'Timber tower' officially opened in Brisbane

Minister for Industrial Relations Grace Grace and Impact Investment Group (IIG) joined property group Lendlease today to celebrate the official opening of 25 King, claimed to be Australia’s tallest engineered timber office building.

Based at 25 King Street in the suburb of Bowen Hills (near Brisbane Showgrounds), the 10-storey, 45 m timber commercial tower features open and flexible office space complemented by exposed timber structures to create a contemporary and creative studio environment. It includes extensive use of innovative and sustainable building materials, including glue-laminated timber structural beams and columns and cross-laminated timber floors, and its timber is 100% responsibly sourced.

Designed and manufactured by Lendlease and sold to IIG, 25 King is targeting a 6 Star Green Star rating, a 5 Star NABERS Energy rating and a WELL Core & Shell rating to complement the precinct’s 6 Star Green Star – Communities rating.

“25 King is the latest example of high-performance workplaces setting new benchmarks in environmentally sustainable building practices with strong connections between timber and human health within the built environment,” said John Burton, Lendlease’s Managing Director, Urban Regeneration.

“The building demonstrates greener and healthier ways of working. This creates a workplace that lives and breathes a culture of collaboration, providing workers with a sense of belonging.”

Global engineering firm Aurecon now occupies 43.5% of the net lettable area, with IIG working with Lendlease to secure new tenants for the remaining office space. IIG’s Head of Funds Management – Real Estate, Darren Brusnahan, described the building as “the definition of a connected, collaborative workspace for high-performance teams”.

“We think 25 King’s superb environmental credentials and tenant amenity will make a great contribution to its investment performance,” Brusnahan said.

“With our community of investors, we’re immensely proud to take ownership of this brilliant building.”

Pictured: 25 King.