Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne Southbank sits a short walk to the Yarra River.

TFE Hotels has revealed more details about its soon-to-open Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne Southbank – due to open later this year – with the hotel set to become Australia’s first constructed from cross-laminated timber.

Once open, the 220-room hotel will become Australia’s tallest mass timber vertical extension, sitting on top of an existing concrete structure at ground level.

Drawing on using highly sustainable materials and technology, the use of 5,300 tonnes of cross-laminated timber will serve to boost the hotel’s green credentials by offsetting around 4,200 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere. Designed by Bates Smart, the timber used in the hotel was sourced from certified Forest Stewardship Council-approved suppliers, while an electric crane was used to limit noise. Bathrooms were assembled off-site and delivered in a pre-fabricated format ready to slide into place and connect to utilities.

While timber in its mainframe construction, the hotel also adopts a glass exterior, which feeds through into a curved balcony. Timber use extends into the lobby as a visible element designed to evoke a warm and welcoming feel for guests.

Timber fittings will be a prominent feature in the hotel’s public and guest spaces.

An energy management system will be built into each room which will control heating and air-conditioning systems to minimise energy use when a guest is not in their room.

TFE Hotels Chief Operating Officer, Chris Sedgwick, says Adina was a brand that had wholeheartedly embraced the eco-design philosophy.

“As the Adina brand continues to evolve, expect to see a certain WOW factor in design that will be offset by the Australian hospitality that our hotel teams will deliver.

“At Adina Melbourne Southbank, the WOW will come from the innovative use of such sustainable building product, as well as the contemporary look and feel.”

Guest facilities at Adina Melbourne Southbank will include a fitness centre, indoor lap pool and meeting facilities.