GSA Guide - Suncorp-Metway Plaza (1971) – Brisbane’s first hi-rise building Claimed

Suncorp-Metway Plaza (1971) – Brisbane’s first hi-rise building

History

The Suncorp-Metway building (26 storeys,118m) was completed in 1971 was until 1973 the tallest building in Brisbane City.

The building hosted a rotating restaurant until this was replaced by a square cube with four digital clocks.  These 10m high digital clocks are the highest mounted clocks in Australia. The walls and pillars at lower levels are clad with white biotite granite (European import).

An unusual addition.

The stairway entrance to the building from Turbot Street and the linked low walls have raised metal pieces to deter skate board riders that can chip and break the granite facing.

Variations in the composition of the facing stone.

Variations in the facing stone can be seen in the lower part of the building.  There is almost pure white biotite granite, pinkish grey biotite granite and finer grained dacite. The pinkish grey granite only occurs along Turbot Street adjacent to the car park.

Images:

Suncorp- Metway Plaza (1971) - was at that time the highest structure in Brisbane City.

Suncorp-Metway Building.

1971 building refaced and refurbished.

The oldest and first high rise