And a developer has been chosen for a 16-storey, 35,000sqm office tower that will set a new benchmark for commercial property in Parramatta.
A jury chose a contemporary and stylish design by acclaimed architecture firm Johnson Pilton Walker (JPW) as the winner of an international design competition for 3 Parramatta Square.
Council has also appointed Walker Corporation as the preferred developer of the $320M project. The arrangement with Walker Corporation will allow City of Parramatta to participate in the development and to maintain ownership of up to 50 per cent of the completed building.
3 Parramatta Square will boast the largest floorplates across the precinct - the typical floorplates exceeding 2700sqm, and some podium floors in excess of 3100sqm - allowing Parramatta to better compete with the Sydney CBD, North Sydney and Macquarie Park office markets.
City of Parramatta Administrator Amanda Chadwick said the design of 3 Parramatta Square responded to Parramatta's rapidly developing CBD, providing flexible workplace environments suited to large, established tenants and small start-ups alike.
“3 Parramatta Square is a visually engaging, highly-flexible building which will deliver quality spaces that matches, if not exceeds, other modern office developments. It has the added advantage of being right in the heart of a thriving and diverse Western Sydney CBD,” Ms Chadwick said.
“One of the greatest aspects of this space is it connects seamlessly with the public domain – it’s a very people-focused building which was a key requirement of our design brief.
“This impressive design will no doubt attract new premier tenants to the core of Parramatta CBD.”
Graeme Dix from JPW said the building had been designed from the inside out in order to encourage public interaction and contribute to the diversity and energy of Parramatta Square.
“Architecture and the built environment can create extraordinary spaces, but to become places they need people – our approach has been to put people first,” Mr Dix said.
In addition to 3 Parramatta Square, Walker Corporation will develop commercial towers 4 and 6 as well as the residential Aspire Tower.
Lang Walker, Chairman of Walker Corporation, said: “One of the largest urban transformational projects in Australia, the mixed-use approach at Parramatta Square has been inspired by the World’s most renowned squares, such as Times Square in New York and Trafalgar Square in London.
“3 Parramatta Square was the missing piece of the puzzle and will facilitate a truly integrated masterplanned vision for Parramatta Square, to deliver a vibrant and celebrated destination. At the forefront of design and sustainability, 3 Parramatta Square will provide a superior service offering to the Sydney workforce to attract blue chip companies, and will play a vital role in the activation of the public realm, day and night.”
3 Parramatta Square will include 16 levels of A-Grade commercial office space, retail and childcare facilities. A central atrium will draw ample natural light into the public areas and workspaces, and the building is expected to achieve at least a 5 Star Green Star and NABERS rating certification.
The designs will undergo detailed analysis before a Development Application (DA) is lodged, which is expected to be by the end of 2016.
The design jury was comprised of Office of the NSW Government Architect Director of Design Excellence Olivia Hyde, Nation Architects Principal Bob Nation, City of Parramatta Architect Kim Crestani and City of Parramatta Director of Property and Significant Assets Barry Mann.
