The jewel in the crown of the new Maroochydore City Centre is only weeks away from completion, with plans under way for the official opening.
Final touches are being put on the architecturally eye-catching Sunshine Coast City Hall building, in the heart of the emerging 60-hectare Maroochydore City Centre.
The 10-storey building, designed by Cottee Parker Architects, boasts about 12,000 square metres of floor space, along with 156 vehicle spaces and 96 bicycle spots.
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The official opening of the Sunshine Coast City Hall is planned for mid-December.
The forecast $100m cost of the showpiece includes the base building construction, fit-out, furniture and equipment plus fitting out of Levels 8 and 9, which are being procured for completion in 2023.
A council spokesperson said Levels 8 and 9 fit-outs were not included in the original costings as council had not determined their use at that stage.
In December last year, the council recognised the importance of connecting the community with the civic building and agreed to retain level 9 for civic and community purposes, rather than lease it out for commercial operations.
It will be used for council-hosted and sponsored events, citizenship ceremonies and community engagement workshops and will be available for hire for specified community events.
Council also agreed to retain Level 8 for council operations and it will be a space that replicates the office fit-out of lower levels accommodating council staff.
While construction is approaching completion, another council spokesperson said many activities were being undertaken over the coming months, including final testing and commissioning plus the installation of furniture and equipment.
The Sunshine Coast Council website describes the City Hall design as inspired by the forms and colours of the landmark Glass House Mountains, intended to “fit seamlessly into its built and natural environment”.
VIDEO: See the inspiration behind the unusual shape of the new city hall?
The design, offering retail and community spaces, as well as office accommodation for council staff, also incorporates a clear view of the Level 1 council chambers “providing transparency to the community of governance in action”.
As a flagship for current and future large-scale building construction, sustainability is at its core, integrating renewable energy generation through solar power, green design principles and smart building solutions.
Mayor Mark Jamieson said in July this year that public art and landscaping would create attractive spaces linking the city hall building with its surroundings in Australia’s newest CBD.
By January, when both the City Hall and Evans Long A1 commercial office building are likely to be operational, the CBD is expected to have up to 1000 workers (including 830 council employees), along with about 500 visitors and residents daily.
Promoting active transport, which includes seeking to reduce car use to the Maroochydore’s City Centre is a key council initiative, thanks to the recently endorsed ThinkChange program.
Read a related story: Green goals: motor vehicle use discouraged at new Maroochydore CBD
The council spokesperson said the program aimed to encourage staff to choose travel options that were favourable to them and reduce travel by less sustainable modes.
“Council offers tools and advice to employees to help facilitate these changes,” the spokesperson said.
“This includes the salary sacrifice of bus fares and e-bikes, e-bike trials, providing information such as walking and cycling maps, bus information and personalised travel plans.
“Employees are also encouraged to find carpooling buddies to commute to work.”
The spokesperson said the council was required to progressively deliver about 2000 public car parks in the Maroochydore City Centre in line with the timing of surrounding development.
The new ParknGo Lightning Lane car park would be the first car park to be rolled out.
Read the story here: CBD traffic: green light for high-rise car park in the centre of the Sunshine Coast
A number of on-street drop-off and pick-up zones also would be available in the city centre, with separate disability parking provided on the street and within each multi-deck car park.
A 204-space temporary outdoor car park is already available.
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