New Design Details Unveiled for Sydney’s Central Place
The most major development in the city in more than ten years, Center Place in Sydney's "tech central," has unveiled new design features.
The $3 billion plan, designed by Fender Katsalidis, American firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, and Edition Office, aims to transform Sydney's biggest transportation hub into a "vibrant new business zone."
The precinct's final development proposal was submitted in March of this year. The design has since received suggestions for improvement from a design advisory panel.
The subcommittee's responses included calls for greater public space as well as modifications to the Lee Street levels to create a "more seamless and active frontage," while the size and bulk of the podium features needed to be reduced.
The updated plans maintain the north and south towers' respective heights of 35 and 37 stories, respectively, while accommodating the City of Sydney's requests for adjustments to the smaller structures' bulk.
To improve street engagement and connectivity, Edition Office's The Connector has been downsized from 10 to 8 stories, and the linking bridge that once connected it to the podium and central atrium has been eliminated. To match the new height of the Connector, the podium has also been lowered by two levels.
To alleviate worries about the public realm, the project team has also incorporated an open laneway concept into the urban design. The pavillion and its wind-reducing canopy have been designed using a "lighter, more minimal" aesthetic, simplifying the design without sacrificing functionality.
The Central Place site, which is more than 9,600 square metres in size, is located adjacent to Atlassian's authorised $1.4 billion tower designed by Shop Architects and BVN at 14-30 Lee Street in Haymarket. The precinct aims to link six nearby suburbs—Surry Hills, Haymarket, Camperdown, Ultimo, South Eveleigh, and Darlington North Eveleigh—that are currently home to digital firms and innovation institutions.
The updated plans are currently on display to the public until August 25.