Olderfleet is designed as one of Melbourne’s exclusive PCA Premium Grade commercial buildings. Its Collins Street address comprises the existing ‘Olderfleet Buildings’, significant heritage fabric which is unified with a new 40-storey commercial workplace tower complete with a wellness centre, childcare, end-of-trip facilities, dining, retail, business lounge and co-working spaces.

Situated between the heritage and contemporary buildings is a 25-metre-high, light-filled atrium which serves as Olderfleet’s lobby. The design response unifies the heritage fabric with the contemporary workplace tower to offer an experience that celebrates new and old. Olderfleet is the first building in Australia to achieve a Platinum WELL pre-certification for the base building due to its incorporation of numerous health and wellbeing initiatives, including an internal feature staircase to promote active workplaces, improved air quality, health stations for tenants, access to facilities such as childcare and gym, and carefully selected low-VOC interior materials and finishes. The project also targets 6-star Green Star, 5-star NABERS Energy, and 4-star NABERS Water ratings. The building’s high-performance double and triple-glazed facades with external shading and a high degree of solar control minimise energy demand. Greenhouse gas emissions are further reduced through the incorporation of a PV array on the roof of the development.

To respond to unique tenant requirements, the tower comprises three neighbourhoods. Expansive client floors situated between each feature increased floor-to-floor heights and recessed external terraces to accentuate the tower’s mass. To support a collaborative workplace environment, floorplates are designed to create highly flexible, contiguous space, with fire-stairs serving as both fire egress and tenant circulation stairs to optimise area and flexibility. 

The conservation and refurbishment of the Olderfleet Buildings also supports strategies to reduce carbon emissions, all while celebrating Melbourne’s heritage fabric and adding to the city’s rich urban experience.

Finishes: Baron Forge, Korb, Custom Clad, Kvadrat Maharam/Nulight, GRC Environments, GKD, Austech Facades, FabMetal, Ecobrick, Omnifloor, National Tiles, Pell. Fixtures & Fittings: Baron Forge, Streamline, Apaiser, Surface Squared, Kvadrat Maharam, Silverstone, Boon Edam.

Photography: Tim Griffith, Nicole England