If it was your first visit to Melbourne’s The Garden State Hotel – perhaps for a casual lunch, or a drink after work, you’d be forgiven for assuming the fully-grown atrium garden had been established over decades. The towering canopy of Ficus trees with sunlight filtering through and sparrows taking refuge from surrounding city streets provides a welcome fusion of city pub with a garden-like feel.
The Garden State Hotel opened its doors in July 2016, quickly becoming known as a World Class hospitality Venue. Fast forward two years and we look back on our role as Project Manager of the construction and fit-out of this spectacular venue as a great experience. Working with Techne Architects, and with Schiavello throughout the construction phase, creation of this new Melbourne icon was a challenging and rewarding experience.
When asked about highlights of the project, the SEMZ team can’t go past the day we watched the fully-grown Ficus trees being lifted by crane over the heritage façade, alongside city skyscrapers and delicately lowered into place within the formed concrete planters.
As we enjoy the challenges and excitement of partnering with Sand Hill Road on their next big project – St Kilda’s ‘The Espy’- it’s fantastic to look back on the challenges and complexities we faced in delivering The Garden State Hotel, and most importantly – enjoy all it has to offer as a venue!
Video – Craning in the Trees during construction of the Garden State Hotel (2016)