When the past meets modernity: Preserving history to deliver GPO Hotel Marriott

BESIX Watpac is delivering the first hotel operated by luxury chain Marriott International in Adelaide, in the state of South Australia.

This project, commissioned by Greaton GPO Property Pty Ltd, is striking in many ways, but most of all because construction of stage 1 – the new 15-level hotel ‘tower’- takes place partly within and adjacent to the heritage-listed General Post Office building originally constructed in the 1850s. The historic building will become a stunning feature of the hotel when completed in a future stage 2 development. Months of rigorous planning and works continue to ensure the heritage structure is preserved during construction of the new tower during stage 1 development.

BESIX Watpac was awarded the Design and Build contract for this high-profile AUD 120 million (approx. EUR 77 million) development. Located in a prominent part of the Adelaide central business district, the hotel features 285 rooms, a presidential suite, a club lounge, restaurants and bars, a swimming pool and fitness centre, and function rooms.

“BESIX Watpac is a Tier 1 contractor for complex luxury hotel projects in Australia and the GPO Hotel Marriott project is a wonderful opportunity for our team to showcase the passion and operational excellence we are renowned for,” says Mark Baker, BESIX Watpac Chief Executive Officer.

Coincidence 16,000-kilometres away

Did you know that BESIX is working at the very same time on a similar project in the Netherlands? As part of the consortium ‘The Post Bouw’ with Rizzani de Eccher, BESIX Nederland is converting the almost 100 year-old post office in the heart of Rotterdam into a 5-star hotel, next to a newly built residential tower!