David Malcolm Justice Centre Explained

David Malcolm Justice Centre
Image Alt:Looking up at the glass facade of the building
Coordinates:-31.955°N 115.8603°W
Namesake:David Malcolm
Status:Completed
Topped Out:Yes
Location:Cathedral Square
Address:28 Barrack StreetPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Current Tenants:Supreme Court of Western AustraliaDepartment of TreasuryDepartment of Justice
Owner:MirvacKeppel REIT
Management:or
Operator:or
Governing Body:-->
Floor Count:32 to 35
Architecture Firm:Kerry Hill Architects and Hassell
Main Contractor:Mirvac
Parking:200

The David Malcolm Justice Centre is a 33-storey, 149m (489feet) tall skyscraper on Barrack Street in Perth, Western Australia. The building is named after David Malcolm, a former chief justice of Western Australia, and houses civil courtrooms for the Supreme Court of Western Australia as well as office space for the Department of Treasury and the Department of Justice.

History

In September 2012, Mirvac sold 50% of its stake in the building to Singaporean company Keppel REIT for $165million (equivalent to $million in).[1] [2]

Construction was completed in August 2015, with fit-out following that.[3]

The building was officially named the David Malcolm Justice Centre by Premier Colin Barnett on 11 March 2016, after David Malcolm, a former chief justice of Western Australia for eighteen years.[4] [5] [6] [7]

The David Malcolm Justice Centre was officially opened on 29 June 2016.[8] [9] The official judicial opening occurred on 27 July 2016 with a ceremonial court sitting.[10]

Design

The David Malcolm Justice Centre is 32 to 35 storeys tall[3] and has a height of according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, making it the fifth-tallest building in Perth.[11] 32 storeys are habitable and the net lettable area is approximately . The building ownership is split 50:50 between Mirvac and Keppel REIT.[12]

The building is at the centre of the Cathedral Square precinct within the central business district of Perth. Next to the building is the heritage-listed Perth Town Hall and the Old Treasury Buildings, the latter of which had its central wing demolished to make way for the David Malcolm Justice Centre.[13] [14] The building was constructed on the site of the former R&I Bank building.[14] Architecture Australia describes the building as an "elegant and timeless glazed tower, clearly intended not to compete with the heritage buildings".

The buildings main entrance is at the north-western corner, where there is a forecourt between the Perth Town Hall and the Old Treasury Building. There is a secondary, staff-only entrance on the northern side of the building as well.[14]

The David Malcolm Justice Centre was designed for at least 50 years' use. Materials used include light wood and glass which make for a relaxing, rather than intimidating, environment.[10] Malcolm had long wanted to provide a less intimidating environment for those going through the judicial process and that was his one main regret upon retiring as chief justice.

Major tenants

The David Malcolm Justice Centre houses civil courtrooms for the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The original Supreme Court Building remains in use for appeals and criminal trials. It also has offices for the Department of Treasury and the Department of Justice (formerly the Department of the Attorney General).[4] [6] Levels two to sixteen are used by the Supreme Court and nineteen to thirty-one are used by the Department of Justice and the Department of Treasury.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kerr . Peter . Treasury Building heritage work on track: Fini . The West Australian . 18 January 2023 . 28 September 2012.
  2. Web site: Bishara . Andrew . Mirvac sells 50% of the Old Treasury Building, Perth project to K-REIT Asia . Urban.com.au . 18 January 2023 . 26 September 2012.
  3. Web site: David Malcolm Justice Centre towers over Cathedral Square . WA.gov.au . 18 January 2023 . 11 March 2016.
  4. Web site: Carmody . Rebecca . Former chief justice David Malcolm honoured with 33-storey tower . ABC News . 18 January 2023 . 11 March 2016.
  5. Web site: Banks . Amanda . Justice's new home a tribute to a visionary . The West Australian . West Australian Newspapers . 18 January 2023 . 12 March 2016.
  6. Web site: Building honours towering figure of WA justice . Media Statements . 18 January 2023 . 11 March 2016 . 18 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230118171957/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2016/03/Building-honours-towering-figure-of-WA-justice.aspx . dead .
  7. Web site: Campbell . Kate . Perth's CBD tower named after late WA Chief Justice David Malcolm . PerthNow . West Australian Newspapers . 18 January 2023 . 11 March 2016.
  8. Web site: Johnston . Greig . David Malcolm Justice Centre: new building honouring late Chief Justice opened . PerthNow . 18 January 2023 . 29 June 2016.
  9. Web site: Justice in WA reaches new heights . Media Statements . 18 January 2023 . 29 June 2016 . 18 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230118171956/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2016/06/Justice-in-WA-reaches-new-heights.aspx . dead .
  10. Web site: Clarke . Tim . Justice seen in new light as court tower opens . The West Australian . West Australian Newspapers . 18 January 2023 . 27 July 2016.
  11. Web site: David Malcolm Justice Centre . Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat . 18 January 2023.
  12. Web site: David Malcolm Justice Centre, 28 Barrack Street, Perth . Mirvac . 18 January 2023.
  13. Web site: Vivian . Philip . Civic pride: Cathedral Square . ArchitectureAU . 18 January 2023 . 10 October 2016.
  14. Web site: Register of Heritage Places: Central Government Offices: Assessment Documentation . inHerit . 19 . 18 January 2023 . 14 June 2021.