_Invesco partners with Knight Frank Project Management to revitalise 321 Exhibition Street

The Premium Grade commercial building is set on a prime corner at the top end of Melbourne’s CBD, comprising 29,249 sqm of net lettable area over 20 levels.

Invesco engaged our Project Management services for the refurbishment of the ground floor lobby, refurbishment of lift lobbies and amenities over fourteen floors, disability accessible amenities over five floors, End of Trip facilities and the creation of a new Wellness Centre.

Our Project Management team worked alongside BuildCorp, Carr, WSP, Slattery, Glowing Structures, Clive Steele Partners, Ausnviro, Architecture & Access, Steve Watson & Partners and Song Bowden Planning to successfully deliver the project, contending with COVID restrictions and legislative changes throughout 2020.

The lobby refurbishment brief required the revitilisation of the under-utilised existing lobby space, resolving issues with temperature control and bottle necking at the entrance to the building, while reviving the asset’s unique identity as 321X.

Carr took design inspiration from nearby parklands, creating warm, organic, natural elements displayed across the stunning timber wall paneling, upholstered banquette café seating and the upgraded concierge desks.

New revolving doors and separate entry for anchor tenant, Origin, create a newly reorganised space with multiple pathways to shared amenities such as the café and lifts.

The new circular café bar has been repositioned to increase visibility and patronage, and multiple seating areas are available throughout the space for visitors to utilise.

The challenges with the existing End of Trip facility included restricted accessibility, poor spatial planning and limited natural light. New external access points and DDA compliant thoroughfare, as well as COVID-19 policy motion sensors, create a welcoming, safe arrival for users.

The integrated, Green Star rated space features a full suite of cycling facilities including bike parking, storage, repair stations and hydration points.

The high-end bathroom amenities include dedicated grooming stations, floating vanities, bespoke sinks and ironing facilities.

A new multi-purpose space has been created to accommodate stretching, meditation and yoga classes.

Specialist lighting, designed by Glowing Structures, has been installed to supply soft light in spaces where natural light is minimal, and surface finishings are specified for cleanliness.

Designed to be sustainable, encourage wellness and make the user’s experience easy, the End of Trip facilities and Wellness Centre are luxe spaces which complement the revitalisation of 321X.

Photography credit: ALM Visuals, Buckford Illumination

An independent Environmental Consultant, Ausnviro, was engaged to ensure the current level of environmental performance was not reduced, as 321 Exhibition Street is only one of two with a 6 Star NABERS Energy rating in Australia.

A Sustainability Management Plan was developed to guide the project team through the upgrade and provide goals and targets for all aspects of the upgrade works.

The result showed that energy use would have a reduction of approximately 0.5% compared to the 2019 Year, maintaining the building's prized 6 Star NABERS Energy Rating and 5.5 Star NABERS Indoor Environmental Rating, and that water use will deliver an approximate 11% improvement over the current rating, which will deliver an estimated 4-star NABERS Water Rating.

Attention to Indoor Environment was achieved by careful selection of materials, with all products carried environmental certification and were targeted to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The base building upgrade is also aiming to achieve WELL Heath-Safety certification.

Due to the ongoing restrictions around site works and occupancy densities, the Project Management team had to be incredibly vigilant and ensure the site works and progress meetings were undertaken in accordance with state requirements.

Constant communication was required between the Project Management team, Principal Contractor Buildcorp, Invesco and the tenants, to efficiently inform of the safest access routes depending on the stage of the project.

While the scope required retaining the original building services and structural elements, the thoughtful design resolves the existing issues within the building, resulting in a beautiful, flexible space for tenants to enjoy, while promoting 321X’s presence at the top end of the CBD.

The 321 Exhibition Street refurbishment project was recently awarded Silver in the Melbourne Design Awards 2021 for Lighting Design, designed by Glowing Structures.

“Knight Frank have been outstanding throughout the 321 Exhibition Street project. It was the first time our business had undertaken an ECI arrangement, this was selected at Knight Frank’s recommendation and they guided us through the process seamlessly. Without this, the project would not have been so successful, and I am extremely grateful for their professionalism, expertise and leadership”, said Lauren Fellows, Director, Asset Management, Invesco.

“The Knight Frank team had to work through the extremely challenging circumstances that COVID presented but delivered the project on time, under budget and to a very high standard. This is the second time Invesco have used Knight Frank on a project and we can’t recommend them enough.”

For more information please contact:

Carlos Castelblanco
Senior Project Manager
Carlos.Castelblanco@au.knightfrank.com