Melbourne Quarter Tower (MQT)

The Melbourne Quarter Tower is a prominent tower on the Melbourne Quarter site. The tower accommodates nearly 70,000 sqm of PCA Grade A commercial office space, 3,500 sqm of podium retail space, and 9,000 sqm of below-grade car parking over four levels. The building has achieved a PCA A-Grade to 2019 Standards with Premium Grade Services. The building has sustainability targets of 5 Star Green Star. The tower is a new landmark on the Melbourne skyline, featuring a distinctive sloping roof and sky floors, providing expansive views around the Melbourne CBD and Port Phillip.

Project Complexities

• Inclined Ceiling: The complex geometry of the ceiling posed a significant challenge in implementing the ceiling lighting design. Our Lighting design team worked closely with the architect, our services engineers, and the developer to model and design this intricate element of the electrical lighting system. By leveraging a collaborative approach and advanced design modelling techniques, the team overcame these challenges to deliver a sophisticated lighting solution that complemented the architectural intent and enhanced the overall design aesthetic.
• Complex Curved Roof Design: The curved roof design restricted the space available for services and plant equipment. This required considerable efforts to ensure maintenance access and to enable efficient end-of-life plant replacement. The solution included the use of prefabricated modular pipework elements. To maximise sky floor functionality and preserve the sloping roof’s architectural integrity, most of the plant equipment was strategically positioned on the lower levels.
• Tunnel Lighting: With the Building constructed over an arterial road, Wurundjeri Way, this required tunnel level lighting design compliance to VicRoads approved standards and other relevant regulations. The project required a sophisticated and complex lighting design and modelling approach. The design was meticulously developed through careful consideration of tunnel geometry and lighting requirements, the project successfully delivered a lighting solution that provided enhanced safety and driving conditions.
• Car Park Exhausts: The car park exhaust vents opened to Wurundjeri Way and the design regulations were unclear in this situation, as the buildings are above the road rather than next to it. LCI collaborated with the Contractor to inform its conversations with Authorities. We also engaged directly with the Building Surveyor and the Fire Engineer to deliver safe and fully compliant solutions.
• Fire Stairs: During construction, it was discovered that there were large temperature differences from the top to the bottom of the fire stairs, potentially causing an issue of over-pressure on the upper floors that could make it difficult to open the doors in an emergency. LCI assisted Lendlease in designing a solution that enabled hot air to be vented from the stairs while maintaining airtightness in the stairwell, preventing smoke ingress.

LCI was engaged to provide Electrical, Specialist Lighting, Mechanical, ICT/AV, and Security Services.

Images courtesy of: Lendlease & Trevor Mein Photography