First timber office block for Docklands

The first cross laminated timber (CLT) office building approved in Melbourne is to be built at The District Docklands.

WOODWORK, on Waterfront Way, has planning approval for a ground floor lobby, retail space and four large upper levels that can be interlinked to create functional, open plan space of almost 8000sqm.

WOODWORK consists of 80 per cent CLT, an efficient prefabricated mass timber building method which has a far lower carbon footprint than other building materials. Its natural insulation moderates the internal climate of the building and all timber is sourced from sustainable forests.

WOODWORK is part of the next phase of the $250m revitalisation of AsheMorgan’s The District, Docklands.

Also in the wings, and due to roll out in September, is a new entertainment offering at The District. This will include a state-of-the-art Hoyts cinema complex, complemented by Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq (the company behind Strike tenpin bowling and mini-golf venue Holey Moley), as well as Asian hawker-style restaurant 8Street and the Urban Alley Brewery.

This entertainment offering will be followed by The Market fresh food precinct, a 3800sqm full-line Woolworths supermarket, complemented by Dan Murphy’s, a large scale Asian grocer and Priceline Pharmacy – all due to open in mid-2019.

Marriot Hotels is also building a five-star, 200-room hotel at the site, which is expected to open in 2020. AsheMorgan is meanwhile progressing master-planning for an additional 200,000sqm of commercial office space.

Michael Moss of AsheMorgan said: “Our vision for WOODWORK is to create a commercial A-grade building designed with wellness in mind.”

“We wanted to deliver open floor plans with exposed timber and high ceilings that promises comfort, quality and abundant natural light, with the possibility of natural ventilation and an energy efficient, low-temperature variable air volume system.”