Located at the prestigious address of 80 Ann St in Brisbane's bustling central business district, Heritage Lanes stands as an awe-inspiring testament to architectural excellence and considered design. The captivating heritage facade fronting Turbot Street pays homage to the historical significance of the site – once a home to the renowned Brisbane Produce Exchange – while acting as a nostalgic preamble to 35 remarkable levels of premium office spaces, expansive retail areas and sophisticated end-of-trip amenities.
The intricate architectural character of this development – devised by Woods Bagot Architects and brought to life by Mirvac – is underscored by the building’s outstanding climate-sensitive design philosophy. Heritage Lanes is powered by 100% renewable electricity and is one of the first large-scale net zero developments of this kind. The building is also designed specifically with Brisbane’s subtropical climate in mind. This sympathetic intent translates into a network of breathable spaces arranged to harness cooling breezes and promote natural air ventilation, while the operable windows and ventilation systems work harmoniously to ensure a comfortable environment for employees. In addition, double-glazed windows shield the occupants from the intensity of the harsh Queensland sun.
This layered and considered tapestry of design perfectly represents the client’s wellness and sustainability ambitions, as Heritage Lanes set its sights on the prestigious WELL Gold Shell and Core certification under the WELL Building Standard v2.0, as well as the 6 Star Green Star as built ratings. As a performance-based system that measures, certifies, and monitors various aspects of the built environment that significantly impact human health, WELL Building Standard encapsulates domains such as air quality, water provisions, nourishment, lighting, fitness, comfort, and mental well-being.
Ensuring access to hydration is one of the key considerations when creating spaces that foster well-being under the guidance of the WELL Building Standard, and as such, hydration became a cornerstone of Heritage Lane’s wellness strategy. The development placed emphasis on ensuring that occupants with varying abilities would have readily available access to drinking water dispensers, and Billi Australia was commissioned to supply instantaneous filtered drinking water to the building, with designated locations complying with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) for filtered drinking water needs.
An unquestionable leader in high-performance water filtration solutions, Billi Australia is also a member of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), which made the brand uniquely positioned to deliver accessible drinking water solutions throughout the Heritage Lanes building.
Hydration stations boasting Billi’s flagship model, Alpine 125, were strategically placed at each end of the floor to provide a seamless supply of unlimited filtered chilled and ambient water to the occupants. With its streamlined profile, intuitive functionality, and energy-efficient features, the Alpine 125 meets the stringent requirements of green building codes while remaining faithful to ergonomic design principles.
To further ensure inclusivity and accessibility, three Billi Quadra Plus systems were installed to deliver instant access to boiled, chilled, hot, and ambient water at the sink. These systems adhere to the AS 1428 standard, which dictates minimum design requirements for new building work, guaranteeing unrestricted access for individuals with disabilities. Situated on a large island bench that’s accessible from both sides, these systems facilitate full and inclusive access, exemplifying Heritage Lane’s commitment to universal usability.
In addition, the matte black finish of Billi’s systems harmoniously integrates with the overall design of the interiors. The contemporary palette of neutrals fuses the gentle warmth of timber, the timeless elegance of black and the layered visual language of natural stone and terrazzo. The incorporation of matte black tapware creates an instant visual connection with the darker elements of the fit out, while providing striking juxtaposition against the lighter, neutral finishes.
With the outstanding quality, energy-efficient profile and contemporary design language of their offering, it’s entirely unsurprising that Billi Australia emerged as the ideal choice for this progressive project. The Heritage Lanes project exemplifies the outstanding potential of wellness strategies designed to harness local climate and push the boundaries of sustainability, while providing a healthy, accessible and intuitive environment. And some of the recognition the development has gotten since completion in 2022 – like the Lord Mayor’s Brisbane Buildings that Breathe Architecture Prize or the Award of Excellent for the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) “Best Tall Building” award – clearly demonstrates that the project has set a new benchmark for sustainable architecture for years to come.
