Inside battlestar ANZ

The first employees have moved into ANZ’s new mega-headquarters at Victoria Harbour.

Some 290 employees moved in to be ready for work on Monday, September 28.

Over the next few months, they will be joined by 6200 more staff in what is now the largest single commercial tenancy in the southern hemisphere.

While the floor plates each encompass up to 9800 square metres, the curvature of the building and internal meeting rooms, facilities and vaulted atriums bring the work spaces back to an intimate scale.

Set over 13 levels, ANZ has constructed 83,550 square metres of office space which will allow it to consolidate 13 office back to just eight.

When the DCN went to press, some 80 per cent of the internal fit out was complete.  Importantly for Docklanders, a local ANZ branch will be operational by November.

Public access to the river has been maintained and there are a number of public spaces – including a delightful western forecourt.

ANZ says it has spent $35 million extra “greening” the building.  It is yet to receive a rating from the Green Building Council of Australia but claims the following environmental credentials:

River cooling:  Using river water to reduce demand on the cooling towers;

Green roof: The lower roof on the river side is planted with low-growing, drought tolerant plants;

Tri-generation: Onsite power generation from gas turbines.  Heat generated in the process will help heat as well as cool the building;

Solar:  1000 square metres of solar cells. Some 25 per cent of its electricity needs will be generated onsite; and

Wind: Roof mounted wind turbines (could you get a better location than Docklands for this?).