41X Exhibition Street

• Sector

  Office/Workspace

• Key Lyons Contact

  Adrian Stanic

• Client

  Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter)

• Collaborators

  Hickory Group (Builder)
  AECOM (Services Engineers)
  Winward Structures (Structural & Civil Engineer)
  Aurecon (Fire Engineer)
  Davis Langdon (QS)
  DPPS (Project Manager)

• Address

  41 Exhibition St, Melbourne

• Traditional Land

  Traditional lands of the Wurundjeri (Woiworung) and Boon Wurrung

• Size

  330sqm x 21 Levels = 6,930sqm

• Project Status

  Complete, 2014

A unique hybridised public and commercial building

41X is a unique addition to the city of Melbourne, marrying public and commercial space under one building. The building accommodates 21 levels on a small site, creating a distinctive vertical business community. The small floor plate fosters diversity by enabling owners or occupiers to create their own identity within the building. Institute activities are located on the lower levels of the tower to maximise public engagement by drawing the city street up into the building through a feature stair. The space for the stair is literally carved into the Flinders Lane frontage, connecting the Institute to the public realm. This was a strategic solution that addresses the small site and expands the public accessible space of the street to make a series of intimate spaces. The notion of the public commercial hybrid is also represented through the building’s materiality. Heavy stone materials seen in many of Melbourne’s public buildings contrast with the language of corporate transparency.

Dynamic sustainability solutions for a metropolitan building 

We worked closely with AIA to take a leading industry position in achieving a sustainability outcome for 41X. Accounting for the limitations of the site area, we developed a two pronged integrated concept that allows the building to be ‘carbon neutral’ over a 30 year life cycle while also achieving a GBCA 5 Star Green Star Design rating. The Total Carbon Footprint over a 30 year life cycle period was calculated by looking at the full carbon footprint of the building over the design, construction and operational phases of the building. This assessment was undertaken looking at the energy performance of the building, through its materials, waste recovery systems, and predicted associated transport. The project provides extensive bicycle parking and shower and change facilities instead of car parking and the facade system achieves a 40% higher efficiency than what is required under the BCA. A key feature of the project is an AIA initiative for a ‘Sustainability Charter’. This will assist in facilitating the appropriate sustainability targets over the operational life of the building.

A flagship for architecture and design

41X’s design is a flagship building that signifies the importance of architecture in Australian cities. To deliver on such an aspirational brief, we worked closely with the AIA resulting in a significant partnership between the client, the architect and the contractor. This working methodology in itself is a homage to the potential of collaboration within our industry. Commenting on the importance of the design in the public sphere, The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO said, “This elegant addition to Melbourne’s CBD makes a bold statement about the value of design. With this building, the Institute is strongly reinforcing the value of architects and architecture to the sustainable growth of our community – tangibly fulfilling its mission of making the world a better place through architecture.”