Parramatta Square buildings take shape in $3.2b CBD makeover
Walker Corporation’s $3.2 billion Parramatta Square makeover is taking shape as one of the project’s smallest buildings gets set to make a big architectural statement.
It is the quiet achiever in one of Australia’s biggest urban renewal projects, but 3 Parramatta Square is set to be an architectural standout when it’s completed early next year.
Construction is ahead of schedule on the $500 million, 17-storey commercial building at 152 Macquarie St, where about 4000 National Australia Bank staff will be housed at its new head office.
The Advertiser had an exclusive site tour last week as the year-long works reach the 10th floor.
The project is part of the Walker Corporation’s $3.2 billion Parramatta Square makeover, which will remodel the heart of the city with 290,000sq m of office space across four buildings on a 4ha site.
From the 10th floor at 3 Parramatta Square, where 200 workers were on site, you can see the adjoining building is well advanced in its construction.
In fact, the project’s managers say 4 Parramatta Square — a 40-storey building which will be home to 5500 government employees — is expected to “top out” in the next six weeks.
It comes after the Sydney Central City Planning Panel earlier this year approved plans for two neighbouring 50-storey combined buildings, which will be known as towers 6 and 8, collectively housing 12,500 workers. Construction is now under way on both projects.
It all represents mammoth growth for Parramatta.
And Walker bosses say each building — including the smaller 3 Parramatta Square — will have their own distinctive style and role in the broader project.
The group’s chief operating officer, David Gallant, said 3 Parramatta Square, designed by award-winning architects Johnson Pilton Walker, would have impressive architectural features.
“The building features one of the largest continuous naturally-lit atriums of some 200sq m per floor that spans through the building with a series of bridge links and interconnecting stairs,” Mr Gallant said.
“The top floor boasts an expansive terrace for staff overlooking Parramatta Square and the public domain.”
There will also be yoga and wellness studios, four outdoor terraces and an irrigated indoor planting system that will be suspended from the ceilings of the office floors to help “bring a connection with nature into the workplace”.
On the ground floor, there will be restaurants and other hospitality offerings.
“The 4000 staff who will occupy the building will ensure the retail operators chosen for 3 Parramatta Square thrive and make the 18-hour economy a reality,” Mr Gallant said.
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