By Luke Voogt
A high-rise headquarters has officially opened in central Geelong with developer Quintessential Equity declaring the city’s newest office building complete.
Quintessential and Kane Constructions partnered to build the $100 million, nine-level headquarters for health insurer GMHBA, with the developer announcing $1.3 billion of projects in total for Geelong.
The headquarters is among $800 million in Quintessential Equity projects complete or currently underway, with more than $500 million more in the pipeline over the next four to five years, the company confirmed yesterday.
According to Quintessential, the construction of the headquarters injected more than $50 million into Geelong’s economy and created 370 jobs onsite.
The building, designed by Cox Architecture, will become home to about 900 workers once COVID-19 restrictions allow.
Morris Finance and EML Group will also be tenants at the building, with 75 per cent of its 11,000 square metres of lettable area pre-leased.
Quintessential Equity executive chairman Shane Quinn hoped the building and Geelong’s changing skyline would boost the city’s economy and attract businesses and workers from Melbourne.
“I’m a strong believer that when you build the right buildings, the right people come,” he said.
“This city-shaping building has been integral to the growth and transformation of Geelong’s business community.
“It’s a testament to our team to have delivered this project on time, given the constraints of the pandemic.”
The building’s five-star Green Star Rating and NABERS Base Building Energy Rating reflected a growing need for premium green, healthy office space in Geelong, Mr Quinn said.
The latest addition to Geelong’s skyline boasts views of Corio Bay and surrounding parklands.
