Old Northbourne Avenue office building to reopen as Mantra Hotel in September

Northbourne Avenue’s regeneration has been largely the product of major knockdown-rebuild projects, but one building has been completely repurposed with a $19 million retrofit.

The old 10-storey office tower on the corner of Macarthur and Northbourne avenues in Turner is now a Mantra hotel, due to open in late September.

Mantra Macarthur Hotel will anchor the new mixed-use Midtown precinct, which will also include residential units, office space and a range of cafes and restaurants.

Midtown developer HTI Group directors Adam Howarth and Jon Tanchevski said feedback on the retrofit has been positive.

“It adds to the sustainability of the entire precinct,” Mr Tanchevski said.

“Instead of sending a 10-storey building to landfill or concrete recyclers, we’re retrofitting what looks like a brand new building.”

Designed by AMC Architecture, the hotel features a modern industrial design.

The main precast facade elements of the original office building were retained, while the rest was stripped back to a bare shell. The interiors feature black steelwork, brass and stone.

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The hotel will have 136 hotel rooms and 40 suites, as well as a gym, conference space and Greek Mediterranean restaurant and bar.

It is Mantra Group’s fourth Canberra hotel and chief executive Bob East said the new property would help support the growth of tourism in the nation’s capital.

“Not only will Mantra Macarthur Hotel be a major boost for the local economy from an international and domestic tourism perspective, but it also supports the local economy by creating numerous long-term hospitality jobs,” Mr East said.

Midtown will also feature a brand new 26-unit development, Edgeworth, which is under construction.

Designed by Cox Architecture, Edgeworth will have a mix of two, three and four-bedroom apartments and just four are still available for sale.

Small boutique offerings will complement the residential component and Mr Tanchevski said they are targeting smaller operators with no fixed terms for the 15 to 45-square-metre retail spaces. 

“We’re looking at attracting smaller businesses that can’t afford larger city rent but can contribute to the community,” Mr Tanchevski said.

An adjacent 2500-square-metre site will complete Midtown and planning is expected to begin towards the end of 2018.