Church's Eight-Storey Commercial Tower Approved

The Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane has won approval to build an eight-storey commercial building next to St Patrick’s Church in Fortitude Valley.

Brisbane City Council approved the BVN-designed mixed use building, which includes function space, a rooftop garden and public realm as well as two basement levels of parking on the site of the state-heritage-listed St Patrick’s Church at 58 Morgan Street.

A spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane said the contemporary design of the commercial building would focus on wellness.

“The approved design ... offers a contemporary, flexible and sustainable building designed for the 21st century,” he said.

“The development will include a focus on wellness within the workplace, an important thematic in the post-Covid environment for office staff, with increased lift capacities, a bespoke two-level end-of-trip facility, plus a dedicated wellness room.”

The church spokesman said the driving force behind the project was to ensure the parish could provide financial support for the ongoing maintenance of two of Brisbane’s oldest churches.

“St Patrick’s church has been part of the community for more than 140 years … the parish also maintains the historic Cathedral of St Stephen, which requires ongoing maintenance,” he said.

“Both churches have long-standing roles in their communities and we want them to be places of gathering for another 150-plus years.”

Restoration of the St Patrick’s Church would be undertaken alongside the construction of the commercial building on site.

The approved plans also include the provision of a community care centre and food and drink retail space, as well as 11,537sq m of commercial office space, with its footprint covering about one-quarter of the site.

Brisbane Civic Cabinet City Planning and Suburban Renewal Chair Adam Allan said the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane had been approved by Council to establish the community care facility next to the church.

“The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane provides a range of services to the community, and this new facility will give Brisbane better access to support organisations and public space in the heart of the city,” Allan said.

“The eight-story building will house a community care centre, food and drink outlet, rooftop recreation area and office space.

“The design looks to complement the existing heritage structure with open archways on the first two levels inviting natural light into the space and giving the church prominence.”

CBRE and White Partners have been engaged for leasing of the building, and construction was due to commence early 2022, with a completion date hedged for 2023.