555 Collins Street is a new commercial development located in the heart of the Melbourne CBD. Designed by renowned architect Cox Architects and Gensler, the project features a 37 storey, 160 metre building combining office and retail spaces. Built within the constraints of the existing structure of the former 1970’s building, the tower includes a new and deeper basement. It comprises large cantilevers and raking columns to the north and east elevations and was designed with a tapered top to prevent overshadowing the Yarra River’s north bank.
Acknowledging the significant carbon contribution of the primary structural frame, our Structural Engineers took proactive measures to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. By using grid optimisation and low carbon concrete we effectively reduced the overall environmental impact of the building which has achieved the highest possible green star rating with a 6-star award.
Key Technical Challenges:
Some of the key technical challenges include:
- Design of offset core to resist lateral stability loads.
- Strategic column coordination to optimise floor plate and eliminate transfer over ground floor retail and basement carpark.
- Challenging ground conditions to retain existing basement carpark volume and surcharge pressures from adjoining assets.