Prima Pearl
{{Short description|Residential skyscraper}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox Skyscraper
|building_name = Prima Pearl
|image = Pearl Tower.jpg
|caption = Prima Pearl tower
|year_highest =
|year_end =
|plural =
|location = 35 Queensbridge Square, Melbourne, Australia
|coordinates =
|building_type = Residential
|status = Complete
|groundbreaking =
|est_completion =
|completion_date= 2014
|demolished =
|destroyed =
|antenna_spire =
|roof = {{convert|254|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|top_floor = {{convert|244|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|floor_count = 72
|elevator_count = 7
|cost =
|floor_area = {{convert|102000|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}
|architect = Disegno Australia
|engineer = Meinhardt Group
|main_contractor= Multiplex
|developer = PDG Corporation and Schiavello
|owner =
|management = Connect Facilities
|references = {{cite web|title=Prima Pearl Concept Design for Public Spaces|url=http://www.batessmart.com.au/projects/residential/prima-pearl-concept-design-for-public-spaces|work=Bates Smart|accessdate=16 August 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130815123805/http://www.batessmart.com.au/projects/residential/prima-pearl-concept-design-for-public-spaces|archive-date=15 August 2013|url-status=dead}}
|website = {{URL|http://www.primapearl.com.au/}}
}}
Prima Pearl (also referred to as Pearl Tower and Prima Tower{{cite web|title=Prima Pearl Tower – Emporis|url=http://www.emporis.com/building/prima-pearl-tower-melbourne-australia2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928120520/http://www.emporis.com/building/prima-pearl-tower-melbourne-australia2|url-status=usurped|archive-date=28 September 2013|work=Emporis|accessdate=16 August 2013}}) is a residential skyscraper completed in 2014, in the Southbank precinct of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As of 2022, the skyscraper is the seventh–tallest building in Melbourne and the 13th–tallest building in Australia.
History
= Initial project =
In 1984, the Schiavello group bought the 35 Queensbridge Square site in Southbank; among the group's first land purchase in Melbourne.{{cite news|last1=Baljak|first1=Mark|title=A bronzed icon takes its place|url=https://urban.melbourne/development/2014/07/09/a-bronzed-icon-takes-its-place|accessdate=22 October 2016|work=UrbanMelbourne.info|date=9 July 2014}} By 2002, the group formally submitted plans to the State Government for a 225–metre (738-foot) tall residential skyscraper – in the midst of oversupply or "glut" concerns within the inner–city apartment market. Nevertheless, the $AUD230 million project, then dubbed 'Prima on Southbank', would have been one of the tallest residential buildings in Melbourne, only surpassed by the nearby Eureka Tower (under–construction at the time), but considerably taller than Freshwater Place North, which was also being constructed in 2002 adjacent to the Prima development. The 63–level skyscraper was designed by Australian architect, Ivan Rijavec, and the project would have comprised 332 residential apartments.{{cite news|last1=Millar|first1=Royce|title=Another Southbank high–rise on the way|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/12/06/1038950193400.html|accessdate=22 October 2016|work=The Age|date=7 December 2002}}
Approval was granted for the skyscraper in 2004, by then–Minister for Planning Mary Delahunty; however, one of the conditions of approval was that the skyscraper be reduced in height to {{convert|160|m|ft|0|abbr=off}}, a move supported by the Melbourne City Council which recommended buildings in Southbank to not eclipse such height. Schiavello challenged the condition for approval at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which upheld the skyscraper's initial height on the basis that the design was "exemplary".{{cite news|last1=Millar|first1=Royce|title=Tribunal backs 225–metre tower|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/08/1097089567876.html|accessdate=23 October 2016|work=The Age|date=9 October 2004}} Despite the win, the project never proceeded to sales, and was henceforth shelved by the developer until 2009.{{cite news|last1=Pallisco|first1=Marc|title=Trump Tower May Be Coming to Melbourne|url=http://www.realestatesource.com.au/trump-tower-may-be-coming-to-melbourne.html|accessdate=23 October 2016|work=Real Estate Source|date=18 February 2008}}
= Subsequent development =
The project was relaunched by Schiavello in 2010, this time with the collaboration of fellow developer PDG Corporation. Initially, the proposal submitted to the Minister for Planning was for a skyscraper which would be identical in height to the previous design; however, the number of apartments within the building almost doubled to 616. Other amendments included: a reduction in the number of car park spaces, and an increase to the number of floors within the building (from 63 to 66).{{cite news|last1=Dobbin|first1=Marika|title=High hopes for skyscrapers as recovery kicks in|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/high-hopes-for-skyscrapers-as-recovery-kicks-in-20100406-rpf4.html|accessdate=23 October 2016|work=The Age|date=7 April 2010}} During this planning phase, the developers were also pursuing a height increase for the skyscraper, which they later submitted and gained approval. Pursuant to the final plans for the project, the building would comprise two main residential lobbies; 'Prima' would contain half of the residential apartments across the higher section of the building, whilst 'Pearl' would contain the remaining apartments within the lower section of the building. Overall, the skyscraper would reach a height of {{convert|254|m|ft|0|abbr=off}}, with 72 levels; among amenities such as a swimming pool, the 67th level features a sky–lounge for residents of Prima Pearl.
Early works and construction, which was undertaken by Multiplex on the AUD$292 million skyscraper,{{cite web|url=http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/prima-pearl-apartments/1205|title=Prima Pearl|publisher=Skyscraper Centre|accessdate=30 April 2018}} commenced as early as March 2012.{{cite web|title=Southbank's new "pearler" of a place|url=http://www.docklandsnews.com.au/columns/detail/business-in-docklands-april-2012_7441/|work=Docklands News|accessdate=16 August 2013|date=27 August 2012}}{{cite web|last=Hopkins |first=Philip|title=Pearl of a tower heading skyward|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/pearl-of-a-tower-heading-skyward-20120814-246q9.html|work=Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=24 October 2016|date=15 August 2012}}{{cite web|last=Prince|first=Madeline|title=Construction begins on Pearl tower of Southbank|url=http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/construction-begins-on-pearl-of-southbank|work=Architecture & Design|accessdate=24 October 2016|date=13 September 2012}} By July 2014, Prima Pearl had topped–out and was completed later that year.{{cite news|last1=Chua|first1=Geraldine|title=Second tallest tower in Melbourne by Disegno Australia tops out|url=http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/second-tallest-tower-in-melbourne-by-disegno-austr|accessdate=23 October 2016|work=Architecture & Design|date=22 July 2014}} Upon completion, Prima Pearl was the fourth–tallest building in Melbourne and the fifth–tallest building in Australia.[http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/melbourne/prima-pearl-apartments/1205/ Prima Pearl – The Skyscraper Center]. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 8 November 2015. As of 2022, it is the seventh-tallest building in Melbourne and the 13th–tallest building in Australia.
Gallery
File:Prima Pearl UC June 2014.jpg|Prima Pearl under construction, mid–2014
File:Prima Pearl under construction.jpg|Prima Pearl under construction, late–2014
File:Prima Pearl April 2015.jpg|April 2015
File:Southbank, Melbourne in November 2015.jpg|November 2015
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.primapearl.com.au/ Prima Pearl: Home]
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130928120520/http://www.emporis.com/building/prima-pearl-tower-melbourne-australia2 Prima Pearl – Emporis]}}
{{coord missing|Victoria (state)}}
{{Melbourne Skyscrapers}}
Category:Skyscrapers in Melbourne
Category:Residential skyscrapers in Australia
Category:Residential buildings completed in 2014
Category:Apartment buildings in Melbourne
Category:2014 establishments in Australia
Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Melbourne (LGA)