The Transit Centre will be empty by March 19 with tenants forced to leave ahead of the construction of the Cross River Rail

Tenants have had to pack their bags and find new offices ahead of the demolition of what has been considered one of Brisbane’s ugliest buildings.

WORK will start later this year to prepare for the demolition of what has been renown as one of Brisbane’s ugliest buildings, sparking a scramble by tenants to find new offices.

Five tenants will leave the Brisbane Transit Centre to make way for the Cross River Rail’s underground Roma Street Station.

While the Transit Centre’s East Tower was empty, tenants in the West Tower had to leave and find a new office before the March 19 deadline.

DHL Express Australia has secured space at 414 George St and it is understood Australia Post and Sonic Health will go to 259 Queen St, Queensland Rail have signed up at 30 Makerston St and the Department of Defence will settle in at 545 Queen St.

Colliers International’s Simon Petrie said the search for new offices revealed a lack of quality options remaining in the CBD.

“What we found that it has really tightened up the North Quarter,” he said

“There were very few options left in premium and A-grade buildings for big floor plates and contiguous space.”

The State Government’s Cross River Rail resumption process has allowed early site works to start this year, with the Transit Centre and Hotel Jen to be demolished in late 2020.

Knight Frank joint head office leasing Mark McCann said as well as the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail impacting on Transit Centre tenants the infrastructure project will also spark more CBD office inquiries.

“We anticipate significant project-related requirements to activate once the preferred tenderers are announced to commence design/construction of the Cross River Rail project,” he said.

The Property Council’s latest office vacancy report will be released on February 7 and there are expectations it will show a slight tightening from the 14.6 per cent in the middle of last year.