31DuncanStreet

31 Duncan Street is one of Fortitude Valley’s best office addresses. Built in the heart of Chinatown Mall, the building stands achieved a range of complex construction and refurbishment works. Construction began with the strategic demolition of the level 6 slab, followed by cutting through the remaining 5 slabs of the carpark below. This was followed by the subsequent reconstruction of existing columns across five levels of car parks and a new core, critical to enhancing the structural capacity necessary for the new tower’s support.

A new level 6 slab was built and designated as a plant room and state of the art end of trip (EOT) facility. The design included 10 expansive office floor plates and an outdoor recreational space on level 17. A concrete cap was installed, along with a precast emergency staircase and a custom designed insitu lift core and staircase on the building’s southern aspect. The tenant, Urban Utilities, received specialised integrated fitouts on levels 9, 10, and 11, tailored to their operational needs.

To utilise the preexisting structure a refurbishment component addressed six podium levels of carparking, enhancing them for use by tenants and the public. A new half level of parking was also built to offset the spaces lost to the building’s new lift core and columns. The carpark’s façade received a modern update with the addition of distinctive screens and treatments to conceal it from the Chinatown Mall precinct. Existing retail spaces and the introduction of new retail areas were also developed into the new design, contributing to the mall’s overall visual and commercial vitality.

31 Duncan Street boasts 459 car spaces, complete with a loading bay off Gipps Street, which is also accessible to the public on a commercial basis. The project’s commitment to sustainability is further exemplified by the inclusion of 168 bicycle spaces, 240 lockers, and 16 showers. Additionally, the project achieved a 6 Star Green Star rating, one of Australia’s newest WELL V2 Core Silver certifications, and is targeting 5 Star NABERS energy and 5 Star NABERS water ratings.

Given the site’s location in the middle of the Chinatown Mall, prior to construction, Hutchies carefully removed and installed a range of protections to statues and decorative structures throughout the precinct to prevent damage during the works. Following completion, these were reinstated back into the public infrastructure.

The project was governed by a fixed price lump sum contract, which also encompassed design and construction responsibilities. The original contract was valued at $82 million, supplemented by an additional $10.5 million allocated for the integrated fitout of Urban Utilities’ new office. The financial framework was further defined by provisional sum adjustments and client requested variations.

2024 Australian Institute of Building Queensland Professional Excellence Award for Commercial Construction $60 million plus