Developers of the four-storey project say it will enliven the town centre and create a focal point for the community.

The office building, to be built on the corner of Efkarpidis Street and Gungahlin Place, will house 500 ACT public service workers from Shared Services.

The development application has been lodged with the ACT Planning and Land Authority and is open for public submissions until Wednesday.

The building will have a 90-place childcare centre, an ACT government shopfront, and cafe and retail space.

Canberra developer KDN Group was chosen as the successful tenderer for the project in December.

Director George Katheklakis said the building's design had changed little from what was first proposed during the tender process last year. He said the project would be more than just an office block but a dynamic building creating connections within the town centre.

The design report lodged as part of the development application says the building has been configured to allow a largely public-accessible ground floor with three levels of secure office accommodation.

''The building is a 'civic' building and will function as the Gungahlin 'town hall', a focal point for community interaction with government and a key delivery point for government services,'' the report says.

''This is an important public realm providing a real connection to the town centre of Gungahlin and is framed by the projecting cafe and retail spaces which, in turn, provide an engaged relationship with Efkarpidis Street.''

The Gungahlin community has advocated for years for public servants to be based in the town centre and the council's main issue with the project is that it won't be delivered quickly enough.

President Ewan Brown said the council was looking forward to the development because it would enliven the area and improve trade for local businesses. ''It's really going to add a real boost to the vibe there - just far more people,'' he said.

But he said the council wanted the Commonwealth to match the ACT government's move and provide a second office block to improve the employment base of the town centre.

Mr Brown said he had some concerns about building open car parks when land in the town centre was scarce. But he was pleased the developers had included provisions for structured car parking in the future.

Two off-street car parks will provide 244 spaces with 30 spaces available on the street.

When he announced the successful tender of the project, Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the public servants should be working in the town centre by mid-2015.