A new and improved Valley Metro Shopping Centre at Fortitude Valley is on its way soon as Brisbane City Council has approved its refurbishment proposal.
Last July 2019, an announcement was given by the Brisbane City Council with regards to the proposed refurbishment project of the Valley Metro Shopping Centre. The Council has approved the design made by Architectus, lodged by the project’s developer, LaSalle Investment Management.
Apart from the Valley Metro being fully refurbished, the approved proposal also involves the addition of a new cinema, a supermarket tenancy, expanded retail offerings, upgraded central urban common space, and a number of public realm improvements.
Here are the following public realm improvements as stated in the proposal:
- Refurbished Brunswick Street Entrance canopy to provide a welcoming, legible gateway to Valley Metro precinct.
- New flexible Urban Common to facilitate a community-driven public space, that’s surrounded by natural light and landscape.
- Providing new & refurbished pedestrian linkage to allow access from all direction to Fortitude Valley Train Station.
- Potential Public Artwork installation to be further developed in future stage.
Photo credit: https://architectureau.com/
According to Architectus, the design principle for this project is to create new links and connect them with the refurbished existing links that would result into a revitalised central retail space right at the center of the site.
The designers reiterated that the main goal for this project is to have “a revitalised and accessible public space that complements the busy transport hub of the Fortitude Valley rail station and speaks to the principles of the Urban Common as a piece of social infrastructure, within a functioning retail precinct.”
Apart from the plans for onsite refurbishment of the Valley Metro, the application also indicates future linkages to Alfred and Alden Streets; however, these linkages are still subject to BCC approval.
To know more about Valley Metro’s refurbishment project, you may refer to its development application here.