Foster + Partners appointed to Sydney's tallest office tower project

The precinct will also comprise a low-rise community building, a large public plaza fronting George Street and a secondary plaza on Rugby Place.

The city of Sydney welcomed the announcement, a spokesperson stating that it supports the “City’s vision the Circular Quay area” and would join with other projects underway to “unlock complicated sites and produce a new high quality public domain.”

“These mixed-use developments will deliver more than 50 new shops, new sunlit public spaces, a new publicly dedicated square on George Street, laneway connections and public art,” the spokesperson said.

The tower forms part of Lendlease’s Circular Quay precinct at 180 George Street. Photo: Supplied

Foster + Partners beat bids from David Chipperfield Architects, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), HOK, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, BVN and Hassell to secure the project.

Local architectural firm, Stewart Hollenstein, has been selected to remodel the Jacksons on George site – part of the precinct but put to separate tender.

In December 2016, Lendlease confirmed Ping An Real Estate and Mitsubishi Estate Asia as development partners for the project, predicted to be worth close to $1.5 billion on completion.

Foster and Partners were the architects for London’s 30 St Mary Axe – more commonly referred to as the ‘Gherkin’. Photo: Jason Alden/Bloomberg

Foster + Partners is responsible for some of the world’s most notable buildings including the Hearst Tower in New York, ‘The Gherkin’ in London and Deutsche Bank Place in Sydney.

“The tower will be the centrepiece of an urban regeneration precinct that will reshape the northern end of the CBD into a vibrant community contributing to Sydney’s status as a global city,” Gerard Evenden, senior executive partner of Foster + Partners, said.

Mark Menhinnitt, Managing Director, Urban Regeneration at Lendlease said the company was impressed by Foster + Partners’ recognition of the need an iconic design with strong integration with surrounding facilities.

“Circular Quay Tower, to be located on a new internationally recognised address, will provide a dynamic workplace and environment for Sydney’s future generation of office occupiers,” Mr Menhinnitt said.

The project is designed to capitalise on the new light rail line running along George Street, and features a network of pedestrian laneways lined with shops, cafes and bars.

“Fronting the reinvigorated city spine of George Street with two new plazas, workers and visitors will be welcomed to an abundance of retail, dining and entertainment, and arts and culture,” Mr Menhinnitt said.

Lendlease is not the only developer injecting new life into Circular Quay, with several planned residential and commercial projects leading a renaissance in Sydney’s best known locale.

Poly Australia is planning to build 16,000 square metres of office space across eight podium floors and 11 tower floors on George Street, after securing two office buildings from Mirvac for $160 million last year.

Chinese giant Wanda plans to transform the former Gold Fields House site at No.1 Alfred Street into mixed-use scheme incorporating a five-star Wanda Vista Hotel, 190 exclusive private residences, and boutique retail premises.

AMP Capital’s Loftus Lane development – comprising 106 apartments in three low rise mixed-use buildings –  and sold out within two hours of launch earlier this month, the penthouse selling $17 million.

Due for completion by early 2021, the 11,000-square-metre precinct will be home to the $1 billion Quay Quarter tower, a dramatically rebuilt 49-storey commercial building at 50 Bridge Street designed by Danish firm 3XN.

The former Coca-Cola Amatil headquarters at Macquarie Street in Circular Quay are making way for Opera Residences, a 109-unit luxury project.