SMITH COLLECTIVE

WELCOMING, UPLIFTING, VISIONARY; A PRECEDENT FOR AUSTRALIA’S BTR MARKET

Smith Collective is Australia’s first and largest BTR development. Situated in sub-tropical Surfers Paradise, this masterplanned community is also the Gold Coast’s biggest ever urban renewal project. Starting its life as the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games athletes’ village, Smith Collective set a bold precedent for Australia’s BTR market in both scale and design.

In partnership with Brisbane architecture firms Arkhefield and Archipelago, ARM designed six residential and retail lots comprising 1,252 apartments and townhouses, shops, and a large public plaza and park.

Drawing urban design inspiration from the Gold Coast hinterland, Smith Collective is an authentic expression of its surrounds. A series of dynamic design ‘moments’ create a sense of cohesion through the site, including a blooming double helix and a yellowrimmed arbor that twists around The Disc water feature at the village heart. The building facades are graded in a vibrant colour palette of reds, blues and yellows to achieve a unified DNA across the precinct. This striking interplay of colour and form was previously unseen in an Australian BTR development, setting a bold new precedent for how design can set the tone for an entire BTR community.

Smith Collective was designed with a suite of amenities to enhance the quality of life for single tenants, growing families, and the broader community. Landscaped outdoor spaces feature moveable street furniture, street trees and space for residents to interact. These spaces frame an offering of wellbeingfocussed amenities including gyms, swimming pools, landscaped community gardens, sports ovals.

Smith Collective also features a vibrant mix of retail, hospitality, and health and beauty offerings at tenants’ doorstep. 24/7 on-site security is another unique and important offering at Smith Collective, creating a truly cohesive and secure community beyond just a collection of apartments.

Tenant Clientele

ARM conducted rigorous research into the site’s prospective tenant demographic based on its proximity to Griffith University and Gold Coast University Hospital. Smith Collective’s current demographic comprises professionals and students from the neighbouring health and tertiary precincts.

• 45 percent of tenants aged between 20 and 35

• 20 percent of residents are students

• 25 percent are hospital employees

Progress Report

Smith Collective continues to be regarded as a sound BTR offering almost four years after it was built. Residents reflect on a refreshing sense of space in the community, with its open grounds and pet-friendly areas.

The design of the buildings around a central courtyard containing the pool and gym amenities in the centre creates a feeling of micro-communities within the larger precinct. This offers residents a chance to connect and interact in a more intimate context.

Current owners UBS continue to observe high tenant retention rates at Smith Collective, due partly to its design around central points that suits a broad range of tenant lifestyles, and partly to the asset’s amenity offering. Comprehensive security and CCTV remains key selling point of Smith Collective, along with ample airconditioning in the apartment offerings and regular precinct-wide community events and functions that foster an important sense of place and belonging.