‘Last piece of James Street puzzle’: Plans for Fortitude Valley office tower

A Melbourne-based developer has submitted plans to build what it claimed would be Brisbane’s best office tower outside the CBD.

Goldfields lodged its development application for an 18-storey office in Fortitude Valley, with Brisbane City Council on Thursday.

Goldfields chief executive Lachlan Thompson said tower at 88 Robertson Street would “deliver the last piece of the James Street puzzle”. James Street is about 250 metres from the site.

Goldfields’ planned 18-storey commercial tower at 88 Robertson Street, Fortitude ValleyCredit: Goldfields

“Goldfields is a big believer in the future of the Brisbane office market and our investment in the James Street precinct will help ease the current pressure on vacancy rates by breathing new life into the undersupplied CBD fringe,” Thompson said.

“As with all Goldfields developments, our approach to 88 Robertson St is based on maximising the amenity for precinct users and strong, local partnerships.

“Our Queensland-based development team has been working hard to ensure a positive outcome for tenants, surrounding residents, local commuters, and pedestrians.”

Goldfields bought the 1910-square-metre site from Azure Development Group in April for $17.1 million. Upon completion, the planned tower was expected to have valued at $250 million.

Built on the site of a warehouse that previously housed a dry cleaning business, the Cox Architecture-designed tower would add about 16,000 square metres of commercial office space to the Brisbane market.

It would include a rooftop restaurant, a ground floor café, street level landscaping and end-of-trip facilities. The site is a 750-metre walk from Fortitude Valley train station.

“Our vision for this prime site is to create Brisbane’s best commercial office building outside the CBD,” Thompson said.

The Robertson Street tower at ground level.Credit: Goldfields

Cox Architecture director Brendan Gaffney said the design aimed to combine the commercial appeal of a CBD golden triangle office building with the character of the Valley and James Street precinct.

“Eighty-eight Robertson St will feature integrated gardens and 360-degree views complete with a cafe-focused laneway inspired ground plane, and a city-view dining experience,” he said.

“Once complete, 88 Robertson St will set a new standard for the commercial office experience in Brisbane.”

The Property Council of Australia A-Grade building was designed to be powered entirely by renewable electricity.

Subject to planning approval and conditions, construction was expected to start in September next year, to be completed by October 2027.

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