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With a steadily growing population, Melbourne has become the fastest developing city in Australia. As a result of the increasing number of Melbournites choosing to settle in the downtown area, dozens of 200+ metre buildings are either under construction, planned, or making their way through the approval process, which you can learn more about in our previous story on the topic. Developer Schiavello Group has recently submitted a development application for a new 313-metre mixed-use tower for a site situated along Southbank's Queens Bridge Street. If approved, the Queensbridge Tower would be the second tallest tower in the city after the under-construction Australia 108.
Designed by British architect Wilkinson Eyre, the 90-storey edifice consists of a mix of 388 six-star hotel rooms operated by Crown, as well as 680 luxury residential units occupying the upper levels. While the base of the tower will feature an expansive glass atrium housing the hotel lobby, shops, and restaurants, renderings show the highly reflective glazing ascending all the way up to the structure's pinnacle where a restaurant and publicly accessible garden terrace are perched 300 metres above ground with sweeping views over the city.
The tower will be connected to one of Crown's nearby properties through a glass and steel sky bridge. Schiavello Group aims to contribute to Melbourne's streetscape by rejuvenating the adjacent Queensbridge Square, which further connects to the Yarra River Promenade. Current plans for the space include new warm-toned paving, additional trees, and a water feature. If approved in its current state, the project is expected to be complete by late 2019 or early 2020.
