166-493: Riverside Centre is a heritage-listed office building at 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane CBD , City of Brisbane , Queensland , Australia. It was designed by Harry Seidler . and was built in 1986. Completed in 1986, it contains 40 storeys and rises 146 metres (479 ft) above ground. The building is owned by General Property Trust . It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 1 December 2023. The base of
332-564: A Christmas procession. Some commentators - such as David Malouf - credited Seidler and the Riverside Centre with turning Brisbane "in a whole new direction, so that what had been a sluggish stream at the bottom of the city's backyard became a living waterway", and ultimately the emergence of Brisbane's identity as a "River City": Riverside Centre has continued to attract and retain high-profile tenants to its office tower, including stockbroking firms, banks, accountants, legal firms and in 2023,
498-638: A 1985 commentator, "The boom in Sydney had to stop earlier because they simply ran out of space, and in Melbourne the boom just wasn't as strong. Brisbane was really it - the boom was extraordinarily strong and it went without any hitches". The former wharf and warehouse precinct along Town Reach was a focus for high-rise office development. It held the city's first high-rise and two of the tallest buildings (167 Eagle Street, 1973; and AMP Gold Tower, 1978), as well as several more modest high-rise offices. The construction of
664-472: A 2 hectare site in total (both freehold and leasehold), but stage one had been laid out on 1.4 hectares. Few other office high-rise towers were erected on such large sites, with only two subsequent projects (Waterfront Place, 1990, and Cathedral Square, 1989) on par. The Riverside Centre site also dwarfed several CBD sites intended solely for public purposes or recreation, including Post Office Square , King George Square , Anzac Square , and Queens Gardens . For
830-614: A 35-storey "technologically-advanced marvel". Other towers erected in the Golden Triangle included the City Mutual Life building (1978), Charlotte Tower (1982), GWA House (1982), Société General House (1982), Bank of Queensland Centre (1982), Bank of New Zealand (1983), and 200 Mary Street (1986). The Golden Triangle became the CBD's acknowledged financial heart as the precinct became home to a series of "gleaming office towers". This development
996-538: A 40-storey office tower, a plaza providing open-air public space with access to the Brisbane River, and entertainment, food and transport facilities. Riverside Centre became home of the Brisbane Stock Exchange , with a purpose-built bourse on the lower office levels. It also became a popular centre for recreation, as Brisbane's social focus was increasingly oriented towards the outdoors and the river. Part of
1162-459: A brief time it was the tallest building in Brisbane (though its successor was under construction when Riverside opened). At a reported cost of $ 200 million, Riverside Centre was the first office tower development in the CBD to cost over $ 100 million, and was significantly more expensive than the record-setting AMP Blue Tower, constructed two years earlier for $ 60 million. The official cost of the project
1328-504: A cafe; was part of the AMP Gold Tower development. Some other buildings had cafeteria on upper levels, for building users, but few public eateries were located in the Golden Triangle. Lend Lease aimed to provide a range of eateries, from restaurants for business lunches to quick dine-in or casual takeaway, to Friday's, catering for after work crowds. Retail fit-outs were by Aspid International. Climatic considerations had been woven through
1494-415: A company would prefer to follow an established demand and probably pay a premium to avoid risk." The company highlighted its desire to create a "total pedestrian environment" with tourist facilities including restaurants, taverns and bistros "to give the complex life after business hours". Over the following year, Lend Lease continued to accumulate land, as well as leasehold over a laneway (Parbury Lane), and
1660-499: A credit squeeze limited further construction for the next several years. Between 1950 and 1965 few office highrise buildings were constructed in Brisbane. These included: Mutual Life & Citizens (MLC) Insurance Building, the first curtain-wall high-rise building in Queensland ( Bates Smart and McCutcheon , in association with Conrad and Gargett , 1956), Friendly Society Building (1957), and Taxation Building (1961). These all stood below
1826-519: A landmark for decades to come." Site work was underway on the project by April 1984, when the name "Riverside Centre" was publicly used. Construction work officially began in June 1984, and was launched with a flag-raising ceremony featuring the Queensland Theatre Orchestra, two tonnes of fireworks, a 400-person cocktail party, and a two-hour riverboat dinner cruise for one hundred children from
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#17328727633481992-443: A landmark project. Lend Lease, established in 1958 by Dick Dusseldorp , was one of Australia's largest development construction companies, responsible for housing, retail, and commercial construction across Australia in the second half of the 20th century. By 1985, Lend Lease had 'acquired a reputation for being Australia's premier property-development company producing developments "of such a scale and quality that few developers are in
2158-413: A large party was held. The following twelve months was spent finishing the building, plaza and low-rise buildings, installing office fit-outs, landscaping, and trees on the terrace gardens. This included a 20 metres (66 ft) Moreton Bay fig tree sailed up the river from Jacobs Well on a barge. The fig tree was chosen "to maintain the character of the area", in recognition of the stand of fig trees in
2324-409: A maximum of 132 feet (40 m), or eleven storeys. The maximum height could only be achieved for buildings of fireproof construction, in streets wider than 33 feet (10 m); otherwise lower limits applied. Churches, chapels, ornamental towers, domes, and decorative architectural features could exceed that limit. Accordingly, financial buildings along Queen Street were erected up to ten storeys during
2490-440: A particular period. It demonstrates a high degree of technical achievement for the period 1910–13 as an example of a very tall building in a timber-framed construction method which was obsolescent by this period. The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history. It has strong association with: [REDACTED] This Misplaced Pages article
2656-539: A position to compete against them". By 1989 it was Australia's 20th largest company. The company changed its name from "Lend Lease" to the single-worded "Lendlease" in 2015. The company formed a development triumvirate with construction and engineering business, Civil and Civic , and financial enterprise, General Property Trust (GPT), allowing it to undertake significant projects. Civil and Civic itself had been established in 1949 when Dusseldorp arrived in Australia to inspect
2822-530: A private development, Riverside Centre was highlighted by state and local governments as evidence of the city and Queensland's growth and development. It was promoted by successive Brisbane Lord Mayors as part of Brisbane's diamond jubilee and the Shine On Brisbane campaign; in the United States as a technologically "intelligent" building; and was featured in a Queensland Government television programme in
2988-461: A promenade extended along the site's 180m river frontage, lined with bollards linked by nautical chains, purpose-designed by the architectural team. A ferry terminal and marina, which led off the promenade, provided public and private access to the site from the river. Views from the plaza took in the sweep of the Town Reach, Kangaroo Point Cliffs and Story Bridge , framed by a curvilinear beam across
3154-539: A property in Brisbane. The state's population growth and the city's favourable development policies were credited with giving Brisbane the "best potential for growth of all the capital cities". GPT's February 1985 meeting, described as "Australia's largest business meeting", was held in Brisbane, where Dusseldorp was inspecting the progress of Riverside Centre. The acquisition of Riverside Centre on 30 September 1986 for an initial $ 171.5 million pushed GPT's assets close to $ 1 billion. Riverside Centre drew immediate acclaim from
3320-413: A publication on Riverside Centre in 1988. "In many respects Riverside Centre represents a consummate synthesis of everything that Seidler has projected and realised over the past twenty years", Frampton wrote, marvelling at the "straight-forward logic with which Seidler has arrived at the parti for Riverside Centre". "A balance is established between the twin dialogical themes that inform the entire work; on
3486-413: A purpose-designed facility on the fifth and sixth floors for the Brisbane Stock Exchange , the building's anchor tenant, featuring a trading floor, theatre and a mezzanine over the foyer, and no external windows. Pre-commitment tenants were able to specify their own fit-outs from the outset, including stairs between levels. By its opening Riverside Centre had over 75% pre-committed tenants (a high figure for
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#17328727633483652-462: A rapid repetitive construction cycle". Pylons were laid into the river in March 1985 for the riverfront road, which was to run under the development, but within months, the requirement for the road had been scrapped. Lend Lease had successfully negotiated a reduction in the height level of the riverside road as plans for the development were underway. The riverside road was publicly criticised, particularly as
3818-746: A rationalisation of planning, emphasising clarity and simplicity of form and detailing, the style had been adopted in Queensland in a variety of residential, religious, public, and commercial buildings. Examples include James Birrell's Centenary Pool Complex (1959), Brisbane City Council Carpark (1960), and JD Story Building at the University of Queensland (1964), Karl Langer's Main Roads Department Building (1967) and Chapel of St Peter's Lutheran College (1968), Jan Kral's Chelmer and Graceville railway station buildings (1959), and Donoghue and Fulton's Townsville General Hospital (1951). Seidler
3984-510: A square grid), or sun-blades), reflective glass, or interior blinds. Between 90 and 100 high-rise offices were constructed in the Brisbane CBD between 1965 and 2000, with more in near-city suburbs. The first building to claim a height over eleven storeys, the 16-storey Pearl Assurance office, was completed in 1966. The next several years brought a series of ever-taller buildings, from the 20-storey Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Building (1967); to
4150-587: A standout amongst Seidler's later office tower developments: an evolution in Seidler's work incorporating the landscape concepts of South American architects Burle Marx and Niemeyer and notions of "isostasis". Neville Quarry notes that 'in his recent works, such as QV1 in Perth and the Riverside Centre in Brisbane, that Seidler's balancing of the contending pressures of rectilinear and curvilinear motifs would most closely fit Frampton's notions of isostasis". Seidler's solution to
4316-461: A structural necessity. This led into a four-storey (15m), glass-walled foyer, with exfoliated black granite-lined floor with strips of travertine. The foyer was ceiled by external support concrete beams brought together in a decorative web pattern, designed by Mario Desideri, successor to renowned Italian engineer Pier Luigi Nervi . Seidler continued to uphold the lessons of Nervi throughout his enduring career. Indeed, in his following buildings, such as
4482-437: A tenant's preferences, and easily altered when turnover occurred. At 1,500 square metres (16,000 sq ft) the tower's floor size was unusually large, allowing larger firms and businesses to consolidate their operations into a smaller area, providing advantages in improving communications and reducing costs. Plans for the plaza changed slightly after an additional land purchase was settled in 1984. A 350-room hotel building
4648-577: A triangle in Eagle Street , but was removed some years later. The cost of the project allowed for high-quality materials, finishes, sculptures, and artwork. A sculpture by artist Norman Carlberg , "Winter Wind", a 10m repetition of a single quadrant shape in white-painted steel was commissioned and installed in the main section of the foyer (from the Eagle Street entrance), and tapestry artwork by Alexander Calder (a favourite artist of Seidler, whose work had been used in earlier Lend Lease developments) along
4814-421: Is a limit on site cover of no more than 25% to 35%... to generate some breathing space of the additional thousands of people that work in such buildings to create genuinely useful, new, open or sheltered urban spaces - places of repose and recreation - much needed open public space on private land". Seidler said that Riverside would be a place for people: "It'll be a meeting place, a shopping place, an eating place -
4980-634: Is an essential factor in creating a valid urban space in which people feel 'contained' and are tempted to linger, which they do not in open plazas without visual boundaries." The national architectural body, the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, awarded Riverside Centre the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for non-residential works in 1987 (joint recipient with Dinner Plain Alpine Village, near Mount Hotham ). The Sir Zelman Cowen Award
5146-407: Is home to several of Australia's tallest buildings . Brisbane's tallest buildings are Brisbane Skytower at 270 metres, The One at 264 metres, One William Street at 260 metres, Soleil at 243 metres, Aurora Tower at 207 metres, Riparian Plaza at 200 metres, One One One Eagle Street at 195 metres, and Infinity at 249 metres, which was completed in 2014. The Brisbane CBD
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5312-403: Is important because of its aesthetic significance. The robust qualities of the lower floors, the simplicity of the materials, verticality of design and accentuation of the corners combine to give a landmark quality to the building which exhibits particular aesthetic qualities valued by the community. The place is important in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at
5478-830: Is laid out according to a grid pattern surveyed during the city's early colonial days, a feature typical of most Australian street patterns. Most central streets are named after members of the House of Hanover . Queen Street (named in honour of Queen Victoria ) is Brisbane's traditional main street and contains its largest pedestrian mall , the Queen Street Mall . Streets named after female members ( Adelaide , Alice , Ann , Charlotte , Elizabeth , Margaret , and Mary ) run parallel to Queen Street and perpendicular to streets named after male members ( Albert , Edward , George , and William ). The CBD's squares include King George Square , Post Office Square and ANZAC Square (home to
5644-434: Is located between the two buildings. Completed in 1986, Riverside Centre was designed as development company Lend Lease's principal project for the 1980s. It was built during a boom in office tower construction in Brisbane, including the emerging heart of the financial district between Queen and Edward streets. Designed by internationally renowned architect Harry Seidler in 1983, the $ 200-plus million development included
5810-476: Is one of the major business hubs in Australia. The City contains many tall office buildings occupied by organisations, businesses and all three levels of government that have emerged into a number of precincts. The areas around the Queen Street Mall and Adelaide Street is primarily a retail precinct. A legal precinct exists around the various court buildings located around the intersections of George Street and Adelaide and Ann Streets. The government precinct
5976-445: The 2021 census , Brisbane City had a population of 12,587 people. There are no schools in the central business district. The nearest government primary schools are Brisbane Central State School in neighbouring Spring Hill to the north and Petrie Terrace State School in neighbouring Petrie Terrace to the west. The nearest government secondary schools are Fortitude Valley State Secondary College in neighbouring Fortitude Valley to
6142-600: The Grosvenor Place in Sydney and at the Riverside Centre in Brisbane and for a bridge proposal in Brisbane (1978), Seidler adopted a section for the pillar that recalls the trestle designed by Studio Nervi. Services were located in the building's core. The height of the building required three banks of lifts, with changeover levels, and a separate lift to the two basement carpark levels. The tower contained 36 levels of offices to be leased to commercial tenants. The column-free, open floor plates allowed for fit-outs to be adapted to
6308-541: The MLC Centre (1976), both designed by architectural firm Harry Seidler and Associates. Encouraged by Queensland's economic progress and forecasts for further growth, the company focused on the Brisbane CBD for its 1980s landmark. Forecasts for further growth included the state's growing population, the ongoing mining boom and resources development, and potential for growth in leisure and tourism industries, all of which would be reflected in demand for commercial office space in
6474-682: The Port Office (1880), the Brisbane Customs House (1889), Naval Offices (1901), and Smellie & Co's warehouses (1888, 1887 and 1896). In the early 1920s, most of the Brisbane CBD 's buildings reached only one or two storeys (including residences), with warehouses up to three and four storeys, and a small number of commercial buildings extending up to eight storeys (such as Perry House , built in 1910). The 1920s boom brought taller buildings, but in 1926, building heights were restricted to
6640-635: The Queen's Wharf megaproject is under construction along the southern end of William Street, which includes a pedestrian bridge crossing the Riverside Expressway . Like most other Australian capital cities, Brisbane has experienced dramatic rises in rental prices for residential and office space before the Great Recession . At the beginning of 2008, the Brisbane central business district contained 1.7 million square metres of office space. High demand in
6806-736: The Snowy River Scheme for a Dutch joint venture, and decided to invest in the company's development potential. GPT was floated in 1971 and was the country's largest trust by the mid-1980s. These included: stage one of the Sydney Opera House , Caltex House, Sydney (1958), Lend Lease House, Sydney (1961), Hobart Place, Canberra, Consolidated Zinc building , Melbourne (1959), and Princes Gate towers , Melbourne (1966, demolished). The company had built two "landmark" or statement high-rise projects in Sydney: Australia Square (1968) and
Riverside Centre, Brisbane - Misplaced Pages Continue
6972-422: The travertine walls of the lift core on the north and southern sides of the foyer. The architectural team from Harry Seidler and Associates, including Harry Seidler, Henry Feiner, and Greg Holman, designed minutely-detailed interior fittings in what was referred to as "a "ridiculous amount" of design creativity", including purpose-designed light-up elevator buttons, ashtrays, and skirting ducts. Around $ 15 million
7138-427: The "shell and core" concept, where the exterior design of the building was highly-specified, and the interior spaces were standardised and flexible (largely open-plan), allowing for tenant-specified individual fit-outs and periodic refitting. Semi-public spaces that were at the forefront of user-experience, such as entrance foyers, lifts, boardrooms and restaurants, were often of a more refined architectural finish. During
7304-463: The 132 feet (40 m) height limit. Shopping centres were built in the suburbs and shipping facilities moved further downstream towards the river mouth, leaving the CBD's traditional retail and wharfing precincts in decline. The shift of the wharves occurred in port cities worldwide in the second half of the twentieth century, as small inner-city wharves could no longer accommodate larger ships nor containerisation facilities. In Brisbane, additionally,
7470-464: The 1920s and 1930s, but most of the CBD's buildings were lower, including the six-storey Finney Isles store (1936), seven-storey National Mutual Life Association Building (1926), seven-storey National Bank of Australasia (1930), and ten-storey Colonial Mutual Life Building (1931). By the time construction work was halted for the outbreak of World War II , the Brisbane City Hall clock tower
7636-516: The 1960s and 1970s, heavy concrete curtain wall cladding was popular, and from the late 1970s, building designs increasingly featured flat, sleek and reflective surfaces, including all-glass facades or polished marble or granite. The curtain wall cladding was often modular and prefabricated. Sun control was handled in various and evolving ways, such as structural frame projections, external shading devices (including external hoods, screens, egg-crate sun breakers (horizontal and vertical flanges positioned in
7802-563: The 1960s with Sydney's Australia Square. In Brisbane, this involved purchases from a large number of reluctant sellers, who, according to the Lend Lease Corporation managing director, had to be made "offers they couldn't refuse". For Lend Lease, the high cost was offset by adherence to its risk avoidance philosophy. As Lend Lease Development's Queensland manager, Trevor Reddacliff, stated: "As a company, Lend Lease does not speculate and it does not create demand. A lot of leaders fail. We as
7968-525: The 1965 town plan, Brisbane's high-rises rose above 132ft (40.23m; approximately 11 storeys). High-rise office towers from the late 20th century typically featured a structural frame of metal, reinforced concrete or pre-stressed concrete; repeated floor plates with spaces for desk work; entrance foyers for centralised access; and vertical cores that usually assisted in withstanding lateral forces such as wind and included: lifts, stairs (for fire egress), toilets and service ducts. Most buildings of this type adopted
8134-520: The 23-storey Bank of New South Wales (1970); the State Government Insurance Office (1971); the first building over 60 metres (200 ft), 167 Eagle Street (1973); and a series of high-rise towers for government, mining, investment, financial and insurance groups completed by 1976, mostly designed in the "international modern" style which dominated high-rise office design in Australia. As at 1995, 80 percent of Brisbane's office space
8300-472: The AIA at both State and National levels. Riverside Centre's opening had an immediate impact on Brisbane's commercial office market. Thanks to the availability of river views across two-thirds of the tower, Riverside commanded some of the highest rents in Queensland - $ 444 per square metre in 1988 - and was credited with increasing rental levels in prime office market from 15% to 20%. The office tower's triangular shape
8466-561: The ASX, the building was a target for protests in 2001, and Richard Branson launched Virgin Blue onto the ASX from the building's foyer in December 2003. In 2006, the twenty-year old office tower was fully leased, and was still referenced as a benchmark by developers. A spokesman for Devine, about to undertake construction of a 25-level office building on a site with approval for a taller building, noted that
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#17328727633488632-693: The AUSN's No. 11 and No. 13 wharves within the river. Having acquired control over a 2ha site, Lend Lease engaged architect Harry Seidler to redesign the Riverside project in August 1983. Austrian-born Seidler had already achieved significant renown as an architect in residential and commercial designs, including the award-winning Rose Seidler house (1950), Australia Square, MLC Centre, the Australian Embassy in Paris (1977), and
8798-482: The Australian Institute of Architects (AIA, formerly the Royal Australian Institute of Architects) awarded Riverside Centre its Enduring Architecture award. This award is given to a structure at least 25 years old, of outstanding merit that, considered in a contemporary context, remains important as a high quality work of architecture. Riverside Centre was also recognised as significant 20th century architecture by
8964-655: The Brisbane City Council as policy. The road, or Petrie Bight Expressway, was to be a twin to the Riverside Expressway running along North Quay to the Captain Cook Bridge , and any riverfront development would have to make provision for the road. The proposed expressway was partly responsible for the inability of British developers Hammerson Group to complete its proposed three-tower riverfront plaza, restaurant and bridge development. Later it contributed to
9130-451: The Brisbane River. It hosts an art gallery and operates Old Government House as a museum; both of these and other facilities are open to the public. A number of other universities have premises in the Brisbane CBD for events, networking, and short courses, but their major teaching and research facilities are not in the CBD. Up until 1964, a Brisbane City Council regulation limited building heights to 132 ft (40 m). Some of
9296-578: The Brisbane River. A hub for commerce, transport and recreation from the mid-19th century, the Town Reach of the river had fallen out of favour in the second half of the 20th century, as wharves and bathing facilities were removed, and the Riverside Expressway cut off public connection to the riverbanks. Only a promenade through the Botanic Gardens provided unimpeded access to the river. From the late 1970s, river management, development and clean-up committees had emerged, urging an end to dredging, cleaning up
9462-441: The Brisbane River. Aluminium sunshades, fitted on two sides of the building, were designed to address the different angle of the sun on each elevation, but minimise disruption to the views. Recessed sky terraces interspersed across two sides of the building broke up any repetition. The tower was to be clad in a cool pearl-coloured granite, providing a contrast to the glass towers emerging along Brisbane's skyline. The main entrance to
9628-458: The Brisbane Stock exchange. Norman Carlberg was the sculptor who collaborated with Seidler on works for the Riverside project. The site was initially a cemetery. It was later occupied by low level buildings attached to wharves. Riparian Plaza , the second major building in Brisbane designed by Seidler, was completed in 2005 and is located near the Riverside Centre. One One One Eagle Street
9794-574: The Brisbane community. An extra storey, designed by Powell, was added in 1923. In 1996, the building underwent a major redevelopment and was opened as the Royal Albert Hotel. Originally an eight storeyed, timber frame brickwork construction in the Federation warehouse tradition, this building is set on a two-storey podium of cement render. Plain brick piers, linked at each floor level by recessed horizontal bands of cement render, rise from above
9960-464: The Brisbane congregation having previously met in a range of public buildings since forming in 1855. It was designed in the Early Italianate style and was built by Andrew Petrie . The church was 57 by 34 feet (17 by 10 m) and could accommodate 250 people. The cost was £2000 for the land and building, but part of the cost was covered by donations, e.g. Thomas Blacket Stephens partially donated
10126-704: The CBD include City Hall (including the Museum of Brisbane ), the Story Bridge , the Howard Smith Wharves , ANZAC Square , St John's Cathedral , the Brisbane River and its Riverwalk network, the City Botanic Gardens , Roma Street Parkland , Queensland Parliament House , Old Government House and Customs House . Brisbane has many heritage-listed sites, including: By road, four road bridges connect
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#173287276334810292-468: The CBD is bounded by Milton , Petrie Terrace , and Kelvin Grove . In the 2021 census , the suburb of Brisbane City had a population of 12,587 people. The Brisbane central business district is an area of densely concentrated skyscrapers and other buildings, interspersed by several parks such as Roma Street Parklands , City Botanic Gardens and Wickham Park . It occupies an area of 1.367 km . The city
10458-755: The CBD with the southern bank of the Brisbane River: the Captain Cook Bridge , the Victoria Bridge , the William Jolly Bridge and the Go Between Bridge . The Story Bridge connects Fortitude Valley with Kangaroo Point and provides access to the city from the southern bank. The Captain Cook Bridge connects the Pacific Motorway , south of the river, with the Riverside Expressway which runs along
10624-459: The Colonial Mutual building as "prime", with the forthcoming Riverside Centre and Central Plaza One also to fit into that category. In January 1987, when JLW's associate national director said that "contrary to popular belief, there is not an abundance of prime new office space available". In a single decade (1979-1989), Brisbane climbed from one of the least expensive cities for office rentals in
10790-485: The Harry Gibbs Commonwealth Law Courts (1994). The Crow Howarth building, opened in 2001 at 120 Edward Street, was announced as the "first commercial office building in the Brisbane CBD for over a decade". One project, Admiralty Wharves, was ultimately constructed in the 20th century, but without office towers as originally planned. In 1979, development company Lend Lease began investigating sites for
10956-536: The Kangaroo Point bend was too difficult for large ships to handle. Port facilities were relocated downstream from the 1940s, and ultimately the Port of Brisbane was built near the mouth of the river. However, Queensland's mining and property industries boomed in the 1960s and 1980s, encouraging investment into the state. This, accompanied by governmental encouragement of private enterprise, favourable development policies and
11122-513: The Perry brothers – Herbert and George – was a prominent Brisbane businessman. Before the construction of the building, the Perry brothers had operated a wholesale outlet in Queen Street . They were to expand their operation at Perry House, as every floor of the building was occupied with their business activities and storage of their goods. Charles William Chambers was a prominent Brisbane architect of
11288-540: The Royal Gold Medal for Architecture, one of the highest honours for architects in the world, for his body of work. In his accompanying speech, Seidler referenced Riverside Centre (alongside other projects). Seidler was the second of only two Australians to date to receive the Royal Gold Medal for the promotion of Architecture, awarded since 1848 (the first being Sir Arthur George Stephenson , CMG, AMTPI, in 1954). In 1988, Riverside Centre received further recognition as
11454-559: The St Vincent's Home for Children. In accordance with its intention for Riverside Centre to be its landmark development of the decade, Lend Lease promoted the building project heavily, including addressing any potential issues with an immediate public relations campaign. When a series of blackouts affected CBD buildings in March 1985, Lend Lease advertised Riverside as 'Brisbane's Most Prestigious Powerhouse', promoting it as "the only major centre with 4 generators capable of supplying 100% power to
11620-477: The State Works Centre, which is no longer extant), which acknowledged the "superbly detailed, sophisticated" tower as "the central focus of a well ordered urban precinct which provides the city with a fine example of the potential to be gained from positively relating development to the river". The entrance lobby was described as "somewhat overwhelming, but impressive" and overall "the incorporation of water in
11786-533: The Victoria, William Jolly, Go Between and Story road bridges. The Kangaroo Point Green Bridge is being built between the CBD and Kangaroo Point. The Brisbane central business district is the central hub for all public transport services in Brisbane. Bus services are centred on the Queen Street bus station and King George Square busway station . Suburban train services pass through Central railway station , and Roma Street railway station . Roma Street also serves as
11952-599: The architectural world. It was covered in Australian and international architectural publications, including the Japanese Architecture and Urbanism, Sydney's Corporate and Office Design and Constructional Review, London's Architectural Review, and the Austrian Architectur Actuell. It was awarded the Royal Australian Institute of Architects' (Queensland Chapter) best building award in 1987 (joint winner with
12118-447: The borderline between the public and the commercial categories. Nevertheless, anyone who has been in Brisbane on a weekend, when the Riverside ground level plazas are throbbing with market stalls, eating and meeting places will appreciate what a vital contribution this architecture makes to public urban life". In addition to the "interesting architectural solutions" of the building itself (including its triangular shape, clean building lines,
12284-457: The building fronts the Brisbane River with a CityCat wharf , has many cafes and restaurants. The Riverwalk , which links the central business district to suburbs both up and down the Brisbane river was built between the water and the public space surrounding the skyscraper. The open plaza and steps at the tower base is a recommended viewing point for the Riverfire celebrations. It formerly held
12450-479: The building was also acknowledged as a draw for some tenants. The Queensland Division of the Building Owners and Managers Association awarded Riverside Centre a special citation for its "outstanding contribution to the city by establishing Brisbane as a mature commercial centre and for its civic and environmental design". Developers undertaking other large office tower developments in the Golden Triangle acknowledged
12616-541: The building, keeping it "state-of-the-art" for as long as possible. On completion, the building was transferred to GPT. The official handover ceremony included using the tower's advanced technology to turn on the top floor air-conditioning from Sydney. GPT had publicised its interest in purchasing the development in January 1984. This was to be GPT's first investment in Queensland, and Lend Lease chairman GJ Dusseldorp faced questions from GPT unitholders over why they should invest in
12782-658: The central business district (CBD) in the 1860s, the 1880s and the 1920s. These were clustered into precincts, with most of the government buildings erected along George Street , the retail and financial district stretching down Queen Street, and a shipping, wharf, and warehouse precinct along the Town Reach , the riverfront between the Botanic Gardens and the Kangaroo Point bend. Surviving wharf and warehouse buildings in this precinct include AUSN House ( Naldham House ) (1870s),
12948-458: The central business district along the river bank. The Brisbane CBD has featured in a number of films, including: Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth Hobart Darwin Canberra Perry House, Brisbane Perry House is a heritage-listed office building at 167 Albert Street (corner of Elizabeth Street ), Brisbane City, Queensland , Australia. It
13114-506: The central business district. The company's attention was drawn to the burgeoning financial centre, where, by 1979, office towers lined the streets between remnant shipping company and government maritime buildings. Though construction had shifted towards the river, development on riverfront sites had been limited by a proposed riverfront road. The riverside road had been recommended in the 1965 Brisbane Transport Study, undertaken by American planning firm Wilbur Smith and Associates, and adopted by
13280-595: The chairman of the Queensland-based development company Kern, Barry Paul, said that Brisbane needed to create more modern buildings to remain competitive: '"If Brisbane doesn't produce more Riversides and more Waterfronts, then the Brisbane CBD will be obsolete". Kern had recently completed the Harry Seidler-designed Grosvenor Place in Sydney and had planned a development, Landmark Tower, also designed by Harry Seidler, on Margaret Street . Though
13446-427: The city oasis he creates". While the project was not "anything radically new" for Seidler and his "already well-honed skills", the project's scope and size "allows his very simple clean cut design approach to make an impact by its repetition over a large area and a number of small buildings at the concourse level". Also "'Brisbane's Riverside Centre might seem, because of its substantial office tower, to have wandered over
13612-576: The city's central war memorial ). The Brisbane central business district was built on a spur of the Taylor Range with the highest spot in the suburb being Wickham Terrace . North Quay is an area in the CBD that was a landing point during the first European exploration of the Brisbane River . Petrie Bight is a reach of the Brisbane River ( 27°27′49″S 153°02′06″E / 27.4636°S 153.0351°E / -27.4636; 153.0351 ( Petrie Bight ) ), which gives its name to
13778-406: The city's first fully glass-clad "Gold Tower" for AMP in 1978 gave rise to the precinct being called the "Golden Triangle", and its reputation as a desirable office location. Office towers were erected in the Golden Triangle and named for the highest-paying lessee, ranging in scale from the 18-storey, $ 9 million GWA House on Market Street (1982), to the record-setting $ 60 million AMP Blue Tower (1984),
13944-556: The city, and the city was promoted internationally (particularly in the United States) amidst a push to encourage international tourism. Brisbane was also the host of the 1989 International Conference on Tall Buildings and City Development, run by the International Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Pedestrianism was improved in the city centre with the construction of pedestrian bridges crossing Anzac Square (1982) and
14110-584: The collapse of a plan to open a Hilton Hotel on a riverfront site. The Hilton Hotel instead opened in Queen Street, in a building designed by Harry Seidler and Associates. The disused wharves of the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company (AUSN), Thomas Brown and Son, and Nixon Smith remained in situ, used for carparking. A Lend Lease subsidiary, Lend Lease Developments, began to acquire multiple sites fronting Eagle Street and
14276-458: The company was "not trying to build the Riverside Centre". Brisbane City, Queensland Brisbane City is the central suburb and central business district of Brisbane , the state capital of Queensland , Australia. It is also colloquially referred to as the "Brisbane CBD", "the city", or simply "town". The CBD is located on a point on the northern bank of the Brisbane River , historically known as Meanjin , Mianjin or Meeanjin in
14442-421: The construction of Perry House. Thomas Keenan, the builder, had a long career in Brisbane from 1886 to 1923. The construction of Perry House occupied a considerable period of time, beginning in 1911 and not reaching completion until early 1913. Frequent strikes appear to have slowed progress. Perry House was the highest building in Brisbane on its completion and its construction was followed with great interest by
14608-588: The controversial Blues Point Tower (1961), recreational facilities (Thredbo Ski Lodge, 1962) and commercial buildings, Australia Square and MLC Centre, the former of which was considered "one of Australia's most important works of the postwar period". Influenced by international architects, artists and designers Walter Gropius , Oscar Neimeyer , Marcel Breuer and Josef Albers , Seidler's designs strongly adhered to principles of modernist architecture . Modernist architecture developed in pre- World War I Europe and gained popularity in Australia after WWII. Notable for
14774-516: The corners of the tower's triangular shape were rounded to simplify the design, and repetition of elements allowed for uniformity of structural beams. Seidler devoted much attention to the systematic manner in which the work would be erected and to the precise detailing of its tectonic form. Seidler said "A triangular office configuration with one third of a circle in each corner results in a building with only one span length for every beam and only one facade unit of identical structural spacing. This allows
14940-405: The decoration. The curvilinear beam was questioned by architectural commentators and members of the public (as it "seems to interfere with the river relationship and restricts views to Kangaroo Point", but, Seidler explained, it served a most important aesthetic purpose. It defines and forms the visual boundary to the public plaza (without which the space would just 'fall out' towards the river). This
15106-479: The design, and were implemented during the construction. The use of sunshades (installed in 1986 as the building's 'eyelids') and granite facing, instead of a glass-faced facade, reduced heat load on the building. The use of granite also reduced maintenance costs. Hailstorms in January 1985 led to extensive testing to ensure the sunshades would withstand future storms, and a year-long study was undertaken to determine individual angles of installation. The glass canopy over
15272-638: The development were also quickly appreciated, as Riverside Centre began to draw people to the city after working hours. Ferry services started at the Riverside ferry wharf , which replaced the Creek Street ferry stop, in October 1986, bringing city workers and visitors to and through the site. A high-speed service running to the University of Queensland's St Lucia campus started the following year, and CityCats served
15438-425: The development. By 1984 this cost had been revised again to $ 300 million, but that figure was to include a second stage development. The development was sold to General Property Trust in 1986 for a sign-over price of $ 171.5 million and a total sales price of about $ 200 million. The project was mostly commonly referred to as a $ 200 million project, including by contractors Civil and Civic. Riverside Centre remained one of
15604-460: The early 1980s, . The population growth through the 1970s, particularly from interstate migration and an increasing proportion of tourists, moved Brisbane "closer to challenging Melbourne's status as second city". The city prepared to host two major international events: the 1982 Commonwealth Games and the 1988 World Exposition (colloquially Expo 88 ).The "Shine on Brisbane", 'Image "82" and 'Image "88" campaigns encouraged beautification in and around
15770-570: The facilities remained relatively consistent with the earlier design, Seidler's design for Riverside reenvisaged them into an integrated plan adopting his architectural philosophies, similar to his designs for Australia Square and MLC Centre. The Riverside project design was reportedly produced by Seidler over a weekend. At the centre of the site was a triangular-shaped office tower, set in an open-air plaza, with surrounding low-rise retail, entertainment, and commercial facilities. The buildings featured clean lines and limited ornamentation. The positioning of
15936-561: The few 20th century office tower developments in the Brisbane CBD to cost over $ 100 million, with only two further projects, both neighbours to Riverside Centre, before the economic recession of the 1990s: the two-tower Central Plaza complex designed by Japanese architect, Kisho Kurokawa , and Queensland architectural firm, Peddle Thorp , opening in two stages; and Waterfront Place , designed by Perth architectural firm Cameron Chisholm Nichol , and also opened in two stages (Eagle Street Pier, 1989; Waterfront Place, 1990). The public aspects of
16102-635: The fifth most expensive city in the world for commercial rents in 1979, to seventh most expensive city in 1988, and climbing to the sixth most expensive city in 1989. The long boom of Brisbane's office towers ended abruptly in 1990. Projects were put on hold as the Queensland economy began a downward turn, and Australia entered a recession. Several proposed major office towers projects were postponed or abandoned. Strong building activity did not recommence for another decade. After 1990, high-rise office buildings were constructed at 310 Ann Street ( c. 1992 ), State Government offices on George Street (1993), and
16268-451: The first skyscrapers built in the CBD include the SGIO building (now Suncorp Plaza ) in 1970 and AMP Place in 1977. Other notable openings included Comalco Place (1984), Riverside Place (1986), the two towers of Central Plaza (1988 and 1989), and Waterfront Place (1990). In the last few decades the number of apartment buildings that have been constructed has increased substantially. Brisbane
16434-428: The inclusion or exclusion of the two basement levels, the number of office levels (possibly including or excluding the open-air penthouse sky terrace), and the number of storeys occupied by the foyer. The office tower was positioned in line with the city street grid, providing views along Eagle Street and down Elizabeth Street , while its triangular shape allowed two-thirds of the office's full height glass windows to face
16600-626: The interim, the real estate market used subjective terms of prime, premium, A-grade etc. Notable amongst these were the Gold Tower, its twin "Blue Tower" (1984), the CML building on Queen Street (1984), Capital Centre on Adelaide Street (1984), Central Plaza One and Two (1987-88), and Waterfront Place (1990). These ratings led to some tenants seeking to upgrade away from buildings perceived to be lower grade. A Jones Lang Wootton (JLW) survey in October 1985 identified Santos House, Comalco Place [Blue Tower], and
16766-632: The joint winner of the Robin Dods award (a triennial award by the RAIA Queensland Chapter for excellence over a three-year period), as, according to the judging panel, it "sets an incredibly high standard as well as giving Brisbane a magnificent riverfront public space". The building received first prize in the 1989 Marble Architectural Awards in Carrara , Italy. In 2011, the Queensland Chapter of
16932-513: The land. In 1881, the church was enlarged, but the need for further growth resulted in a decision to build a new church, the City Tabernacle in Wickham Terrace . The Wharf Street church was sold, holding its last service on 5 October 1890 with the tabernacle being dedicated on 9 October 1890. The building is no longer extant. On Tuesday 25 May 2021, a Baptist Historic plaque was placed at
17098-556: The late 1980s. Its completion, alongside that of the Brisbane Transit Centre in Roma Street, prompted "a school of thought that Brisbane is capable of being the business capital of the south-west Pacific by the year 2000". The scope and cost of the office tower development project was significant. The size of the site - 1.4ha - dwarfed most of the sites on which Brisbane's other office towers were erected. Lend Lease had amassed
17264-401: The local Yuggera dialect. The triangular-shaped peninsula is bounded by the median of the Brisbane River to the east, south and west. The point, known at its tip as Gardens Point , slopes upward to the north-west where the city is bounded by parkland and the inner city suburb of Spring Hill to the north. The CBD is bounded to the north-east by the suburb of Fortitude Valley . To the west
17430-402: The main entrance and a wavy canopy connecting the tower's north-eastern entrance to the northern plaza buildings provided shelter from subtropical downpours. The length of the project allowed time to study and eliminate wind tunnels in the plaza, and to best position outdoor eating areas for summer shade and winter sun. This, Lend Lease Development hoped, "would ensure that people would be drawn to
17596-410: The mid-to-late 20th century this building type was increasingly constructed in Australian cities and continuously evolved with the established building tradition. While there are numerous descriptions of the height associated with the term "high-rise" worldwide, it is most often based on building codes and fire regulation applicable in individual geographical locations. With the removal of height limits in
17762-626: The name Your Church. The Brisbane City Library opened in 1965, moving into Brisbane Square in 2006. The city centre was damaged by the 2010-2011 floods . In the 2016 census , Brisbane City had a population of 9,460 people.The most common countries of birth other than Australia were China 16.0%, South Korea 8.3%, England 3.7%, Taiwan 3.2% and Brazil 2.8%. 43.7% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 12.3%, Korean 7.7%, Cantonese 3.6%, Spanish 2.9% and Portuguese 2.7%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 43.0% and Catholic 16.8%. In
17928-479: The new office tower at the heart of river transport into and out of the city. In coming years, as Brisbane's "River City" identity emerged, Riverside Centre's restaurants and terraces became a popular gathering space for New Years' Eve fireworks, special events such as the arrival of the " tall ships " in 1987 and 2001, the docking of the Endeavour replica in 2011, the annual Riverfire festival fireworks displays, and
18094-541: The new standard the project had set for the "top end of the market", while the Queensland Governor stated in 1988 that Riverside Centre "has brought a whole new dimension to the standard of accommodation to which professional and commercial organisations may aspire". Serge de Kantzow, who was behind the Central Plaza One development, stated in 1985 that his office development "would be designed specifically to fill
18260-550: The north-east and Kelvin Grove State College in neighbouring Kelvin Grove to the north. Queensland University of Technology has its major campus at Gardens Point ( 27°28′36″S 153°01′41″E / 27.4767°S 153.0281°E / -27.4767; 153.0281 ( Queensland University of Technology (Gardens Point Campus) ) ), located between Parliament House , the City Botanic Gardens, and
18426-451: The northern side close to Eagle Street ('North Court' or north-west plaza), and Michael's Riverside Restaurant on the riverside, cantilevered over the river (north-east plaza). On the southern side, a single-storey retail court near Eagle Street flowed into a two-storey building fronting the river promenade (south plaza). The lower floor held "On the Deck" eateries and shops, while on the upper floor
18592-409: The office market had pushed vacancy rates in the Brisbane CBD to 0.7% by January 2008, the lowest in Australia. Premium grade office space was even less vacant with an occupancy rate of 99.9%. By the end of 2009 the situation had reversed. In mid 2013 the market for office space had declined to its worst position in two decades with a vacancy rate of just under 13%. Major landmarks and attractions in
18758-524: The office tower, set back on its plaza, was in accordance with modernist design principles, while the curved form and position of the low-rise buildings within the plaza provided an organic-shaped contrast to the geometry of the tower. The office tower was 40 storeys, including two basements for carparking, but is someimes described as being 38 storeys through 42 storeys. The tower's height has also been variously recorded as between 146 and 154.7 metres (479 and 508 ft). The inconsistencies appear to be due to
18924-403: The one hand, the opposition between tectonic and organic morphologies, on the other, the play between symmetry and asymmetry, which permeates the entire site and which will be so much more dynamic as a dialogue, once the project is complete". In a later publication, Frampton highlighted the vertical juxtaposition of the tower against its horizontal length; the play between symmetry and asymmetry of
19090-414: The opening of Post Office Square (1984). The Queen Street Mall , opened in two stages (1982 and 1987) both improved pedestrianism and enticed shoppers to return to the city. Legislative change in the late 1970s provided for Friday night shopping in the city and Sunday trading in hotels. Riverside Centre was part of Brisbane's identity shift in the 1980s, providing facilities for al fresco dining before it
19256-643: The organisers of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games . "The Riverside Centre is a funny building in that it is getting on a little big age-wise, but it does not look like it has aged," said one tenant in 2009. "It is just a very high quality building." The tower's anchor tenant, the Brisbane Stock Exchange, was replaced by the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) in 1990, remaining a significant financial centre in Brisbane until 2005. As home of
19422-446: The pedestrian concourse, art works in the lobby and well selected furniture contribute to an overall feeling of good taste". The foyer was divisive; the 1988 Robin Dods award jury president expressed reservations over its height, but in 1992 the RAIA Queensland Chapter president called the foyer "outstanding" in its uniform use of materials and skilful integration of the structural elements into
19588-580: The plaza not only because of its facilities and views, but because it offered the right atmosphere at the right time of year". Tenants moved into Riverside in September, before celebrations to mark the building's opening began on 1 October 1986. The fireworks displays, hot-air balloon launches and parachutist drops were covered in newspapers and on the evening television news. Ten days of celebrations followed. The final day's celebrations included puppet shows, helicopter rides, and another fireworks display. The tower
19754-412: The podium. The corner piers are extended to block-like turrets above the roof line. The original plain brick parapet bore the name "Perry Bros. Ltd.". This was removed in 1923 to make way for the addition of another storey between the turrets. The present parapet above the additional storey bears the name "Perry House". The strong straight lines of the piers are relieved at both podium and turret levels by
19920-427: The preference for wharves was due to the site being directly downstream from the central business district. Wharf Street Baptist Church opened at 38 Wharf Street (corner of Adelaide Street, 27°27′55″S 153°01′47″E / 27.4652°S 153.0296°E / -27.4652; 153.0296 ( Baptist Church (1859) ) ) on 6 February 1859. It was the first Baptist church to be built in Queensland,
20086-480: The prestige market after Riverside opens". FA Pidgeon, then developing the Waterfront Place development nearby, said that Riverside Centre "set the benchmark and created an awareness of the desirability of prestige space", and that Riverside "had demonstrated that when a building stood out 'a country mile' ahead of the others, it created its own demand", adding that Waterfront Place "will set new standards". In 1989
20252-510: The problems of urban space in Australian architecture; a demonstration that it was "still possible to continue with a viable culture of modern architecture"; and "a notable urban achievement, which, besides being an accomplished work of architecture, regenerated an entire urban precinct and turned the focus of a city towards its river with unprecedented generous riverside plazas". In 1996, the Royal Institute of British Architects awarded Seidler
20418-486: The project was for 50,000 square metres of commercial office space with 1,500 square metre individual floor areas, including a purpose-built facility for the Brisbane Stock Exchange, a five-storey office building, retail and tavern, a hotel, riverside restaurant, public ferry, and private marina. Riverside was one of the final collaborations on which Seidler would have such freedom, after a change in Lend Lease leadership. While
20584-520: The public to "come and enjoy" while "soak[ing] up the feel of the tropics under the sun and the palms, beside the river". Friday's and Michael's became popular venues for Brisbane residents - students, those celebrating special events, and office workers - over the following years Friday's hosted Australia Day and end of financial year parties for corporate workers, charity fundraisers with up to 800 people, music events, and university student carnivals with over 2,000 people. In 2008 and again in 2018 Friday's
20750-458: The removal of building height restrictions under Brisbane's first Town Plan in 1965, increased business in Brisbane's CBD. High-rise offices were constructed across the CBD to meet demand from Queensland's growing tertiary industries, particularly finance (including banking, insurance and assurance, and merchant banking); government; and to serve as state headquarters for Queensland's agricultural, pastoral and mining companies. This private development
20916-472: The river itself was increasingly seen as an asset The road was finally scrapped early in Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson's administration. In her autobiography, Atkinson directly connects the Riverside Centre development to the decision to not proceed with the riverside road. The topping off was celebrated in October 1985 with full-page newspaper advertisements congratulating the workers, and
21082-556: The river, beautifying and managing development on riverbanks. Brisbane City Council declared 1987 the "year of the river", creating river management studies and strategies, and a riverfront walk was opened through the mangroves . Increasingly, images of Brisbane portrayed the river from the Story Bridge or Kangaroo Point, with Riverside Centre at their centre. The relocation of the Customs House ferry terminal to Riverside Centre placed
21248-636: The river. These included the Wool Exchange, the buildings of transport company Luya Julius, Sun Alliance, Scottish Union, and Chiropractic House. In June 1981, the company announced that it had received approval in principle for a multi-million dollar riverfront development project. After a year of planning, revisions, and land purchases, in August 1982 the Courier-Mail published plans for "Riverside Brisbane", Lend Lease's $ 200 million development for its 1.4-hectare (3.5-acre) Eagle Street site. "Riverside Brisbane"
21414-469: The site on a weekend for the next 22 years. Architectural commentators also noted the popularity of the plaza at lunchtimes and weekends with the market in 1992. The Riverside Markets were promoted internationally and won two tourism awards before they moved locations. Riverside's development, and the intense change in the CBD's physical fabric, was accompanied by significant social and cultural change. As Brisbane's population reached over one million people in
21580-871: The site to commemorate the church. On 2 April 1860, the Queensland Government opened its first school, the Brisbane National School in Adelaide Street under headmaster John Rendall with an initial enrolment of 50 boys and 8 girls. A congregation of the Church of Christ was established on 23 September 1883 in the Brisbane central area. In the late 1890s the congregation purchased 430 Ann Street ( 27°27′46″S 153°01′49″E / 27.4628°S 153.0302°E / -27.4628; 153.0302 ( Your Church (Church of Christ) ) ) to establish their first church, still operating as at 2021 under
21746-419: The small pocket of land centred on the area under the Story Bridge 's northern point, around the Brisbane River to Admiralty Towers II . The location was originally known as Petrie Gardens and was an early settlement farm, one of two that provided food for the colony. The site was named after Andrew Petrie and has been the base for water police and in earlier times wharves. The location of Customs House and
21912-665: The soon-to-be-completed Hong Kong Club Building (1984). He had received multiple awards from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects , including its highest honour, the Gold Medal, in 1976, for outstanding achievement in architectural design and the promotion of architecture and the profession; and received an OBE for his services to architecture in 1972. His firm, Harry Seidler and Associates (established 1960), had been working with Lend Lease almost since its inception, designing apartment buildings (Ithaca Gardens,1960) and
22078-536: The south western edge of the city. Heading under and bypassing the CBD is the Clem Jones Tunnel . Because on-street car parking is in high demand, parking meters are installed across the inner city. By bicycle and foot, the Goodwill Bridge allows cross river access to South Bank. The Kurilpa Bridge allows cross river access from North Quay to South Brisbane. Cyclists and pedestrians may also cross while using
22244-445: The step-ramp and cascading fountain. The public plaza was of particular significance to both Seidler and Lend Lease. Lend Lease had long envisaged the waterfront public space as an important part of the landmark project, while for Seidler, the provision of public space in the creation of an urban environment was an essential part of his design. Seidler considered it "socially irresponsible to build to high indexes of 12 or 14 unless there
22410-716: The structures across the site, and "the contrast between the tectonic logic of the skeleton structure and its plastic amplification as an isostatic form". Months after the completion of Riverside Centre, Seidler was named a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for the advancement of architecture. He and the architectural firm went on to design a number of office towers around Australia, including Grosvenor Place, Sydney (1988); Shell House, Melbourne (1989); Capita Centre, Sydney (1989); and QV1 , Perth (1991). Frampton and some later commentators, including Australian architect, academic and author, Jennifer Taylor , considered Riverside Centre
22576-516: The terminal from 1996. By 2003, Riverside was Brisbane's busiest ferry terminal, serving 400,000 passengers annually. The riverfront promenade was incorporated into a bikeway that was extended along the riverfront in the mid-1990s, providing riverfront access to the site for pedestrians, cyclists, and commuters. Subsequent developments, including Waterfront Place, had included promenades to link into Riverside Centre's, before it became part of Riverwalk in 1997. The south plaza eateries were advertised to
22742-412: The terminus for long distance and country services. The central business district is served by various city ferries. Brisbane's CityCat high speed ferry service, popular with tourists and commuters, operates services along the Brisbane River between the University of Queensland and Northshore Hamilton, stopping at several CBD wharves. The Brisbane Riverwalk , a pedestrian and cyclist pathway adjoins
22908-440: The texture provided by the aluminium sunscreens, and the 'imagination and attention to engineering detail' expressed in the foyer's ceiling), the "impressed jury" noted Riverside Centre's "unique relationship to the Brisbane River", linking the tower to the river and making the river "not only part of the building, but a focal point". Renowned British historian of modernist and contemporary architecture, Kenneth Frampton , authored
23074-431: The timber frame, with beams above lowered ceilings and columns encased. Perry House was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 October 1994 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history. It demonstrates the evolution of a method of merchandising where retailing firms grew into large wholesaling enterprises. The place
23240-401: The time). The plaza was also minutely detailed, with granite seating, signs, waste bins; porfido (porphyry) plaza paving; and the Riverside Centre name and logo across the site. Press releases in mid-1986 noted that the attention to detail went as far as boardroom considerations of the sandwiches to be served in the food court. The plaza buildings included a single storey commercial building on
23406-427: The time. He trained in Melbourne and worked in Sydney, before joining Francis Drummond Greville Stanley in Brisbane and establishing his own firm in 1889. His several partnerships between 1889 and 1935 produced designs for both Brisbane and Sydney including commercial buildings, warehouses and wharf buildings. Lange Leopold Powell , another notable Brisbane architect, joined Chambers in a partnership in 1911 and managed
23572-426: The time. The Building Owners and Managers Association and Property Council of Australia's Office Quality Grade Matrix was developed in the early 1980s to aggregate vacancy statistics rather than as a building ratings tool, though it was used as such (and in 2003, Riverside Centre and Waterfront Place were ranked as Brisbane's only premium buildings). Guidelines for office building quality were not developed until 2006. In
23738-535: The tower building, from Eagle Street, was covered by a glass canopy with gathered columns. In 1989, Riverside Centre's entrance canopy was described as "a glass rendition of the traditional verandah" in a piece by Harry Seidler, who stated, "The fact that we occasionally have downpours can generate a response in design solutions for the covering of building entrances. The results can translate our needs into unmistakably Australian images." These were braced by radiating concentric floor ribs, providing ornament as well as being
23904-553: The traditional lands of the Turrbal and Yuggerah people, the colonial occupation of Brisbane began with the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement (1824), before the area was opened for free settlement in 1842. Established on the site of the former penal colony, Brisbane then was encircled by two reaches of the Brisbane River, and was declared a port of entry in 1846. It became the capital of the colony of Queensland in 1859, and
24070-406: The triangular building's riverside face, and cascaded down the terraced plaza towards the river. The landscaping was by Hawaiian firm Belt Collins & Associates and the fountain by American Richard Chaix, though Philip Goad notes that Harry Seidler and Associates were responsible for the hard landscaping. Stairs and ramps (called by Seidler, stramps) carried pedestrians down to the riverfront, where
24236-461: The use of arch and keystone elements. Bands of cement render on the turrets and upper storey provide an intensified echo of the banded effect on the main body of the building. The building presents an integrated exterior, with little alteration except for the addition of the upper storey, minor modifications to the ground floor facade and the addition of a street awning with pressed metal ceilings . Major internal work on each floor has concealed
24402-403: The whole building, a technological masterpiece". Civil and Civic began construction of the office tower in 1985, progressing at an average of one floor every four days. The core was built first using a jump-form technique, and the concrete tower was poured in place , with prestressing occurring on site. Economic considerations built into the design helped to speed construction and minimise costs;
24568-434: The world, to 15th in the world for premium office buildings, and 24th in the world for office rentals overall. Brisbane had not been surveyed in the 1979 commercial property report, but its rents were on par with the second-lowest tier of cities which had been included in the report, with only one city ( Johannesburg ) commanding lower commercial rents. In the same decade Sydney experienced relatively little change, dropping from
24734-495: Was 'Friday's', with outdoor bar terraces featuring finishes in imported granite and overlooking the plaza and river. The plaza buildings' financial, retail, care services and eateries would not only serve Riverside Centre workers, but also the 14,000 to 20,000 office workers employed throughout the Golden Triangle, where these services were limited. A restaurant in the Société Générale building was proposed for opening in 1982, and
24900-536: Was accompanied by a city-wide council-led program to modernise Brisbane, by providing or upgrading public facilities, roads, sewerage systems, and undertaking beautification projects: The high-rise office tower emerged as a building typology during the late 19th century in Chicago and New York in the United States of America, where architects and engineers manipulated the metal frame, electric lift, and air-conditioning systems to establish tall buildings for work spaces. During
25066-496: Was an area centred on the Executive Building that includes many Queensland Government offices. 111 George Street , Mineral House , and Education House are also located here. 1 William Street was completed in 2016, now serving the role of the former Executive Building. The Executive Building and Neville Bonner building were demolished for the state's largest infrastructure project. An urban renewal project based around
25232-471: Was constructed after 1970. The most intense growth in the CBD occurred in a five year period in the mid-1980s, when development underpinned by a resources boom triggered extensive office building construction. Almost 1 million square metres (11 × 10 ^ sq ft) of floorspace was constructed in Brisbane during this time, significantly reshaping the city's appearance. Sydney and Melbourne had also experienced high-rise office growth, but, according to
25398-647: Was described as a "Brisbane institution". Building management and tenants hosted art displays, showcase exhibitions, and fundraising events in the foyer; and a viewing gallery in the Stock Exchange fit-out was open to the public. In May 1987, the recently-formed "Cats Tango" craft markets were moved to the Riverside Centre plaza. Renamed the Riverside Markets, the Sunday event proved a huge attraction, bringing large numbers of suburban residents and international tourists to
25564-474: Was described as: "Since the "82 Games high rise development has stretched up along the banks of the river, great canyons of steel, concrete and glass. Modern buildings that reflect the gold of the early morning sun." The 1980s also saw the emergence of office towers described in real estate parlance as "blue chip", "premium" or "prime", responding to demands from the financial and professional sectors. No objective rating system of building classifications existed at
25730-402: Was designed by Claude William Chambers and built from 1911 to 1923 by Thomas Keenan. It is also known as Royal Albert Apartments. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 October 1994. Perry House was designed in 1910 by Claude William Chambers to house the business of Perry Brothers, whose hardware firm had been in operation in Brisbane since 1860. William Perry , father of
25896-453: Was generally awarded for public architecture, but Riverside Centre's public pedestrian plaza set it apart from other private developments. As the jury noted, Riverside Centre reflected Seidler's approach to high-rise projects, where "the use of a high-rise solution justified by the provision of open space for people at the foot of his buildings, providing a community attraction for all those who do not directly use his building, but seek shelter in
26062-648: Was incorporated into the Town Plan in the 1990s; and popularising open, riverfront gathering space with markets and promenades in the leadup to Expo 88. Other indoor-outdoor dineries also opened before al fresco dining was incorporated into BCC town planning regulations. It was popularised at Expo 88 and Park Road in Milton had become renowned for courtyard dining before footpath dining was officially permitted in April 1992. Riverside's opening also coincided with renewed public interest in
26228-412: Was intended as an "intelligent building", with advanced technology installed. The office tower's "intelligence" was centred on a local area network , controlling services and building automation , communicating automatically with carpark and services, lights, and voice-activated air conditioning. The technology was advanced for the time, but was intended to allow for future technology to be integrated into
26394-467: Was not publicly released, though several different figures were reported. Initially reported as a $ 100 million in 1981, the estimate had climbed to $ 200 million by August 1982. By December 1983, it was reported as a $ 250 million project, more expensive than both Expo 88 ($ 180 million) and Conrad Jupiters Casino at the Gold Coast ($ 175 million), as Lend Lease revealed that it had already spent $ 40 million on
26560-401: Was one of the country's foremost postwar architects to design in the modernist style. "From the early 1950s onwards, the steady stream of uniformly high-quality work from Seidler's office set a standard against which the work of other modernists has tended to be judged". As in earlier projects, Lend Lease allowed Seidler creative freedom to achieve the design requirements. Lend Lease's brief for
26726-456: Was postponed for a later stage, while a six-storey office building morphed into a single-storey commercial structure; and a low-rise riverfront residential apartment building was removed. The latter provided additional space for the open plaza, which occupied over half of the site, providing unimpeded views and direct public access to the river. It was enhanced by landscaped gardens, trees, and a jet fountain water feature which pooled on each side of
26892-482: Was proclaimed a city in 1902. The expansion of the colonial economy and related shipping activity from the 1840s shaped the need for buildings in Brisbane to house office-based work, banking, and insurance. Brisbane developed as Queensland's commercial and financial centre and its major port, hosting the headquarters for the colony's principal businesses, financial institutions, shipping companies and government. Its buildings were erected largely in economic boom periods in
27058-411: Was proposed to include an office tower, shops, residential apartments, plazas, promenades, a marina, an "historic precinct" for the soon-to-be-demolished Wool Exchange, and a section of the riverfront road, a condition of the development's approval. The accumulation of multiple large sites for a single development was not new to Lend Lease: its Brisbane project followed the successful pattern established in
27224-407: Was reportedly to be spent on interior fit-outs for tenants in the four month period leading up the building's opening, "the same efforts needed to build a small city high-rise". The Inns of Court tower, built on the corner of Turbot Street and North Quay in 1986, cost $ 10.5 million, while a 13-storey office tower at 316-318 Adelaide Street, opened in 1986, cost $ 8 million. The initial fit-out included
27390-411: Was selected to enable the highest number of office windows with views of the Brisbane River, as real estate professions advised that rental returns for offices with clear, unobstructed water views would be 15% higher. The presence of the Brisbane Stock Exchange in the tower encouraged legal, accounting and stockbroking firms, including some establishing Queensland offices for the first time. The prestige of
27556-416: Was the tallest structure in the CBD, being 278 feet (85 m) high. The second half of the twentieth century brought considerable change to the Brisbane CBD. Brisbane's population climbed to half a million in the late 1940s, overtaking Adelaide as Australia's third largest city. The CBD's first postwar office building, an eleven-storey curtain wall modern office block for MLC, was completed in 1956, though
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