Lovett Tower Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Lovett Tower
Lovett Tower
Former names	MLC Tower
Etymology	Lovett Family
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Office
Architectural style	Modern
Location	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Address	13 Keltie Street
Coordinates	35°20′43″S 149°05′05″E / 35.34528°S 149.08472°E / -35.34528; 149.08472
Current tenants	Nil - Fully vacant.
Construction started	1971-72
Completed	1973
Opening	1974
Owner	Brite Developments Pty Limited
Height
Architectural	93 metres (305 ft)
Tip	93 metres (305 ft)
Roof	82 metres (269 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	26
Design and construction
Architect	Jon Mitchell and Associates. Sydney.
Main contractor	Civil & Civic

The Lovett Tower is a very tall building in Canberra, Australia. It stands 93 metres (305 feet) high. You can find it in the Woden Town Centre, which is a busy area with shops and offices. This building used to be called the MLC Building.

History of Lovett Tower
Features of the Tower
- How Tall is Lovett Tower?
- Inside the Building
Gallery
See also

History of Lovett Tower

Building the Tower

Construction of the Lovett Tower finished in 1973. The company Civil & Civic built it. For a long time, it was the tallest building in Canberra. However, a new building called "High Society" in Belconnen is expected to be taller soon.

Early Incidents and Safety Changes

After the tower opened in 1974, there was an incident. A person held some government workers at gunpoint. Because of this, armed guards were placed in the lobby for several months.

It was noticed during construction that the tower created strong winds below. In 1975, the NCDC thought about building a clock tower to help with this wind problem. This idea was tested but never built.

Later, in 1984, problems with fire safety were found. The building did not have fire alarms or ways to put out fires. These important safety features were added soon after. It was also discovered that the local fire department did not have ladders tall enough for high-rise fires. They got new equipment after this.

Changes in Ownership

The Lovett Tower has been bought and sold several times. In 1994, it was bought by E.C. Managed Investments Group. Then, it was sold to BZW Investment Management Group for A$47.5 million. In 2020, Brite Developments Pty Limited bought the building from Cromwell Property Group.

The tower was updated in 1999 and again in 2007. It used to be known as the MLC Tower. In 2000, it was renamed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. The new name, Lovett Tower, honours the Lovett family.

Features of the Tower

How Tall is Lovett Tower?

The Lovett Tower is the third tallest structure in Canberra. Only Black Mountain Tower and the flagpole at Parliament House are taller. However, it is the tallest building because it has the most floors. It has 26 floors, including a basement level. The tower is 93 metres (305 feet) tall.

Inside the Building

The tower is mainly used for offices. It used to house government departments like the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Department of the Environment. However, these departments have moved out, and the building is now empty. Because of this, the public cannot go inside the building.

On the ground floor, there are some shops. There is a credit union on one side and a coffee shop on the other. Interestingly, there is no 13th floor button in most of the lifts. This is because the 13th floor is used for building equipment, not offices. Some people have thought about turning the tower into a home for older people in the future.

The building has a basement, a ground floor lobby, and two ground floor shops. The rest of the building is mostly office space. There is also a mezzanine level. On the upper floors, there are restrooms, tea rooms, and many lifts. The Woden Town Centre is known for the strong winds that the Lovett Tower can create.