Brookfield Properties, Hawaiian plan 10-storey timber tower for Bishop See precinct in Perth’s CBD

There are signs of green shoots in the CBD concrete jungle, with new plans for a 10-storey timber tower in the city’s Bishop See precinct. Brookfield Properties and Hawaiian have received development approval from the City of Perth for the building, on the corner of Spring Street and Mounts Bay Road. The plans — which follow a similar proposal from GDI Properties for a timber and steel skyscraper in Brookfield Plaza — highlight the growing focus on sustainability in the development sector. But it will be only the second timber building in Brookfield’s suite of 604 properties around the world, with the only other one, a mixed-use building known Pier 70, in San Francisco. The Bishop See project will have a total gross floor area of more than 9800sqm and will target a 5.5-star NABERS rating, a six-star Green Star rating and an IWBI WELL Gold Core rating. Brookfield Properties regional director, development and property Nicholas Ozich said the building would become a showcase in its portfolio. He said the construction method had a lower embodied carbon output than typical construction, and also led to less waste and a faster build time. “The building complements the garden setting by extending the workplace experience into the garden itself and the lobby is treated as an extension of the garden landscape with a blurred distinction between inside and out,” he said. Donaldson Boshard Architecture Studio, along with Brookfield’s asset team, jointly developed the vision which was designed to reflect the site’s heritage importance and landmark location. “The building is literally made out of trees, the natural materiality of the timber structure helps to nestle it into the garden and the articulation of the facade elements brings a human scale, extending the workplace experience into the garden itself,” Donaldson Boshard director Grant Boshard said. Hawaiian chief operating officer Richard Kilbane said it was a “forward-thinking” building that would enhance the west end of the city and revitalise an underutilised area. “Through timber features, impressive balconies and a focus on sustainability, this premium development will deliver a building quality unseen in the Perth commercial property market.” The developers also claim many of its features will advance beyond the PCA premium grade requirements, including its premium end-of-trip facilities and a rooftop terrace with views to Kings Park and the Swan River. The decision to avoid concrete means the project will avoid the global concrete shortage. However, it is still subject to the timber shortage. Both State and Federal governments have introduced policies to boost timber harvesting and the Housing Industry Association has previously declared the timber supply shortage had moved passed its peak. It will be Brookfield Properties’ 11th building in Perth, which is the same number as all of its east coast assets combined. The construction schedule for the Bishop See building is not yet certain but it is expected GDI Properties will be the first to get its $100 million timber skyscraper to market.