Transport House, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, QLD

LaSalle Investment Management, a leading real estate management firm and an independent subsidiary of Jones Lang LaSalle, (on behalf of investor, Partners Group) wanted a full external and internal refurbishment of Transport House, a vacant nine level commercial office tower in the heart of Fortitude Valley.

Commonly known as ‘The Valley’ by locals, the suburb has been renowned for its vibrant lifestyle and stunning scenery; and with the building being above one of Brisbane’s biggest railway stations, Transport House is a strategic business location.

The original building was constructed in 1974, which meant that updating the building services design and space to meet current tenant requirements and sustainability targets were key project considerations. As a brownfield site, the staging of the works and cutovers was critical. To ensure the project remained on track, NDY provided design development for tendering and assisted the D&C contractor, Built, through tender assessment. Upon selection, NDY facilitated the design review and held inspections to ensure alignment with the design brief.

Careful consideration on the distinction of services across all disciplines was essential to ensure the separation of services between Transport House and Valley metro station below. For example, NDY upgraded the building’s smoke control system to provide a functioning stairwell pressurisation system. This solution involved the integration of operable windows in the new facade which provides a relief pathway.

NDY, in close collaboration with Architectus, ensured that exposed services in the ceilings maintained their aesthetic appeal. This successful collaboration selected a facade system that works within the constraints of the existing mechanical systems, ensuring a floor-to-ceiling ‘glazed’ look was achieved.

The project transformed Transport House into a dynamic A-grade commercial hub featuring new amenities, lobby areas, a sleek glass facade and a safe underground connection to the Fortitude Valley train station and Valley metro retail centre. The building meets a hybrid PCA A/B Standard and targets a 4 Star NABERS rating, with a 4.5 Star rating once 75 percent occupancy is reached. Through the reuse of the building’s existing structure and services, NDY helped LaSalle Investment Management minimise environmental impact and achieve its NABERS energy targets.