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A decade after demolition, new tower planned for Regent site

More than a decade after Brisbane’s historic Regent Theatre was demolished, leaving only the lobby, new plans for an office tower have been submitted for council approval.

Developer ISPT plans to build a 42-storey tower on the vacant site at 150 Elizabeth Street, which has sat empty for about a decade.

Render of ISPT’s proposed 42-storey Wardle-designed office tower on the site of Brisbane’s old Regent Theatre. View from Elizabeth Street.

Render of ISPT’s proposed 42-storey Wardle-designed office tower on the site of Brisbane’s old Regent Theatre. View from Elizabeth Street.Credit: ISPT

The building, designed by architecture firm Wardle, would add 59,224 square metres of floor area to Brisbane’s office space market.

An ISPT spokeswoman said, subject to planning and board approvals, construction was expected to begin in mid-to-late 2024. As for the cost of the project, the spokeswoman said she was unable to provide that “at this stage”.

In an assessment report submitted to Brisbane City Council on ISPT’s behalf, Place Design Group said the development – at this stage known as “150 Elizabeth” – would be a catalyst for the revitalisation and urban regeneration of the block bordered by Albert, Elizabeth, Edward and Queen streets.

“Together with co-existing and complementing the Regent Heritage Building, which will remain untouched and respected as part of the proposed development, 150 Elizabeth will represent a striking design complemented by greenery creating a strong urban presence within the Brisbane skyline through its unique facades that celebrate the key elements of the buildings that breathe guideline,” Place said in the assessment report.

The remnants of the Regent may well be “untouched” by the proposed developments, but the touching had already been well and truly done.

The old Regent Theatre in 1955, prior to its conversion to a cinema.

The old Regent Theatre in 1955, prior to its conversion to a cinema.Credit: State Library of Queensland

Despite pleas and court action from the public, the old Regent Theatre was progressively demolished in 2011 and 2012.

As the bulldozers moved in on the historic theatre, which had been converted to a more modern cinema in 1980, then-Queensland Heritage Council chairman Peter Coaldrake admitted QHC officers had not inspected the theatre before deciding not to expand protection beyond the ornate lobby, which remains accessible from the Queen Street Mall.

That demolition work was to make way for Brookfield Multiplex’s planned 31-storey Regent Towers complex, which was never built.

ISPT’s plans for the site add another 11 storeys to the previously proposed development.

In its submission to the council, Place said the development would be the “final piece” for the precinct that would create a visual marker within the Brisbane skyline.

“150 Elizabeth is part of a broader precinct-wide integration and renewal of Brisbane’s Regent, Wintergarden, Zara and Hilton buildings incorporating a new commercial office tower reaching 42 storeys on a portion of the site that is currently vacant,” Place said.

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“The tower sits above an eight-storey podium that incorporates accommodation of car-parking (associated with the mixed use office tower only) and ground-level connections through to the existing Regent Theatre heritage building.”

That car parking would include 151 spaces between levels four and eight of the podium. There would also be end-of-trip facilities for bike riders, with 430 bicycle spaces, 614 male and female lockers and 32 showers (16 male and 16 female).

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