR BUILDING CAPABILITIES”

and that our values provide a reference point to help

in this at the start of my career when I didn’t

frame these decisions. Our core values have set

know a hell of a lot. I don’t know how much more

the trajectory for the business.”

I know now, but I’m more of an equivalent to

Grollo is the third generation at the helm

Grocon’s capabilities,” he says modestly.

of a family business which began when his

In February, Carolyn Viney took over the reigns

grandfather, Luigi, established a one-man

as Grocon’s Chief Executive Officer, and Grollo

concreting operation in 1948.

assumed the role of Executive Chairman while

“Building is in my blood,” he explains. “After nearly three decades in the industry, building is

retaining full oversight and ownership of the business. The move gives him more time to lead Grocon’s growth and diversification into new

THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014 – 17

PEOPLE markets, while also contributing to boards and advisory groups,

“In some ways, the achievement at Dandenong is more impressive

including the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Council and the

than at other more celebrated sites because there are none of the

Green Building Council of Australia, of which he is chair.

big ticket sustainable features – such as onsite power generation or

Over the last decade, Grocon has developed a reputation for setting new standards for sustainability. Pixel in Melbourne was the first building to achieve a perfect Green Star score, and is still heralded

blackwater waste treatment – that people have come to expect from green buildings. In fact, unless you told people, they wouldn’t know the building was a world leader in sustainability.

as the prototype of the green office. Legion House in Sydney is

“But the desire to live up to our values must be stronger on projects

designed to be disconnected from the grid and to achieve carbon

such as this one. To me, it’s the high water mark because it tells me

neutrality. 1 Bligh Street was Australia’s first skyscraper with a

our values are getting results – and it is a reminder that inspiration

double-skin façade.

and aspiration can achieve a lot today.”

Pixel is one of Grollo’s favourite buildings. “I think we achieved

Grollo’s passion for sustainability is palpable. An early proponent of

something amazing there – and it demonstrated that by changing

Green Star, Grollo’s comment that “if you’re not building in Green Star,

our mindsets we can make quantum leaps towards a smaller

you’re building in obsolescence” was something of a clarion call to the

environmental footprint.”

industry. Today, 23 per cent of Australia’s CBD office space is Green

Whether it was the development of ‘Pixelcrete’ (a special concrete of recycled and reclaimed aggregate with half the embodied carbon of normal concrete) or the introduction of small-scale vacuum

Star-certified. But while sustainability in the office market is almost ‘business as usual’, other market segments are some way behind.

“It starts with small steps,” Grollo says.

“SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NOW AND 30 YEARS’ TIME WE’LL SEE A SHIFT TO SUSTAINABILITY BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN LIVE ON THE SAME PLANET WITH DOUBLE THE POPULATION”

technology (which required changes to government legislation), Pixel

“A 6 Star Green Star rating in the commercial office sector is being

continues to inspire the industry to innovate.

normalised – and this success comes down to tenants driving demand.

But sustainability doesn’t have to be spectacular, and Grollo points to

“We need to transfer this desire to mums and dads when they are

the outcomes achieved at the state government offices in Dandenong

choosing their homes or the suburbs in which they want to live. When

as an example. The project achieved 6 Star Green Star ratings for the

they understand the benefits of sustainability in their homes, they’ll

design, construction and interiors – despite the initial contract only

start to demand it in their hospitals and in their schools too.”

requiring 5 Star outcomes.

“This is a good example of how our values set the direction and dictate the outcomes,” Grollo explains.

The project team identified a number of approaches that would enable them to achieve 6 Star ratings through some refinement to building services and by targeting specific material credits. These refinements and project savings elsewhere ensured 6 Star ratings were achieved at no additional project cost.

Grollo is “very confident” this will happen – it’s only a question of when.

“Somewhere between now and 30 years’ time we’ll see a shift to sustainability because there is no way we can live on the same planet with double the population.”

Grollo laments that sustainable development has got caught up in the politicised discussion around carbon. “The debate about climate change has become almost a moot argument that immediately creates tensions,” he says.

18 – THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014

“And yet, all we need to do is look at the skies of Beijing each winter

“As the world’s population doubles, our challenge – as a country, as

to know we need to do something about air pollution. The imperative

a society, and as a planet – is to live within a smaller environmental

to have a smaller environmental footprint remains, regardless of the

footprint. With the right mindset, it’s not that hard – you just have to

political debate around climate change.

have the right motivation.”

“I would love to see sustainability depoliticised so that we can focus

A man leaving behind a legacy – whether he thinks so or not – and

on the fact that if we want to create a healthier world for our children

buildings that will be sustainable building icons in the years to

– one with less pollution, and with healthier schools, hospitals and

come, Daniel Grollo is someone special. Maybe someone as

homes – we must work out how to do more with less.

iconic as his buildings.

THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014 – 19

PROJECT

AUSTRALIA 108: THE NEW ICONIC

CREATING A BUILDING THAT WILL STAND OUT AS A REPRESENTATION OF A GENER ATION IS NEVER GOING TO BE EASY. THE NEW AUSTR ALIA 108 PROJECT IN VICTORIA HAS ALREADY FACED ITS FAIR SHARE OF CHALLENGES – AND THEY HAVE NOT EVEN BROKEN GROUND YET. HOWEVER, IT HAS ALL THE MAKINGS OF BECOMING A NEW ICONIC BUILDING FOR AUSTR ALIA. BE TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT A FUTURE ICON THAT COULD CHANGE THE WAY THE WORLD LOOKS AT MELBOURNE. Extremely energy inefficient, highly expensive to maintain, and

Originally planned to be 226 metres in height and consist of 532

inconvenient for the people who live in: super tall skyscrapers are

residential apartments, six levels of office space, a fresh food

not often considered the best property solution for an increasingly

market and other retail amenities spanning 72 floors, it received

populated area, and often not the most attractive. Tall does not

immediate backlash over it being “excessively high” and “at odds

always equal iconic.

with the City of Melbourne’s height guidelines for the area”.

However, can the recently approved Australia 108 prove the

These concerns were rejected and it was noted that the planning

naysayers wrong and become the new iconic building for Melbourne

scheme did not have a maximum height limit stated, so architect

and even Australia?

Nonda Katsalidis revised the plans to “super-size” the building to

When Fender Katsalidis Architects purchased the 70 Southbank Boulevard site in April 2008 for $14.2 million, they had a dream of shaping the skyline of one of Australia’s most popular and cosmopolitan cities, and become part of the “fabric of life in central Melbourne”.

Unfortunately, little could they know how long the road would be to obtain approval.

include an additional 50 residential apartments, to bring the total to 600. Also, incorporated in the amended design were a six-star hotel with 288 rooms, and a two-storey star-shaped sky lobby with restaurants and bars.

The star-shaped sky lobby was inspired by the Commonwealth Star on the flag of Australia and designed to “burst” up to 9 metres outside of the building. Through all the following re-designs, this element has remained.

20 – THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014

Gordon Bell / Shutterstock.com

Fender Katsalidis Architects also incorporated the Chinese system of

‘‘Despite the support of the Victorian Government’s Department of

geomancy and Feng Shui when developing the new designs. Even the

Planning and Community Development and the Planning Minister, it

building’s name, height and top floor has kept within the theme, with

became clear that a redesign would be required,’’ the Australia 108

all containing the number 8 – a sign of prosperity, abundance and

team announced in July 2013.

security – to appeal to locally based and international Asian buyers.

New plans were needed, and prospective buyers – including many

“The 388-metre height was not an accident. Good planning often

who had put down a $1000 registration fee to secure an apartment

coincides with feng shui and the number 8 is like a lucky rabbit’s

– were told that these would be released in early 2014.

foot,” Mr Katsilidis said at the announcement of the project.

Mr Katsalidis said it took “a lot of massaging” to get the

However, it is has not brought them the luck that this project has needed. Actually, it seems to have brought them anything but luck.

building right.

“The previous one was about 30 metres higher but there was an

Previously given the nod last year at a height of 388 metres (1,273ft)

issue with the Essendon Airport, not Tullamarine and the big jets,

by the Victorian Government, the architects had to go back to

but the little planes,” he said.

the drawing board after it was cancelled four months later due to it being deemed to obstruct an emergency flight path route to Essendon Airport.

“It had to stay within an absolute height of about 319 metres, which we’ve done and it hasn’t taken a lot off, there’s over 1,000

THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014 – 21

PROJECT apartments in it already and we’ve still got the star burst in the

Katsalidis development Eureka Tower and current tallest building in

middle, which is a great feature.”

Australia title holder, the 319 meters tall Q1 in Queensland?

After struggling to meet the conditions imposed by government

The Chief Executive of new development owners Aspial, Koh Wee

authorities including VicRoads and the Civil Aviation Safety

Seng, has been quoted saying he wants his Australia 108 erection

Authority, the drama did not end there.

to stand among the world’s most iconic, but as a journalist in The

Originally, Australia 108’s backers of Katsalidis, private investor Benni Aroni and Adrian Valmorbida of the Lavazza coffee fortune

Australian puts it, “somebody should have told Koh that it’s not how big it is, it’s how you use it.”

were looking for joint venture partners to help finance the project

“And setting out to create an icon never really works out; just look

and run the six-star hotel proposed for inside the tower.

towards James Packer and his Barangaroo casino,” he continues.

THE ASPIAL CORPOR ATION SAID THEY PLANNED TO “CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AUSTR ALIA 108 AS MELBOURNE’S TALLEST AND MOST SIGNIFICANT RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL TOWER”

However, it was reported throughout Australian media that the

Architecture critic and author Philip Drew has already publicly

development was quietly put on the market for sale after the

labelled Australia 108 as “totally unnecessary”.

planning was set-back once more by the flight-path debacle, before an announcement was made a few month later in early 2014 that Singaporean property developer World Class Land, a subsidiary of Aspial Corporation, had paid $42.3 million for the Southbank tower.

In a statement released at the time of the takeover announcement, the Aspial Corporation said they planned to “continue to develop Australia 108 as Melbourne’s tallest and most significant residential and commercial tower.”

With all the problems over the past few years, we must now ask if this is just throwing good money after bad, all in the quest to create an icon?

“What’s the point of yet another tower claiming it is higher than the rest?” he says.

As for the design, Drew is less than impressed: “It’s a tortured shape, pretending to be a meaningful sculpture,” he says. “Whereas something such as the Willis Tower in Chicago is actually a rational design, this is just junk crying out to be labelled as an icon. It will be Melbourne’s tallest residential building, until some other godawful thing supplants it.”

So as Australia 108 moves towards construction, with the building itself expected to be completed in 2019, the question has to

The building’s architect Katsalidis is quick to admit that building up

be asked “What will make Australia 108 iconic?” Will it be its

is a costly process for investors.

current position as the first 100-storey building in the Southern

“You have to charge more because it costs you more to build that high, because of lifts, because of heavier structure to resist wind loads and other things,” said Mr Katsalidis.

Hemisphere, its controversial ‘love it or hate it’ design, or its background story, that will make this project an icon for Australia.

When it comes down to it, is this simply a “mine-is-biggerthan-yours” attempt by Australia 108 to beat the nearby Fender

22 – THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014

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THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014 – 23

QS KIT

THE TEST OF TIME With this issue being about all things ICONIC what better

phone or screen to tell the time, you cannot replace the tactile

accessory to consider than the ever-iconic timepiece? Despite the

elegance and sophistication of a quality watch upon your wrist.

digital age in which we live, where you only need glance at your

Here are some of our picks for the ultimate timeless timepiece.

THE CLASSIC

KATE SPADE THE GRAMERCY

OMEGA SPEEDMASTER 57

$225 + POSTAGE

PRICE ON APPLICATION

WOMEN’S

MEN‘S

This two-tone delicate design is a classic style that will never date

The Speedmaster ’57 Co-Axial collection is a timeless addition to

and compliment any outfit. Inspired by Manhattan’s gramercy park,

the legendary Speedmaster family. The understated design is a

a charming neighbourhood once host to writers Oscar Wilde and

modern take on a classic timepiece, which includes many subtle

O. Henry, the piece is crafted from stainless steel or gold-plated

nods to the first OMEGA Speedmaster from 1957. The Speedmaster

metal with a mother-of-pearl dial, the versatile design lends itself

’57 OMEGA Co-Axial Chronograph is an innovative wristwatch that

perfectly both office attire and evening cocktail dressing.

salutes its legendary ancestor whilst remaining modern and chic –

www.katespade.com

a perfect choice for the man who enjoys the finer things. www.omegawatches.com

24 – THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014

QS KIT

THE SPORTY TAG HEUER FORMULA 1 STEEL + CERAMIC CHRONOGRAPH 41MM

WOMEN’S The Formula 1 Steel & Ceramic Chronograph series pairs stainless steel with advanced scratchresistant ceramics for an effortless elegance that retains TAG Heuer’s sport heritage. This model features

$2250.00

THE HIPSTER THE HORSE BRUSHED ROSE / WALNUT LEATHER $129

BREITLING NAVITIMER GMT 48MM

MEN’S As a professional aviation instrument, it was only a matter of time before Breitling would include their inhouse GMT movement, the Breitling Calibre 04, in the Navitimer range. The movement

black ceramic on the bezel and

allows user friendly setting of a

bracelet with luminescent hands

second timezone, and a supersized

designed to be easily visible in the dark or underwater. Cut from

PRICE ON APPLICATION

case of 48mm now allows for maximum readability. The durable

a polished slice of solid sapphire

leather strap and sturdy features

that has been created by the fusion

give this classic watch a strong and

and crystallization of alumina,

adventurous edge that would suit

this model is so hard that only a

any free spirit with a love of the

diamond can scratch it.

great outdoors.

www.tagheuer.com

www.watchswiss.com

WOMEN’S

MEN’S

From their small warehouse in Sydney, Scott & Amy Hawkes continue a four-generation old family trade of cobbling to create their unique label The Horse.

Primarily known for their supple,

BRAUN X DIETER RAM

Classic design and excellent quality are hallmarks of German brand Braun x Dieter Rams, and this chronograph watch is an excellent example of both. The understated face features scratch-

slipper-esqe shoes, The Horse also

resistant mineral glass and three

creates beautifully crafted watches

additional dials and a date window.

that are simple in their design and showcase honest craftsmanship

$276

The leather strap and retro style add a contemporary, fashion

without tricked-up trends. We love

forward twist to a functional and

this understated leather number

reliable timepiece.

featuring a sandblasted IP rose gold coated stainless steel case, white

www.mrporter.com

face with minimalist markers and premium walnut leather band. www.thehorse.com.au

THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014 – 25

SOCIAL

VICTORIAN CHAPTER BUBBLE SOCCER 24TH JULY 2014

26 – THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014

SOCIAL

ALAN PATCHING CPD & NETWORKING EVENT QUEENSLAND CHAPTER 7TH AUGUST 2014

INFORMATION & NETWORKING EVENING NSW CHAPTER 23TH JULY 2014

If you have held or attended an AIQS event in your area and want to feature it in the Social Pages please send the event details and photographs with the names of who is in the picture to editor@buildingeconomist.com.au

THE BUILDING ECONOMIST – SEPTEMBER 2014 – 27