1010 LaTrobe Street represents stage two of Digital Harbour's technology based community - an incubator hub with a focus on offices for new enterprises in the IT industry. 1010 LaTrobe Street connects start up companies and small/medium enterprises, right through to large corporations in a collaborative workplace that incorporates the latest digital technologies as well as facilitating one on one interactions. Through the innovative use of ordinary building materials and methods, the project reinvents tried (and tired!) technologies in a creative and unusual way. The commencement of stage two grounds the precinct in its ongoing rollout which includes substantial commercial development, carparking structures, public concourse and retail and exhibition spaces - demanding vibrant architecture at a range of scales and typologies. Architectural Expression The design strategy reference themes and visual codes of our technological age. Circuit boards, bar codes, morse codes, binary numerals can be interpreted in the striated precast concrete panels. The intriguing façade layout is generated by alternating precast concrete panels and solar control glazed curtain wall. Believe it or not, the panels are arranged in exactly parallel layers. The visual effect is called the Münsterburg Illusion. This fascinating phenomenon was first described by Richard Gregory after he noticed it in the pattern of tiles on a Cafe in Bristol, UK. The presence of the coloured horizontal line at each floor level is essential to the illusory effect. On the west façade, the vista opens to encompass Victoria Harbour and Central Pier with subtle detail to the bright stainless steel

mullions creating an intriguing visual affect, shimmering and shearing before your eyes. Spatial Organisation 1010 LaTrobe Street benefits from a generous foyer through which tenants must walk to access the lift lobby associated with Ground Floor café facilities - encouraging ‘time out' to socialise and get to know other tenants. By clustering incubators and their microbusinesses, the Innovation Building provides an environment that nurtures research and commercial development of innovative ideas. Construction of 1010 LaTrobe Street reflects modern organisational culture with flexible and functional floors - comprising features such as ‘no ceilings' over open planned spaces to facilitate easy technology upgrades, rapid space reconfiguration and to enhance cross-pollination of ideas between tenants. The on-off perimeter wall system is based on common office modules, allowing maximum flexibility of fit-out. A new approach for technology savvy companies ‘high ceilings, exposed cable trays and services make reconfiguring of spaces and upgrading of technology a relatively simple matter' something that can be done over a weekend. Environmental/Energy Efficiency Modern sustainable urban environments promote the holistic needs of their inhabitants and wider community values. As in any responsible development the principles of Ecological Sustainability impacted on all decisions relating to the design of the building and its operational systems and performance. With a specific focus on the reduction of water consumption, the project has exceeded VicUrban requirements for an Award of Merit and the Green Building Council's 5 star greenstar assessment.