Former Salvation Army site marked for 28-storey development in Parramatta

The former Salvos building in Smith St sold for $32 million in 2016 and a $115 million 28 storey building will now stand in its place.

32 Smith St was the Salvation Army home, but now it will house businesses across its 28 storeys.

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Say goodbye to the former Salvation Army building in Parramatta. The Salvos site, which was sold in 2016 for $32 million to developer GPT Group, has a new look, and a new mission; to provide much needed office space in the CBD.

Designs show a 28-storey office building, with an expected cost of more than $115 million.

The office block, designed by architecture firm Fender Katsalidis, will include three levels of parking and a level which the designers are calling an “oasis”.

“The oasis level is the first low rise floor above the street wall. This special floor provides a break between the podium and the tower. It has been recessed to provide an external terrace allowing tenants to enjoy the experience of being elevated looking out to the Parramatta River,” the design statement said.

The building has been dubbed an oasis, with car parking and a recessed terrace. Artist impressions by GPT Group and architects Fender Katsalidis.

The plans were recently approved by the Sydney Central City Planning Panel.

“This is a fantastic moment. Having won the design competition and obtaining development approval, 32 Smith St now becomes a reality,” Fender Katsalidis principal Mark Curzon said.

“It represents an important change in the commercial market, realising Parramatta’s aspirations to be a true alternative to the Sydney CBD.”

The Property Council of Australia’s most recent Office Market Report showed Parramatta continued to be one of the country’s best performing office markets.

For the six months to January 2018, the Property Council report showed the vacancy rate for office space in Parramatta fell from 4.3 per cent to 3 per cent, while A-Grade office space continued to have a vacancy rate of zero. This compares to the overall vacancy rate of 4.6 per cent in the Sydney CBD at the end of the period.

The site currently sits unused at 32 smith St on the corner of Phillip St in Parramatta.

The building will be a 28-storey office space when construction is completed in 2020.

GPT head of office and logistics Matthew Faddy said the building had already garnered inquiries from prospective tenants.

“There has been a strong level of inquiry from blue-chip occupiers,” he said.

“The significant infrastructure investment and strong population growth in western Sydney and improved amenity in the local area had fuelled the strong demand for office space in Parramatta.

“All of these factors will reinforce the Parramatta CBD as the geographic heart of commercial activity in Sydney and make it an even more compelling location for major corporate tenants.”

Construction is expected to start this year, with the works scheduled to be completed by mid-2020.