Planted at the cultural 'heart' of the city, on the intersection of Flinders Street and Swanston Street, Melbourne, Federation Square sits opposite Flinders Street Station and St Paul's Cathedral on the site of the former Princess Street Station. This complex series of structures, most of which look as though they have been frozen midway through their collapse, consists of a series of triangularly composed complex facades, a giant cobbled sandstone plaza and a massive complex glass atrium. A series of small laneways provide vistas framing previously hidden parts of the city.

Federation Square was constructed on decking over the Flinders Street railway yards that is understood to be the largest expanse of decking over a railway in Australia. It was opened in 2002 and cost $450 million to build. The decking on which the building and its surrounding piazza stands is supported by over 3,000 tonnes of steel beams, 1.4 km of concrete 'crash walls' and over 4,000 vibration-absorbing spring coils and rubber pads. Federation Square is the first major city project to break Melbourne's traditional rectangular grid pattern, joining the CBD to the Yarra river. The complex is home to the Australian Centre for Moving Image, The Design Institute, the Victorian Visitor Information Centre, and features concert areas, restaurants and bars.
As a work of art, it is clever; as part of the streetscape, it looks totally out of place, and has a face that only Melbournians could love. Many locals can't understand why the majority of out-of-towners don't like it, given that it is Victoria's most visited tourist site. The reason for the latter is because it is home to the state's tourist information centre. Visitors have to go there whether they want to or not! Like it or dislike it, one must remember that Fed Square was built for the purpose of being a landmark for Melbourne - and in that regard it is an overwhelming success.

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