50 Quay Street Tower

LOCATION: 50 Quay Street, Brisbane

TYPE OF PROJECT: Residential High-Rise

YEAR(S): 2024-2027

CLIENT: Hutchinson Builders

The site at 50 Quay Street in Brisbane’s CBD has a story that stretches well before construction began — and Cogent Scaffolding has been part of it from the very start. The former Queensland Children’s Court, which occupied this prominent city address for decades, was identified by the Queensland Government as a key site for its affordable and social housing programme. Its demolition in 2023 marked the beginning of a transformation that will deliver one of Brisbane’s most significant Build-to-Rent developments.

Cogent’s involvement began during the demolition phase. In 2023, we erected perimeter scaffold around the existing structure to facilitate the safe demolition of the Children’s Court building — a technically important phase that required our systems to contain the demolition works, protect the surrounding streetscape, and manage the interface with active CBD traffic and pedestrian zones on all sides. Getting demolition scaffold right in a tight city location is not straightforward; the engineering and site management demands are real, and our team delivered.

With demolition complete and the site cleared, investment manager Cedar Pacific was selected by the Queensland Government to deliver the new development under the state’s Build-to-Rent pilot programme — a 32-storey tower comprising 475 apartments, with Hutchinson Builders awarded the construction contract. Having been on site throughout the demolition phase and having already built a strong working relationship with Hutchies on this and other projects, Cogent was the natural choice to carry through as the scaffolding contractor for the new build.

The significance of this project extends well beyond its scale. Build-to-Rent is a relatively new model in the Australian residential market, and the Queensland Government’s pilot programme at 50 Quay Street represents a meaningful step toward addressing the state’s housing supply challenges. A 32-storey tower delivering 475 apartments in the heart of the Brisbane CBD — purpose-built for long-term rental rather than sale — will make a genuine contribution to housing availability for the city. Being part of a project with that kind of social purpose adds a dimension to the work that our team values.

From a construction standpoint, a 32-storey residential tower in the Brisbane CBD presents the full range of high-rise scaffolding challenges. The site’s city centre location means working within a dense urban environment, with active streets, neighbouring buildings, and underground infrastructure all requiring careful management. The height and floor count demand a scaffold system that can be efficiently jumped and adapted as the structure rises, providing continuous perimeter access and edge protection across all levels through what will be a three-year build programme.

Cogent is proud to be part of this project from demolition through to completion — a span of involvement that reflects the depth of our relationship with Hutchinson Builders and our capability to deliver across the full lifecycle of a major construction project.