CROMWELL Property Group turned the sod with a host of Canberra’s great and good yesterday for the construction of a new $130 million building at Tuggeranong Office Park.
This project is scheduled for completion in mid-late 2017 with the building to be leased by the Department of Social Services as its national headquarters to accommodate up to 2,500 staff.
The Ground Breaking Ceremony yesterday saw major stakeholders and delegates in attendance to officially turn the first soil. Attendees included Senator Zed Seselja, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, the Cromwell Property Group Board Members, and other representatives of the ACT Government.
Cromwell CEO Paul Weightman said the building was an important milestone in the redevelopment of Tuggeranong Office Park and Cromwell was keenly anticipating the completion of the project.
“I would like to thank Senator Seselja for his continued support for the Tuggeranong community and the Australian Government for funding the fit-out of the new building. I would also like to thank the ACT Government for supporting this development in Tuggeranong and the Department of Social Services for choosing Cromwell as their preferred accommodation provider.”
Under the terms of the agreement with the Department, Cromwell will construct the modern 30,400sqm office building on land within the existing Tuggeranong Office Park with a new 15-year lease due to commence upon completion.
Zed said the Australian Government was pleased to be able to continue to support the Tuggeranong community by maintaining the Department’s national headquarters here.
“This development will have a positive economic impact on the local community and will deliver significant long-term savings to the Government through reduced property operating expenses and improved fit-out flexibility.”
“I fought hard to keep the Department of Social Services at Tuggeranong and I’m really pleased that this strong presence will now remain at the Tuggeranong Town Centre.”
The new building will feature five floors of office space plus two levels of support facilities, storage and parking, totalling 30,400sqm. Additional features of the building will include floor plates of over 5,000sqm, a central atrium allowing natural light to enter into the work environment and stairs connecting the floors to promote incidental exercise.
The building will be energy efficient, achieving a 4.5 Green Star rating and a 5 star NABERS rating, willprovide end of trip facilities with bike storage, will include a separately leased café that will service departmental staff, visitors to the building, and the public.
Andrew Barr welcomed the investment in ACT and Tuggeranong.
“This is an exciting development in Canberra’s south which will deliver jobs and economic activity for the territory,” Andrew said.
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