Gungahlin high-rise development named "Air Towers" after public competition

A major development in the Gungahlin Town Centre will not be known as Tower McTowerface, although it was among the 2715 suggestions submitted in a competition to name the new complex.

The winner of Empire Global’s competition was announced on Wednesday morning, giving the 26-storey development its new name, Air Towers.

The name was submitted by Lyneham woman, Lucy Weaver, who impressed judges with the tagline “live in the air”.

The competition attracted more than 43,000 people to its website and LJ Hooker Project Marketing ACT Andrew Ligdopoulos said the community response was inspiring.

“It was great to see how engaged the public was and so enthused to take part in naming a development in the young emerging town centre that is Gungahlin,” Mr Ligdopoulos said.

Empire Global general manager Ken Ip said the judging panel appreciated the considered and humorous suggestions, but the vote for Air Towers was unanimous.

“We were looking for something fresh, youthful and timeless,” Mr Ip said.

“Something that would suit the architecture, sit well in its landscape that also needed to tell a story, create a marketing opportunity. With that said we shortlisted 20, then 10, before settling on the final three, which then went to a closed vote.”

Ms Weaver has won $25,000 for her winning submission.

Empire Global’s Daniel Hoang said the name captured life in the high-rise building.

“The proposed tall towers rise into the air, and as Lucy put so eloquently, we believe Gungahlin has been waiting for a breath of fresh air,” Mr Hoang said.

Two 26-storey towers and an eight-storey building are planned for the site at the corner of Gozzard Street and Gundaroo Drive.

A publicly-accessible 26th-floor podium will connect the two towers. If will comprise a function centre, two high-end restaurants, a sky park, a gym and a sauna.

Air Towers will be home to about 300 apartments, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2017.