One of Queensland’s largest coworking and innovation spaces has taken out the state’s top property award.
COHORT by Economic Development Queensland (Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning) has been crowned the Rider Levett Bucknall Queensland State Development of the Year.
RLB Managing Director, Matt Long, congratulated EDQ and the Queensland Government.
‘COHORT has rapidly become a launchpad for health and technology start-ups, entrepreneurs and mentors, creating places and investment opportunities for Queenslanders to prosper,’ Mr Long said.
‘RLB is proud to have been involved in this development, providing cost consultancy services to EDQ.’
COHORT opened in May 2019 in the heart of the 200-hectare Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct in Southport and has been expanded twice to meet demand to become one of the largest innovation spaces in Queensland.
Its location in the former Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) Athletes’ Village made it a key pillar of EDQ’s post-Games development strategy for its 9.5ha of developable area.
Creativity, connectedness and entrepreneurship
A design collaboration between Space Cubed Design Studio and ArkLAB, and constructed by Quadric, COHORT delivers a 2,500sqm space that promotes collaboration and interaction, enhanced by an integrated management model.
Property Council’s Queensland Executive Director, Jen Williams, said EDQ’s ability to take a strategic, long-term position to generate economic value through the precinct was key to its success.
‘The Queensland Government, through EDQ, has delivered an impressive coworking, innovation and laboratory space that connects entrepreneurs, start-ups and industry leaders under one roof,’ Ms William said.
‘Since it opened in May 2019, COHORT has accommodated more than 160 digital health professionals and start-up innovators that benefit from being co-located with founding partners and collaborators like Griffith Innovation Centre, Gold Coast University Hospital’s Digital Engagement Team, Institute of Glycomics and not-for-profit AI start-up IntelliHQ.
‘Its design, intent and operational success sets a high standard for coworking precincts in Australia and is a worthy recipient of this prestigious award.’
About
The Queensland State Development of the Year award is part of the national 2021 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation and Excellence Awards program. RLB has partnered with the Property Council to present the awards program since its inception in 1982.
COHORT is also a national finalist for the Award for Government Leadership at the 2021 Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards Gala Dinner in Sydney in August.
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