2003 Media Releases

NSW Premier Bob Carr today launched Australia’s first five star greenhouse office building – a $112 million commercial property owned by Deutsche Office Trust (ASX:DOT) and conceived and developed by Lend Lease. Located at 30-34 Hickson Road, Millers Point, Sydney, the building will be Lend Lease’s new Sydney head office.

According to Michael Brown, General Manager of Deutsche Office Trust, “the building provides a leading example for the Australian property industry, setting new standards in environmental sustainability, workplace design and social connectivity”.

The office building will be known as “30 The Bond”, forming part of a newly created destination, “The Bond” at Hickson Road. Named after the historic bond stores originally found in the area, The Bond comprises three adjoining properties:

• 30-34 Hickson Road, owned by DOT;
• 36 Hickson Road, three heritage buildings owned by Delmo; and
• 38 Hickson Road, a residential building also owned by Delmo, all linked by a public plaza to form an exciting new work and living precinct.

30 The Bond will be the first office building in Australia to achieve a five star Australian Building Greenhouse Rating (ABGR). It will feature the very latest in environmental design, including 30 per cent lower CO2 emission than a typical office building. The rating will be substantially achieved through the use of chilled beam air conditioning, a first for a commercial building in Australia. The environmental initiatives will be achieved within strict commercial parameters, and will generate savings in operations and maintenance.

According to Michael Brown, “This makes the project a very powerful benchmark for future developments by advancing ESD principles considerably without compromising commercial objectives and in some instances enhancing them. It is an opportunity for the Trust to own a new-generation, showcase office development in the emerging north west waterfront precinct of the Sydney CBD.”

DOT purchased the land at 30-34 Hickson Road in May last year. When complete in early 2004, the complex will comprise approximately 18,700 square metres of office space, a 600 square metre communal atrium and basement parking for 113 cars.

Lend Lease is the development manager for the project and Bovis Lend Lease is responsible for design and construction.

Lend Lease CEO (Asia Pacific) Ross Taylor said, “Creating The Bond has allowed Lend Lease to again push the boundaries of what is possible. 30 The Bond is a fine example of a building that will serve our city into the future and it also continues our involvement with reinvigorating this part of Sydney. We’re confident that this new work environment, with the waterfront location and the internal building design and layout will be a place for our people, that will inspire and drive our distinct culture in years to come.”

The design of the building was driven by Lend Lease identifying the aspirations of its people through workshops and recognises the importance of the work environment in supporting these aspirations.

The building features 100 metre long floor plates, an eight-storey atrium and a façade with sunrooms and operable louvres plus an environmentally friendly rooftop viewpoint, which provides a habitat for primarily native plants.

For further information contact:

Michael Brown
General Manager, Deutsche Office Trust
Phone: (02) 9249 9346
Mobile: 0414 902 601

Oona Nielssen
Head of Communications, Lend Lease, Asia Pacific
Phone: (02) 9237 5758
Mobile: 0411 123 815

Sue Salmon
AGBR Manager, Sustainable Energy Development Authority
Phone: (02) 9249 6162
Mobile: 0412 295 661