Valley Metro

CLIENT: LASALLE

STATUS: COMPLETED

LOCATION: BRISBANE

SERVICES: RETAIL DESIGN MANAGEMENT, INTERIOR DESIGN

FITOUT BUILDER: BUILDCORP GROUP

PROJECT SIZE: 6,100m2

Valley Metro, a LaSalle redevelopment completed in 2021, is central to the urban gentrification of Fortitude Valley. The inner-city suburb, known affectionately as The Valley, was Australia’s first dedicated entertainment district and continues to be a hive of activity. Valley Metro has breathed new life into the day-to-day of an area that tends to have more of a nightlife culture.

Positioned above the existing Fortitude Valley train station, the previously under-activated area has now been transformed into a mixed-use precinct. The $500 million revamp includes two new office buildings, Transport House - a boutique 10-level building, and Valley Exchange, a newly built commercial tower, offering a total of up to 32,600 sqm across and up to 20 levels. These commercial spaces and an increasing number of residential buildings have brought a high level of traffic to the area. Valley Metro, which sees more than 25,000 people pass through the thoroughfare each day, is comprised of both casual dining and fast food tenancies, services, a medical centre, BWS, and a Woolworths. As appointed Retail Design Manager, Alkot Studio changed and updated every tenant in the food precinct to reflect the bright, airy, and contemporary refurb.

Developing above a train station comes with obvious limitations and challenges. Core drilling and slab penetration had to be swiftly completed every 3 to 6 months. The location meant that services required for retail and food venues such as power, drainage, and water had to be intelligently positioned so as not to disrupt the functionality of both the tenancy and the train line below. Despite these physical limitations, Valley Metro is trading very well, providing a much-needed community hub to an under-serviced area of Fortitude Valley.