Sydney’s new ‘meeting place’ Darling Square set to open in coming months

Take a look inside The Exchange — the centrepiece of Sydney’s next public plaza being built at the site of the old Entertainment Centre.

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In just a few short months, Sydney’s next “meeting place” at the site of its old Entertainment Centre will bustle with people, cafes and restaurants.

Darling Square, built by Lendlease and one of the final pieces in the puzzle of the State Government’s $3.4 billion revitalisation of Darling Harbour, will be completed in August.

Neil Arckless, project director of Lendlease's major redevelopment Darling Square, with The Exchange in the background. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

But from May the public square that will soon lead revellers into the project’s centrepiece — the striking, mixed-use The Exchange building — will become a new thoroughfare linking Chinatown to the harbour via an extended Little Hay St.

Project director Neil Arckless told Central Sydney the project would create a new “meeting place” in the city and connect vibrant precincts including Chinatown, Pyrmont, the university precinct and Ultimo.

The building, called ‘The Nest’ on site, is lined with 20km of unique timber panels Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

“We asked, ‘How do you create a building that blurs the line between inside and outside, public space and private and reflects how people live today,” he said.

“We’ve put a lot of energy into crafting this space because it will be here for 100 years.

“Sydney’s not going to know what hit it.”

The view from the top floor of The Exchange, which will likely hold a bar or restaurant. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

He said The Exchange — skirted by 4000 unique pieces of timber that would stretch 20km if laid flat — would combine old concepts and new over seven storeys to reimagine what a civic building could do in 2019.

The ground floor will be a European-style marketplace with entrances on all sides of the round structure, with an offshoot of famous the Chinese restaurant Golden Century taking pride of place at mezzanine level.

Above that will be two floors of a new hi-tech City of Sydney library, then two levels of childcare with places for 90 children.

How it will look from the ground in August. Picture: Lendlease

Mr Arckless said use of the top floor had not been locked in, but was likely to be a scenic bar or restaurant.

When complete the precinct will have 77 new retail, restaurants and cafes lining the leafy public square and laneways at ground level of the four new apartment buildings holding 1500 units that border the site.

The public square taking shape. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

Mr Arckless, who has worked on projects from Dubai to Cairo, said the opportunity to create a new neighbourhood in the middle of Sydney made this job especially satisfying.

“My view is that this space will come to life and 7am and will still be going at 11pm,” he said.

Inside the new library. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone