91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳

The companies behind the Australian Technology Park redevelopment in Redfern have celebrated the topping out of the first of three buildings that will make up the $1 billion project.

91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳and its fellow with consortium members AMP Capital, Sunsuper and Centuria Property Funds completed main structural works with the nine-storey “building 1” set to be finalised by 2019.

Building 1, designed by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp, comprises 42,500sq m of commercial space, boasting the largest office floor plates in the country at 5500-8600sq m.

91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳managing director Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz said that the topping out had occurred ahead of schedule.

“[The topping out] underlines the significant progress that has been achieved in the past 12 months since construction began,” Hurwitz said.

91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳partnered with Commonwealth Bank to develop the original tender for the site, with the big four bank occupying 94,000sq m across three buildings. The bank has signed a 15-year lease for at least 10,000 of its employees.

Commonwealth Bank Group Property and Security executive general manager Jennifer Saiz said the goal at was to create Australia’s “pre-eminent innovation district”.

“The important thing for us is that this is a vibrant place, not only for our 10,000 employees and the precinct’s other businesses but also for our surrounding communities, to live, work, learn, experience and create in.”

The ATP’s first building will soon be accompanied by two other structures, a four-storey multi-purpose building and the other a seven-storey commercial office building.

The completed project will eventually cater to 18,000 workers when it reaches completion in 2020, featuring cafes, a supermarket, sporting facilities and public spaces.

The precinct will provide more than 700 car spaces, as well as 600-plus secure bicycle spots across the three buildings.

The developers have also invested in initiatives such as Hoist, the “innovation and technology” co-working space on site, with a range of other collaborative opportunities being explored across research, employment, education and incubator spaces for local businesses.

Construction of the ATP’s second building is expected to top out in September this year, with the third and final building expected to top out mid-year 2019.