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Following the sale of public lands at the heart of Perth's city centre to real estate giant and Chairman of the World Trade Center Association, Jordanian billionaire Ghazi Abu Nahl, the developer's proposal for a $1.85 billion (AUD) mixed-use project has been given the green light by Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett. The Perth World Trade Center is set to become the tallest highrise in Western Australia, and will dramatically transform the local skyline.
Designed by Australian firm Woods Bagot, the 36- and 75-storey two-tower project will combine a shopping mall, hotel, and convention centre at the project's base. The towers themselves will contain apartments, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Soon to join the world-wide collection of 327 WTC addresses, the Perth World Trade Center will become part of an internationally recognized group of similar properties.
The 1.9-hectare Perth WTC site will straddle a large parcel of prime downtown land between Perth and McIver Stations, placing the development in direct proximity to the city's main public transportation network. Replacing a low-rise grocery chain among other things, the new development will represent a massive transformation at ground level as well, as the considerable size and scope of the project is completely unprecedented.
As Perth is the capital of Western Australia, and thus the hub of international trade with Asia, the project is viewed as an important one for the city. The fast-growing port has become a hotbed of development lately, and the Perth World Trade Center proposal is seen as a way to cement its emergent status as a global city.
SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
