SOIL has been turned at the new Quintessential Equity’s $220 million Geelong Civic Precinct, which will deliver a new head office for the City of Geelong and a new 12 storey office tower.
Investment of the precinct is at 137 Mercer St will be shared between the City of Geelong and Quintessential Equity.
Designed by Cox Architecture, the six storey head office for the City will be joined by the separate building to be owned and managed by Quintessential Equity, as well as a 2,600 sqm public precinct.
The project was among a $1 billion tranche of developments approved by the Victorian government, part of its program to fast track developments and kickstart the economy and weakened construction sector that have been smashed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Builder Watpac has been appointed to deliver the project, with a target set for a minimum 60% local procurement which will create approximately 900 jobs for businesses and suppliers in the region. Three Geelong businesses – Perry Demolition, Draper’s Civil Contracting and Norris Construction Group – have been appointed to complete the demolition, excavation and civil works on-site.
The new precinct is targeting a 6-Star Green Star design and as-built rating and a 5 Star NABERS Energy rating for peak efficient energy, waste and water usage.
Completion is slated for mid-2022.
Quintessential Equity’s work in Geelong includes the $145 million headquarters for WorkSafe at 1 Malop St, and the developer is also on schedule for construction of the new $100 million office building at 60 Moorabool St that has been pre-leased to health insurer GMHBA as the anchor tenant.
