Luxury project for CBD as city leans towards towers

A 1000-SEAT ballroom with spectacular views of heritage gardens will be the jewel of a $480 million twin towers complex set for the CBD.

The proposed twin tower development on Exhibition St will feature Melbourne's first Shangri-La hotel.

A 1000-seat ballroom with spectacular views of heritage gardens will be the jewel of a $480 million twin towers complex set for the CBD.

CARLTON GARDENS TOWER DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES TWIN TOWERS WITH HUNDREDS OF APARTMENTS, HOTEL ROOMS

Developer SP Setia has been given planning approval for the luxury hotel-and-apartment project delivering 2000 jobs on the corner of Exhibition and La Trobe streets.

The ballroom will be a key feature of a 500-room Shangri-La hotel, which will also include a sky lobby, restaurants, spa and pool.

A view of the proposed twin tower development on Exhibition St.

Architect Karl Fender, from Fender Katsalidis, said the ballroom would overlook the nearby Carlton Gardens.

“One end of the ballroom is glass, it has a balcony and a stunning view,” he said.

“It has a huge rear wall, which is a digital information screen — full size — so you can get vehicles up there, it can be used for many different purposes.”

Shangri-La Asia CEO Lim Beng Chee said the ballroom, together with other hotel features, would become a city landmark.

Nonda Katsalidis and Karl Fender from Fender Katsalidis.

“This will have to be the place to go when you come to Melbourne,” he said.

SP Setia bought the former Telstra site for $101 million, but originally planned for 800 apartments.

It will now have 300 units, offices and a sky bridge linking the 64-storey-high towers, after significant negotiations with the state Planning Department.

SP Setia chairman Dr Wan Mohd Zahid said the project would significantly boost tourism to Victoria from the Asia-Pacific region, while creating 1000 construction jobs and 1000 ongoing jobs.

“For many decades to come as a luxury residence, retail and hotel precinct, the economic benefits of this project will be significant for Melbourne,” he said.

Construction is due to start this year and be completed in 2022.

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