Symonston technology park's biggest site, Eastedge, refurbished and for lease

Canberra’s technology park at Symonston is set for a boost with the refurbishment and lease of the biggest individual site in this quiet eastern suburb.

The Evri Group, which bought the 3.2-hectare site about a year ago, has supervised a substantial makeover of an existing building that now has a net lettable area of 7900 square metres and parking for 350 vehicles.

It is now being offered to potential tenants as the “Eastedge” development.

Project manager Chris Malegan says builder Shape Australia was commissioned to undertake the substantial refurbishment.

“It’s a big building – to give you some idea of scale, it would be larger than one of the major Bunnings outlets,” he says.

“In fact, it’s five times larger than the next biggest building in Symonston.

“We felt it really needed to be brought up to the standard that is expected in contemporary tech park-like facilities, particularly in terms of energy efficiency and employee comfort,” Malegan says.

Light has been brought into the facility via two atrium entrances and a 90-metre long and 10-metre high roof atrium that’s open to the central spine of the building.

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New facades have been added with high performance, double glazed and thermally broken frames.

The building has also upgraded its HVAC system and new lighting, switch rooms and fire services.

“We’re now able to present a sustainable building that achieves a 4.5 NABERS energy rating,” Malegan says.

“Not only that, but it has achieved a contemporary look that we feel will appeal to a wide range of potential tenants.”

Malegan says the site has enough potential for further stages, subject to development application approval.

Permitted uses include: advanced technology and development, manufacturing, communications facility, community use, defence installation, emergency services, industrial trades, light industry and warehouse.

Eastedge neighbours include government departments, private sector research organisations and technical service centres.

The ACT government recently announced that some 10,000 square metres of industrial land would be released in Symonston in the next 12 months.

In the Canberra spatial plan, Symonston, along with the adjoining Majura Valley, is denoted as an employment corridor with a focus on Canberra Airport and Fyshwick.

The area has traditionally been defined as ”broadacre” by planning authorities, meaning it has essentially retained a rural character.

Agent: Daniel McGrath, Knight Frank Canberra, 0411 140 523