Allendale Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allendale Square |
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Allendale Square
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Office |
| Location | 77 St Georges Terrace Perth, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°57′19.87″S 115°51′29.45″E / 31.9555194°S 115.8581806°E |
| Construction started | 1974 |
| Completed | 1976 |
| Opening | 1976 |
| Owner | GE |
| Height | |
| Roof | 132 m (433 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 34 (including basements and plant floor) |
| Floor area | 27,700 m2 (298,000 sq ft) (tower only) |
| Lifts/elevators | 9 (plus one to basement car park) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Cameron, Chisholm and Nicol |
| Main contractor | Multiplex |
Allendale Square is a tall, 32-story building in Perth, Western Australia. It's a type of building called a skyscraper. When it opened in 1976, it was 132 meters (433 feet) high. This made it the tallest building in Perth for a short time. It was taller than the AMP Building. But then, in 1977, St Martins Tower opened and became the new tallest building.
Contents
Building Allendale Square: Its History
The land where Allendale Square stands has a long history. The Leake family owned this corner of St Georges Terrace and Sherwood Court way back in 1829.
Over the years, different buildings stood here. These included Warwick House and the Bank of New South Wales. There was also the Commercial Travellers Association and the Daily News Chambers. All these older buildings were taken down in 1974. This made space for the new Allendale Square to be built.
How Allendale Square Was Built
The company Cameron, Chisholm and Nicol designed the tower. Multiplex was the main company that built it. The outside of the building is covered in special aluminium. This aluminium was tested to make sure it could handle the weather.
Even though this metal covers most of the outside, it was all put on from inside the building. Workers did not need to use tall scaffolding on the outside.
The Premier of Western Australia, Sir Charles Court, officially opened the building. This happened on August 3, 1976. Some people from the Leake family were also there. Their family had owned the land since the early days of the colony.
What Happened After It Was Built?
Allendale Square has been used for some exciting events. People have even done abseiling down its side for charity. This means they climbed down the building using ropes. The first event was in November 2002. It was so popular that it happened every year. However, when the building got a new owner, these events stopped.
The tower has also been a place to launch fireworks. These fireworks are part of the yearly Lotterywest Skyworks display.
Some big companies have offices in Allendale Square. These include ANZ Bank and Qantas.
Who Owns Allendale Square?
Over the years, Allendale Square has had several different owners. In 1988, one company bought half of the building. Later, in 1995, another company bought that same half.
Then, in 2001 and 2002, a property investor named Ralph Sarich bought the entire building. He paid over $93 million for it.
In 2006, General Electric bought the tower from Ralph Sarich's company for $154 million. They tried to sell it in 2008, but the offers weren't high enough. Finally, in May 2013, Mirvac bought the tower for $231 million.
Updates and New Buildings
Allendale Square has been updated three times since it opened. In 1989, a small update cost $1.5 million. Then, in 1999, the inside of the building got a big update. This cost $2.5 million. The main entrance area, called the lobby, was redone. The lifts were replaced, and the lighting was improved.
The most recent updates happened from 2001 to 2002. This also included changing the smaller three-story building next to the tower. The outdoor area, called the plaza, was also updated for the first time since 1976.
The whole complex got bigger in 2006. A new seven-story building called Allendale II was finished. It's connected to Allendale Square and its underground shops. This new building added more space for offices and shops.
How Allendale Square Was Designed
The tower sits on a large piece of land, but the building itself only takes up a quarter of it. The architects, Cameron, Chisolm and Nicol, designed the building to be turned 45 degrees. This helped them get special permission from the Perth City Council.
The walls of the tower are shaped with V-like parts sticking out. To get the best views of the Swan River and keep the heat out, windows are only on the north and south sides of these V-shapes. The rest of the tower is covered with aluminium. This aluminium was made from local materials. When it opened, Allendale Square was the largest building in Australia covered completely in aluminium. It was also one of the biggest in the world.
The tower has 992 windows made of special solar-bronze glass. Most of the office floors had clear views of the river when the building opened. Also, the office floors do not have any columns inside, which gives more open space. The lobby had red carpet, high ceilings, and marble columns when it first opened.
The building has nine fast lifts for the offices. These lifts were very advanced when the tower opened. They made travel times faster. The security and air conditioning systems were also very modern. The roof of the building has the ANZ Bank logo. It can also be used as a helipad if needed.
Allendale Square has 34 levels. These include an underground car park, shops, the main lobby, and 29 office floors. It has 27,700 square meters (298,000 square feet) of space that can be rented out.
Experts have called Allendale Square a "fine example" of tall building design. They say it is "timeless" and "one of Perth's most prominent office buildings." It's seen as a building that was great for its time and is still important today.
...The basic design is innovative and displays both structural and technological sophistication. The tower and its associated concourse exhibit clarity of thought, consistent detailing and finishes of a high standard.
Awards and Recognition
Allendale Square is a very well-known building. The Royal Australian Institute of Architects named it one of the Top 20 Australian buildings from the 20th century.
The building has also won several awards for its design:
- 1977 — Alcoa of Australia Award for Architecture
- 1978 — Royal Australian Institute of Architects Design Award
- 1978 — ACI Energy Conservation Award
- 1981 — Royal Australian Institute of Architects (WA Chapter) Bronze Medal
