PRIME Minister Anthony Albanese was on hand to mark the official opening of biotech giant CSL’s new global headquarters and research and development centre on the edge of Melbourne’s CBD.
Developed by PDG, the 54,000 sqm, 18-storey building stands on the former Toyota dealership site at 655 Elizabeth Street, at the northern gateway to the city and the lip of Melbourne’s biomedical and education precinct, which includes Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Royal Women’s Hospital, the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, and the University of Melbourne.
PDG is planning a $1 billion health and research precinct, dubbed Elizabeth North, where it has also secured a 10,000 sqm, 10-year agreement with Royal Melbourne Hospital. The precinct includes the Toyota site and the Bob Jane T-Mart site next door.
The new CSL headquarters features nine floors of state-of-the-art laboratories and cutting-edge research and clinical phase production suites integrated with seven floors of versatile workspace.
The Prime Minister attended the formalities alongside CSL’s chairperson Brian McNamee and CFO, Joy Linton.
“This magnificent facility will help position CSL to compete in the global marketplace,” the Prime Minister said.
“The work that CSL does right here will continue to be integral to Australian’s health and quality of life.”
McNamee said, “This very building stands as a testament to our transformative journey from our century-old Royal Park site. It is a realm of discovery and development, offering possibilities to Australia’s local researchers and becoming a source of ground-breaking medicines for patients across the globe.”
PDG’s founder and managing director, Vince Giuliano said, “Elizabeth North represents PDG’s enduring dedication and commitment to deliver world-class biomedical research facilities and exemplar contemporary workspaces that will contribute significantly to innovative progress in the City of Melbourne”.
The wider Elizabeth North precinct was a result of the state government and the City of Melbourne’s 10-year strategic plan for the Melbourne biomedical precinct.
