Council opens new community hub at 1 Nicholas Street
28 June 2021
Council has welcomed residents and ratepayers back to the city centre today at the official opening of the new administration building and customer service centre, 1 Nicholas Street.
More than 200 jobs were created during construction, and 1 Nicholas Street has been delivered both three months ahead of schedule and under budget.
The new building is part of council’s push for integrated services, with self-service kiosk technology, and meeting, event and conference spaces available to the public.
Mayor Teresa Harding said council is delighted to welcome residents and ratepayers back to the city centre.
“It has been fantastic to see so many people enjoying the wonderful public art, green spaces and shows at Tulmur Place over the past six months,” Mayor Harding said.
“We are looking forward to seeing how the community engages with these new spaces, and to delivering council services from the heart of Ipswich.”
Council negotiated a sale deal for its former premises with West Moreton Health in 2020, paving the way for a dedicated health services precinct around Roderick and South Streets.
Level one of the new administration building has three meeting rooms that can be booked and used by the community. There are also two large event/conference spaces for use by community groups and members of the public, plus a formal event space on level one which will be bookable.
The new council chambers, on level eight, have a higher capacity than the previous venue, with space for 70 viewers.
The building has a 5-star Green Star rating which means it incorporates sustainable design, materials and management. This includes smart glass, a reflective colour scheme, solar panels, environmentally-friendly glue and modern construction techniques.
Design aspects at 1 Nicholas Street focus on the city’s rich heritage, with the use of tone, colour and limestone recognising the importance of Ipswich mining to Queensland’s industrial development. Natural timbers have been used throughout the building.
Mayor Harding said council’s focus at Nicholas Street will now turn to the retail dining and entertainment precincts, set for delivery in 2022.
“Thank you to all the local tradespeople who have made such a wonderful contribution to our city by building 1 Nicholas Street,” Mayor Harding said.
“We are committed to getting the job done in the city centre and delivering world-class facilities for the whole community.”
More than 750 council employees will move into 1 Nicholas Street in the weeks ahead, generating positive flow-on effects for local small businesses, from small coffee shops and cafes to chemists and bakeries.
To date, council has spent about $183m on the civic components of the Nicholas Street redevelopment, with 1 Nicholas Street costing about $125m.
Once complete, the total cost of the once-in-a-generation Nicholas Street redevelopment is anticipated to be $250m.