The site at 54–62 La Trobe Street is located on the northern edge of Melbourne’s CBD, close to the State Library, Carlton Gardens and several significant heritage buildings. The area is characterised by recent high-rise developments associated with nearby universities, and new laneway connections that extend the city grid northward.

The proposed development is a mixed-use tower combining commercial, hotel and residential programs. An 11-storey podium accommodates commercial offices, above which the lower portion of the tower accommodates 160 hotel rooms. The upper tower levels are dedicated to 76 residential apartments.

The design strategy is based on assembling a series of smaller vertical elements into a unified composition. This approach allows for differentiation between uses while maintaining coherence of scale and form. The façade is expressed through curved corners and shaped masonry piers that accentuate the vertical organisation of the building.
A subtle taper marks the transition between hotel and residential levels.

Breaks in the building form provide opportunities for terraces and landscaped areas, including a large outdoor terrace at podium level for hotel amenities. At street level, new retail frontages and a pedestrian arcade connection to Bell Place are framed by flared masonry piers and canopy structures, establishing a strong podium and active ground plane.