NAB Wins with Partnership Approach to New Flagship Building - 23 September 2003

The National Australia Bank's new flagship building in Melbourne is a remarkable model of what can be achieved when a traditional contract-based relationship is reformed as a true partnership.

Based on the success of Campus MLC in Sydney, and similar smaller scale projects, developer Lend Lease, owner General Property Trust, project managers Bovis Lend Lease and architects Bligh Voller Nield, have teamed up with the National to create a visionary building and workplace.

Located between the Harbour and Bourke Street at Victoria Harbour in the heart of Melbourne's Docklands, the 58,800 square metre campus style development consists of two low rise eight-storey interconnected buildings with the first due for completion in February next year.

Rosemary Kirkby, Joint Project Director for the National says, "This was a business and people project from the start not a building one.  We wanted to challenge the traditional client, architect, developer and building owner relationship.  Only a multi-disciplinary team that was prepared to invest in building and collectively sharing intellectual capital, working as one seamless team could have delivered such an exciting outcome for the National."

The relationship has evolved through previous projects and through a joint study tour to Europe and the United States, looking at what was possible and how it could be delivered in an Australian context within strict commercial parameters.

Owner GPT requires long-term commercial viability from its asset, and the National knew from the outset that the built environment could be a driver for its business aspirations.

Lend Lease had secured Victoria Harbour as a precinct in April 2001 and created the opportunity for the National and Bligh Voller Nield to design the ideal solution from scratch on a greenfield site. 

"When this opportunity came up our partnership had just completed a portfolio of leading edge work environments for the National's Wealth Management division, but this is the first time that we have had the opportunity to conceive the workplace from first principles. We work holistically across all project elements from the inside out and with exceptionally high levels of user engagement – all within tight commercial parameters. The management of the entire process demands creativity, flexibility and cohesive teamwork from all involved, with shared passion for the project's aspirations as the glue that binds us together," said Lend Lease's Account Manager for the National Paul Cull.

The decision for the National to move to the Victoria Harbour site was made in June 2001, and GPT secured the asset given the blue chip tenant and the vision for this quality office product.  This partnership means the National can participate in the design of a building it does not own.

The parties work as one team, with incentives including shared savings.  Work is progressing well to schedule, with the synergies offered by designing and constructing the fitout and base building in an integrated way continuing to generate efficiencies.

"All members of the team are working directly with the National and are embedded in our business.  This means redundant work is avoided and decision-making and negotiation is seamless and timely.  It is an outcome orientated model underpinned by a mutual understanding of concept and success," emphasises Peter Affleck, Joint Project Director for the National.

The partnership is extended to the major suppliers, for example representatives from Lend Lease, the National and Bligh Voller Nield, worked with an overseas supplier to tailor make the ideal work setting for the new Australian headquarters.  This innovation, and others, are possible because of the scale of the project and the commitment by all parties to seek out a better result for every detail.

Building Facts

• When signed, Australia's largest tenancy pre-commitment
• Largest commercial construction project underway in Australia
• 58,800m2 space
• Low-rise open, transparent environment
• Large open flexible floor plates
• Sunlight filled atriums in the heart of the buildings
• European campus style workplace
• More than 3,500 occupants
• B1 completion Feb 04, B2 end Aug 04 
• Base building 4 star energy rated
• Includes  1,500m2 of retail space

Victoria Harbour Facts

• Centrepiece of the Docklands, the Lend Lease developed precinct will have residential, retail and commercial
• 3.7km of waterfront including the only north-facing harbourfront in Melbourne
• Contains the extension of Melbourne's two mains streets, Collins and Bourke, to the waterfront
• Main shopping street is Buckley Corso, to include 40 shops and a full-line 2,500m2 supermarket.