Tall & Urban News

The centerpiece of Brookfield Properties’ AUD$2 billion (US$1.4 billion) project topped out 134 meters above the brand new transit hall for Wynyard train station.

The precinct’s 68,000 square meters of office space is already 81 percent pre-leased and will add to the Sydney CBD commercial market which recorded a 5.6 percent vacancy rate in July 2020. 

Brookfield Place Sydney started as an unsolicited proposal to the NSW state government to fund, design, deliver and maintain the new transit hall on the block opposite the train station.

The developers also wanted to convert the old Wynyard leasehold interests to stratum freehold title and merge 285 George Street with the historic Shell House.

On the Shell House block, which also fronts 10 Carrington Street, is the PCA grade commercial tower with a total net lettable area of 59,000 square meters over 27 levels constructed by building partner Multiplex.

The design by Architectus and Make Architects also includes 7,000 square meters of high-end retail, a revitalized Wynyard Lane and a major upgrade to Wynyard Station’s George Street entrance.

Brookfield Asset Management managing partner Sophie Fallman they had renamed the precinct to add it to their “Brookfield Place” assets which are also located in New York, Toronto, Calgary, Dubai and Perth.

“On completion, we will provide premium accommodation for a range of tenants, including NAB, Allianz and Brookfield’s new Asia Pacific headquarters,” Fallman said.

“While delivering Sydneysiders an exciting new retail and commercial precinct, an upgraded Wynyard Station arrival experience, and an annual program of arts and cultural activities in keeping with Brookfield’s global commitment to placemaking.”

One of the key components of the development was the mid-air suspension of a 400 metric tons masonry heritage clock tower for the duration of the Shell House internal demolition, retention, excavation and rebuild.

Architectus chief executive Ray Brown said the entire site was now connected; the public transport interface and retail amenity has been transformed and new public through site links established.

“The tower has been thoughtfully stitched into the fabric of the city and links to two heritage buildings, providing public access for the first time to the iconic Shell House clock tower via a rooftop restaurant and public space,” Brown said.

Construction on Brookfield Place Sydney has pushed ahead during Covid-19 outbreaks in Australia and is expected to be completed in 2021.

For more on this story, go to The Urban Developer.