300 in $15m office

Work is underway on a $15 million Belmont building to house 300 staff following the merger of two of Geelong’s biggest welfare agencies.
The Reynolds Road headquarters of genU Karingal St Laurence should be finished in 12 months, chief executive officer Mike McKinstry has announced.
The office for the staff of the formerly independent Karingal and St Laurence agencies would “further establish the city’s reputation as a centre of excellence for personal injury and disability”, genU said.
The “state-of-the-art building” would accommodate the agency’s disability, aged care and employment services divisions.
Builder 4Square Constructions would source 70 per cent of building materials from local suppliers, “further driving investment into the local economy”, genU said.
NOW Architecture designed the three-storey, 3100sqm building as environmentally friendly with have “minimal impact on the surrounding residential context and scale”.
The project showed genU’s commitment to investing in the Geelong region, Mr McKinstry said.
“While we have recently rebranded to genU and now operate in every state except Tasmania and the Northern Territory, the Barwon region will always be our home and we feel our new head office reflects that,” he said.
“We’re committed to helping build a stronger Geelong, alongside other organisations like WorkCover, TAC and VicRoads, and we’re now one of the top five providers of disability and lifestyle services in Australia.
“This building will also provide cost savings across our business as we vacate a number of leases and move our staff into our new home.”
The head office design incorporated light shelves to decrease direct heat and glare and increase occupant comfort, genU said.
“The design also features timber concrete composite floors and this hybridisation enables designers to reduce cross sections, increase spans, and streamline structures in pursuit of sustainable architecture.
“The building also features a Seasons Café, commercial kitchen, outdoor seating areas, public and staff bicycle loops as well as 139 dedicated car spaces.”