Elizabeth north start of construction

Global Leaders Break Ground on Major Landmark Development

10 Feb 2020

PDG Corporation and Probuild marked the commencement of construction for the $1 billion landmark development – Elizabeth North, with a ground-breaking ceremony yesterday. The flagship research and education project was also commemorated by its foundational tenants and global leaders CSL Limited, Melbourne University’s Trinity College and Melbourne City Toyota.

Construction has commenced on both stages 1 and 2 of the project, following site demolition and retention of the historic Melford Motors building façade.

The site on Elizabeth Street is owned by PDG, who in November appointed national tier-1 construction company Probuild to deliver stage 1 in 2021 and the stage 2 shell in 2022.

The first stage will be the state-of-the-art vertical city campus of 10,000sqm for Trinity College leased with options for 25 years. Situated below, in the historic Melford Motors building, will be Melbourne City Toyota’s new flagship centre which will occupy 12,000sqm for 55 years with options. The building will reach nine levels and include ground floor and mezzanine retail space.

Stage 2 will see the development of CSL’s headquarters and laboratories which will occupy 35,000sqm and reach 17 levels. Leased with options for 60 years, the new facility will foster and support collaborations between academic biomedical research and industry, and will accommodate more than 800 CSL employees – including early stage research and product development teams, commercial operations, corporate functions and support services. The building will include seven floors of office work spaces and nine floors of laboratories and research and clinical phase production suites.

Elizabeth North will also incorporate 1,000sqm of retail on the ground floor with prominent Elizabeth Street frontage which will serve the surrounding community and city. Buildings will be connected by external laneways with activated street frontages, creating dynamic public spaces that reference Melbourne’s architectural heritage and provide opportunities for networking between professionals, researchers, students and visitors.

Honourable Lord Mayor Sally Capp said, “It’s a privilege to take part in the ground-breaking ceremony for this $1 billion development that confirms the north of the city as a premier innovation and knowledge district,” the Lord Mayor said.

PDG is one of the leading apartment builders in Australia.

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