Mirvac invests $20m to transform 'tired' Allendale Square tower

An artist’s impression of the Allendale Square refurbishment, which aims to contribute to the revitalisation of the Perth CBD. Image: Supplied

Mirvac’s group executive of office, Andrew Butler, said the retail upgrade was a big part of its repositioning of the 32-storey building.

“The refurbishment of Allendale Square will give this prestigious office tower a new lease on life and reflect the high calibre of its tenants,” he said.

“The new-look Allendale Square will also contribute to the revitalisation of Perth’s CBD with improved pedestrian linkages and a premier food and beverage hub. More than a premium commercial building, the transformation of Allendale Square will make a striking contribution to the city, appealing to Perth’s discerning business community.”

The retail upgrade is a big part of Mirvac’s strategy to reposition the 32-storey landmark building. Image: Supplied

Mr Butler said the retail precinct would revolve around food and beverages and draw in not only its office workers but the wider community as well.

On the corner of St Georges Terrace and Sherwood Court, Allendale Square links to Perth’s shopping malls and central train station. The area has seen higher pedestrian traffic recently because of its proximity to Elizabeth Quay and Cathedral Square, with its newly opened David Malcolm Justice Centre.

“As the buildings adjoining Allendale Square begin to fill up again, there will certainly be more people in the area wanting to eat and shop,” Mr Butler said.

Access will be improved with upgraded escalators and entranceways as well as pedestrian linkages. Image: Supplied

The retail precinct will provide a total of 1600 square metres for about 18 tenancies. Its design will embrace an urban industrial feel, with exposed concrete and a ceiling feature of extruded aluminium.

There will be better food court seating, while upgraded escalators and entranceways, including a reactivated Sherwood Court entrance, will improve access.

The redevelopment will also see a remodelled lobby and upgraded lifts. New end-of-trip facilities will include bike storage, lockers and changerooms.

Allendale Square has been a Perth landmark since it was built in the 1970s. Photo: Tony McDonough

The 31st floor, with its sweeping views of the Swan River, will be converted from conference centre to office space.

The main St Georges Terrace entrance will have a makeover, with architecture firm Christou Design Group’s concept involving a glass canopy framing the lobby to provide a striking entry point. Two ‘transparent’ retail pods will be built on either side of the entrance to provide more dining options.

“Our vision for Allendale Square is to transform the plaza and retail amenities into welcoming spaces where people can meet and relax,” managing director James Christou said. “The revitalisation will result in a clean, efficient, activated hub, while also remaining sensitive to the architectural integrity of the existing tower.”

At 132 metres, the aluminium-clad building was the tallest tower in Perth when it opened in 1976 – although it only held this title for a year. It has been included in the Australian Institute of Architects’ list of nationally significant 20th century architecture.

Mirvac purchased Allendale Square for $231 million in 2013.

“We clearly saw that the asset needed investment – it was starting to look tired,” Mr Butler said. “We certainly envisaged that we would be spending money to bring the building back to a higher-quality A-grade standard.”

The 95 per cent leased office tower is home to a number of prominent tenants, including banks and legal firms. In April, law firm Francis Burt Chambers signed a new 15-year lease, expanding its chambers from 5100 square metres to about 6000 square metres.

“We are ensuring we are investing the right amount of money to ensure that we keep our current tenants now and into the future,” Mr Butler said.