LANG WALKER'S private Walker Corporation has been awarded the $40 million fit-out contract for the new headquarters of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
This marks the arrival of the group on the Canberra scene, and more deals are said to be in the wings.
But Mr Walker is not alone. The former head of Multiplex Andrew Roberts is venturing to Canberra, with other developers.
This development is despite concerns that the Federal Government has been looking to cut the number of staff at various departments and federal agencies.
The 40,000 square metre building is at 50 Marcus Clarke Street on the former QEII site, and will be one of Canberra's most environmentally friendly buildings.
For the base building Walker is committed to achieving a five-star NABERS rating, a five green-star office design rating and a five-green-star as built rating. The interiors are designed to achieve a five green-star office interiors rating.
The executive chairman of Walker Corp, Lang Walker, said the headquarters would be one of the best buildings in Canberra for quality of finish, floor-space ratio and sustainable design.
"The company continues to seek further opportunities within the ACT. It's a great result for Walker to win the fit-out contract for the building as this means we'll be seeing the overall design and delivery of the building through from concept to completion, helping to achieve state-of-the-art new premises for the department."
Construction of the base building started in March last year, and it is on target for completion next June, including its integrated fit-out.
The department has committed to a long-term lease with Walker, which intends to hold on to the building long-term.
The development of the departmental headquarters marks the start of a long-term commitment by the company to development in and around Canberra.
Walker recently began work on Canberra's first industrial business park, called Monaro Industrial Park, a 30-hectare estate located on the Monaro Highway in Hume.
The company also started infrastructure and road works at a new residential land subdivision near Batemans Bay, called Reflections Barlings Beach. The estate is the last waterfront land in Eurobodalla Shire, and some of the last developable waterfront land on the NSW South Coast.
