Allendale Square

The corner of St Georges Terrace and Sherwood Court where Allendale Square now stands was owned as early as 1829 by the Leake family.{{Cite news|author=Staff writer |title=Back to the Beginning |work=The West Australian |page=12 |date=4 August 1976 }}

Later, it was home to Warwick House,{{Cite news|first=Patrick |last=Cornish |title=A life of best practice |work=The West Australian |date=29 January 2002 |quote=In 1936 the corner of St Georges Terrace and Sherwood Court held Warwick House; the much taller Allendale Square is there now. }} the Bank of New South Wales, the Commercial Travellers Association and the Daily News Chambers. These buildings were demolished in 1974 for construction of Allendale Square.

The tower, which was designed by Architects Cameron, Chisholm and Nicol, was built by Multiplex.{{Cite news|first=Tracey |last=Cook |title=Multiplex develops business and dominates the skyline |work=WA Business News |date=23 April 2003 }} The building's anodised aluminium cladding was extensively weather tested to ensure it could resist atmospheric corrosion.{{Cite news|title=Announcing: the birth of Perth's most exciting building [Advertising feature] |work=The West Australian |pages=37–40 |date=4 August 1976 }}

Although this cladding covers a 70% of the exterior of the building, all cladding units were installed from inside the tower without the use of external scaffolding.

The building was officially opened by Premier Sir Charles Court on 3 August 1976. Also attending the opening were descendants of the Leake family which had owned the site from the earliest days of the colony.

Allendale Square has been used for abseiling for charity down its side.See e.g. {{Cite news|author=Staff writer |title=Do you dare enough to care? |work=Sunday Times |date=21 September 2003 }} The first of these events was held in November 2002, and its success led to it being held annually thereafter, until the change in the building's ownership forced the end of this charitable event.{{Cite web |url=http://www.adventureout.com.au/about/urban_descent/ |title=Urban Descent 2008 |accessdate=19 November 2008 |year=2008 |publisher=Adventure Out |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821110719/http://www.adventureout.com.au/about/urban_descent/ |archive-date=21 August 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

The tower has also been used as a base from which to launch shells in the Lotterywest Skyworks annual fireworks display.{{Cite news|first=Catherine |last=Fitzpatrick |title=Police Warn About Drink At Skyworks |work=The West Australian |page=3 |date=25 January 1997 }}

The building's prominent tenants include ANZ Bank (which also owns the signage rights over the building), Qantas and Francis Burt Chambers.{{Cite news|first=Lee-Anne |last=Petchell |title=Allendale II fits bill for new, old tenants |work=The West Australian |page=64 |date=9 November 2005 }}

A half share in the building was bought in 1988 by Armstrong Jones Perth Property Fund for $41.63 million. This half share was later purchased for $39.35 million by GEM Commercial Property Trust in 1995, which was acquired by the General Property Trust when it took over GEM in 1996. In mid-2000 General Property Trust put its half-share in the tower up for sale for $44.25 million, but no offers it received came close and it was forced to take the building off the market.{{Cite news|first=Dawn |last=Gibson |title=Allendale Half Share Off Market |work=The West Australian |page=61 |date=30 August 2000 }}

Meanwhile, in 1995, the other half share in the tower was acquired from an MLC Life fund by the Australian Prime Property Fund in a package that cost a total of $125 million.

Western Australian property mogul Ralph Sarich's investment company Cape Bouvard Investments bought Allendale Square in two steps for $93.03 million between 2001 and 2002.{{Cite news|first=Dawn |last=Gibson |title=Buyers turn up for healthy year |work=The West Australian |date=3 July 2002 }} It bought half from the General Property Trust in September 2001 and the other half for $48 million from Australian Prime Property Fund{{Cite news|author=Staff writer |title=Allendale sale final |work=The West Australian |date=29 May 2002 }} in April 2002.{{Cite news|first=Noel |last=Dyson |title=Empty shops the harbingers of Arcade's refurbishment |work=WA Business News |date=16 May 2002 |quote=Ralph Sarich confirmed he had bought the second half of Allendale Square for $45 million last month through his company Cape Bouvard Investments. }}

Later, General Electric bought the tower in December 2006 for $154 million{{Cite news|first=Cathy |last=Saunders |title=Big towers off market as offers fall short |work=The West Australian |page=45 |date=8 August 2008 }} from Cape Bouvard.{{Cite news|first=Cathy |last=Saunders |title=Big CBD office sales to reap millions |work=The West Australian |page=51 |date=20 March 2008 }} GE put the tower up for sale in 2008, however the tower was taken off the market after none of the offers received met the desired $200 million sale price. The tower was sold for $231m in May 2013 to Mirvac.{{cite news|url=http://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Allendale-Square-sold-for-231m|title=Allendale Square sold for $231m|author=Dan Wilkie & AAP|date=10 May 2013|accessdate=8 October 2014}}

The building has been refurbished three times since it opened in 1976. In 1989 the building underwent a minor refurbishment at a cost of $1.5 million. Then, starting in 1999, the building underwent an extensive internal refurbishment{{Cite news|first=Dawn |last=Gibson |title=Allendale Square Gets $2m Facelift |work=the West Australian |page=57 |date=27 June 2001 }} which cost $2.5 million.{{Cite news|author=Staff writer |title=Work will lift rents at Allendale Square |work=The West Australian |page=51 |date=27 January 1999 }} The project involved a refit of the lobby, replacement of lift cars and improvement to core services like lighting.{{Cite news|first=Fran |last=Spencer |title=Allendale Square |work=The West Australian |page=51 |date=27 January 1999 }} Architect Anna Meszaros from firm Cameron Chisholm and Nicol was responsible for this refurbishment.

Most recently, the building was refurbished from 2001 to 2002, which also involved remodelling of the three-storey building adjacent to the tower. This involved an upgrade of some floors, the lobby and the adjoining ANZ Bank branch. The outdoor plaza was also to be revamped for the first time since the building was opened in 1976.

The complex was expanded with the completion in early 2006 of the Allendale II building on the site of the former CTA building at the rear of the Allendale Square site.{{Cite news|first=Lee-Anne |last=Petchell |title=Alinta snaps up Allendale II for HQ |work=The West Australian |page=42 |date=22 July 2005 }} This seven-storey building is connected to Allendale Square and its underground shopping centre, and boosted the total lettable space in the complex to {{convert|35000|m2|sqft}}.

Image:Allendale Square from Esplanade.jpg

The tower is located on a {{convert|4053|m2|sqft|adj=on}} site, {{convert|15|m|ft}} above sea level,{{Cite book |last=Seddon |first=George |author2=David Ravine |title=A city and its setting: images of Perth, Western Australia |year=1986 |publisher=Fremantle Arts Centre Press |location=Fremantle |isbn=0-949206-08-3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/cityitssetting00sedd/page/191 191, 207, 220, 231] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/cityitssetting00sedd/page/191 }} however the tower itself only occupies 25% of this land area. Designed by architects Cameron Chisholm Nicol, the building is rotated 45 degrees relative to St Georges Terrace, in order to secure a plot ratio concession from the Perth City Council.

The walls of the tower are stepped in plan, creating V-shaped protrusions along each face. In order to maximise views towards the Swan River whilst reducing heat loads, the building has windows only on the north and south-facing sides of these steps, and the remainder of the tower is clad with aluminium. The {{convert|400|t|lb}} of aluminium panels were created from locally mined bauxite, refined at Kwinana by Alco in the largest aluminium task ever undertaken in Australia at that time. On its opening, the building was the largest fully aluminium-clad freestanding tower in Australia, and one of the largest in the world.

The 992 windows of the tower are solar-bronze glass, up to {{convert|12.7|mm|in|abbr=on}} thick on upper levels. Ninety percent of the tower's levels had uninterrupted views to the river upon its opening, and all of the office levels are free of internal columns.{{Cite web |url=http://www.brookfieldmultiplex.com/construction/projects/property-details/1283/Allendale-Square |title=Property details — Allendale Square |accessdate=18 November 2008 |publisher=Brookfield Multiplex Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721010850/http://www.brookfieldmultiplex.com/construction/projects/property-details/1283/Allendale-Square |archive-date=21 July 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} When it was opened, the tower's lobby had red carpet at the entrance, high ceilings and marble columns.

In addition to a lift between the 99-bay basement car park and the lobby, the tower has nine high-speed lifts, divided into two zones. When the tower opened, these lifts were among the most advanced in the world, improving travelling times and halving the plant room space they required. The electronic security devices and air conditioning systems were also advanced. The roof of the building's mechanical penthouse, which is adorned with the ANZ Bank logo, is designed to be able to function as a helipad if necessary.

The building has 34 levels, made up of a basement car park, an underground retail arcade, the ground floor lobby, a conference suite, 29 office levels and the plant level at the top. The tower has {{convert|27700|m2|sqft}} of lettable space and a "spacious" lobby.{{Cite news|author=Staff writer |title=Leasing Sites Available |work=WA Business News |date=28 May 2003 }}

The building has been described as a "fine example" of high-rise architecture,{{Cite news|first=Tony |last=Barrass |title=Buildings that talk to us |work=The West Australian |page=2 |date=2 October 2004 }}

"timeless", "one of Perth's most prominent office buildings",{{Cite news|first=Dawn |last=Gibson |title=Sarich signs off on Allendale stake |work=The West Australian |date=11 September 2001 }}

a building of "considerable elegance" and a good building in its time which still remains relevant.{{Cite news|first=Sam |last=Riley |title=Icons or eyesores? |work=The West Australian |page=3 |date=31 October 2007 |quote=WA president of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Rod Mollett, said there were a lot of good buildings in Perth from these decades. ... "I think that things like the R&I (BankWest) Tower and Allendale Square were good buildings in their time and still remain relevant, the Education Department and the police building opposite the WACA are also good buildings," he said. }}

{{cquote|...The basic design is innovative and displays both structural and technological sophistication. The tower and its associated concourse exhibit clarity of thought, consistent detailing and finishes of a high standard.|200|50|1978 Royal Australian Institute of Architects WA Design Award jury}}

Allendale Square was named as one of the Top 20 Australian 20th century icon buildings by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.{{Cite news|first=Peta |last=Rasdien |title=City Heritage At Risk, Says Watchdog |work=The West Australian |page=6 |date=11 December 2000 |quote=Institute of Architects associate and heritage subcommittee member Ralph Hoare said there was no doubt the State was losing too many of its important buildings. ... The institute has identified 20th-century icon buildings - one of those named in the top 20 in Australia is Allendale Square. }}

The building has also won several architectural awards, including:

• 1977 — Alcoa of Australia Award for Architecture;{{cite AHD|16678|Allendale Square|accessdate= 18 November 2008}}
• 1978 — Royal Australian Institute of Architects Design Award;
• 1978 — ACI Energy Conservation Award; and
• 1981 — Royal Australian Institute of Architects (WA Chapter) Bronze Medal.

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Allendale Square}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130521190641/http://allendalesquare.com/ Official website]
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070301015942/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=allendalesquare-perth-australia Emporis page on the building]}}
• [http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=1264 Skyscraperpage article about the building]
• [https://archive.today/20121127013657/http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/search~S1?/dallendale/dallendale/1,4,13,B/exact&FF=dallendale+square+perth+w+a+aerial+photographs&1,2, State Library of Western Australia] — photographs of Allendale Square under construction

{{Perth skyscrapers|state=expanded}}

Category:St Georges Terrace

Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Perth, Western Australia

Category:Office buildings completed in 1976

Category:Modernist architecture in Australia