Okay Folks, the papers are reporting that Westpac will sign up as the major tennant @ KENS (the CBD block bound by Kent, Erskine, Napoleon & Sussex Streets in Sydney).

It looks to be the first commercial tower to commence work in Sydney in 2003! (A number began last year).

Leightons will be behind its construction, with a rumour that Westpac may even purchase the building as part of its property portfolio.

All the stats, pics COMING SOON! ;)

Here a few pics of KENS .....

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2002/12/174249.jpg

Courtesy of www.jbaplanning.com.au (http://www.jbaplanning.com.au)

http://www.jbaplanning.com.au/images/pic_kens.jpg

Courtesy of www.jbaplanning.com.au (http://www.jbaplanning.com.au)

http://www.leightonproperties.com.au/images/kens1.jpg

Courtesy of http://www.leightonproperties.com.au

It is a massive tower that has a huge girth !
These renders make it look only 100m tall !
For a real comparison, take a look at the 100m Ernst and Young tower on the far right hand side of SinCity's last pic, it looks piddly !

Does this mean they will be completely destroying that f**king ugly carpark? From the middle picture it looks like it might remain

soo huge, it'll be the same height as Gatway Plaza!!!

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Does this mean they will be completely destroying that f**king ugly carpark? From the middle picture it looks like it might remain</td></tr>
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The entire site will be cleared, from corner to corner!
No fucking shoddy concrete carpark !
No shitty unloved retail outlets along Erskine St ( with weeds growing out of the brickwork 3 levels up ) !
No silly service station on Sussex St !
No open air carpark on the corner of Kent and Napoleon !

.....oh and the silly concrete Telstra tower on Kent St will get completely covered up !

This architecture is top tier stuff, pity it will be completely invisible from EVERY perspective of the Sydney skyline except the west... :(

This will be the largest office bldg in Australia (for its first 25 floors). The floor plate is 80m wide x 60m deep!
Its presence will be awesome! Aparently the weather beacon on top is still being designed and it could go higher than 170m!!
Ill let you know when final design comes in!
Leightons want to start demolition in March!!:guns1:

I've gotta say, I love the look of this tower. It'll be a brilliant addition to the western skyline. And thank christ that concrete abomination (Telstra tower) will be hidden behind it.

All I can say is ...

Ya-bloody-HOOO !

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Does this mean they will be completely destroying that f**king ugly carpark? From the middle picture it looks like it might remain</td></tr>
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@nb - I think the structure that looks similar in shape to the existing carpark is actually a retail podium thing, and it looks like its primarily there to enclose the courtyard of the building. You can see it from another angle in the first pic.

Also in the middle pic, you can see how amazing it will be to drive off the harbour bridge and down the western distributor, with this behemoth of a structure rising above!

Very exciting to hear things are moving ahead! :D

When Ken's construcition eventually goes ahead, i pray the the historical terraces are retained along Esrskine St....even as coffee houses, retail or even pubs retained....

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>When Ken's construcition eventually goes ahead, i pray the the historical terraces are retained along Esrskine St....even as coffee houses, retail or even pubs retained....</td></tr>
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they are to be retained!! as retail /eatery etc..:D

Pleased to hear about Westpac's commitment to KENS which means this well designed and impressive tower will go ahead!

It will renew that end of town and will make it more lively. I hope KENS brings much more business to that end of town. That area has become a bit negleced when it comes to office development.

I've got a pretty sizable boner in my pants right now >>>>

Great news !!

Today's AFR reports that not only will Westpac lease space in KENS, it WILL TAKE OUT THE ENTIRE FUCKING SITE- i.e ALL 75,000 sqm of space ( lease with an option to buy) !

This follows Westpac's "surprise" decision to centralise staff from ALL around metro Sydney into the one office precinct, including those over on the north shore ( St Leonards mainly ).
Incremental space will also be leased bringing the total to 75,000 sq m.

This is the biggest ever committment in Sydeny and possibly Australia.

It will retain its Martin Place HQ and move into the twin tower $600m KENS in 2005/6.

Here's hoping that the KENS site is cleared soon ! :)

The downside is that this leaves behind some space in 4 or 5 CBD towers, however it is expected to be absorbed quickly as the CBD heats up over the next few years.

Commonwealth bank is now the next major tenant looking for around 40,000- 50,000 sqm of space- decision not expected for a while on this one !

Not that it already isn't but this building along with the others under construction will make Sydney a serious city. Normally I wouldn't like it because it looks a bit Japanese but it is in such good style that it will end up being one of my favourites.

People shouldn't get too excited yet the contracts haven't been signed so it aint going to happen until westpac signs on the dotted line.

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Fabian </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Pleased to hear about Westpac's commitment to KENS which means this well designed and impressive tower will go ahead!

It will renew that end of town and will make it more lively. I hope KENS brings much more business to that end of town. That area has become a bit negleced when it comes to office development.</td></tr>
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Remember Fabian that the KPMG HQ of 22,000 sq.m is also under construction across the freeway from KENS, and the Lend Lease HQ of 20,000 sq.m is being built just up the road - so there's quite a bit of office now being built in the precinct!

There is also the 12-storey apartment building being built, as part of the Lend Lease development, and the 28 storey Stamford Marque is due to begin construction in March!

Plus Cove is still finishing construction, and the Portico development atop Scots Church will hopefully get underway soon!

The northwest corner of the CBD is really going to be booming when KENS starts! :D

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Steve World Tower </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Not that it already isn't but this building along with the others under construction will make Sydney a serious city. Normally I wouldn't like it because it looks a bit Japanese but it is in such good style that it will end up being one of my favourites.

People shouldn't get too excited yet the contracts haven't been signed so it aint going to happen until westpac signs on the dotted line.</td></tr>
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no need to worry about this one too WTW!! its been in the planning for 3 years and Leightons have finally got there tennant!! I have had a close contact with Leightons over the past 3 years since we made many models for them and they have been borrowing the model for presentations etc.
I saw him only recently due to making a model of the dead end car ramp which is part of there site under the flyover. They wanted to demolish but RTA wernt convinced the flyover would still be stable, so 25% of ramp will be demolished (the section closest to kens site) and become a "public sculpture" with large holes drilled thru it ! The leightons contact said they will start to demolish in March and construction will start 3 months later!
So be more positive WTW! Sydney is booming and everything that is UC ofr planned will be built!!!!!
:guns1:

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by CULWULLA </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Steve World Tower </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Not that it already isn't but this building along with the others under construction will make Sydney a serious city. Normally I wouldn't like it because it looks a bit Japanese but it is in such good style that it will end up being one of my favourites.

People shouldn't get too excited yet the contracts haven't been signed so it aint going to happen until westpac signs on the dotted line.</td></tr>
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no need to worry about this one too WTW!! its been in the planning for 3 years and Leightons have finally got there tennant!! I have had a close contact with Leightons over the past 3 years since we made many models for them and they have been borrowing the model for presentations etc.
I saw him only recently due to making a model of the dead end car ramp which is part of there site under the flyover. They wanted to demolish but RTA wernt convinced the flyover would still be stable, so 25% of ramp will be demolished (the section closest to kens site) and become a "public sculpture" with large holes drilled thru it ! The leightons contact said they will start to demolish in March and construction will start 3 months later!
So be more positive WTW! Sydney is booming and everything that is UC ofr planned will be built!!!!!
:guns1:</td></tr>
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Ahhh.. this is easily the biggest news of the year so far... yes, time to pop open the champange and let it rip... The ugliest carpark in the history of the world will come down and a mamoth of a tower will fill its place. It's a great time for sydney, that's for sure.

BRING IT ON!:guns1:

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Steve World Tower </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Not that it already isn't but this building along with the others under construction will make Sydney a serious city. Normally I wouldn't like it because it looks a bit Japanese but it is in such good style that it will end up being one of my favourites.

People shouldn't get too excited yet the contracts haven't been signed so it aint going to happen until westpac signs on the dotted line.</td></tr>
</table>
no need to worry about this one too WTW!! its been in the planning for 3 years and Leightons have finally got there tennant!! I have had a close contact with Leightons over the past 3 years since we made many models for them and they have been borrowing the model for presentations etc.
I saw him only recently due to making a model of the dead end car ramp which is part of there site under the flyover. They wanted to demolish but RTA wernt convinced the flyover would still be stable, so 25% of ramp will be demolished (the section closest to kens site) and become a "public sculpture" with large holes drilled thru it ! The leightons contact said they will start to demolish in March and construction will start 3 months later!
So be more positive WTW! Sydney is booming and everything that is UC ofr planned will be built!!!!!
:guns1:</td></tr>
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Excellent. It is so cool having someone "in the know" and having all the answers on this board.

That carpark is unbelieveable. If there was a small earthquake it looks like it would collapse straight away. It looks like it is ready to collapse even now.

if the beacon will go above 170m...will (i be happy? yes) but will that take the roof up??

quite seriously imagine putting gatweay on the kens site, it would look huge! now an even huger tower is going up!!

The carpark was an early 70's solution to a large above ground carparking station. Its served its purpose and now its time to go!

What you said Culwulla doesn't make sense. Can you make it clearer.

let me fabian



they built an above grround carpark in the 70s cos they were poor asses and couldnt put it underground. Now theres hardly any sites left and KENS will be much mmore appealling and efficient

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Fabian </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>What you said Culwulla doesn't make sense. Can you make it clearer.</td></tr>
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The council thought it was a good idea of the time! A large above multi-level carparking station in the heart of the city! lol
The idea worked for a couple of decades and now its obsolete!

The council thought it was a good idea.

Another dumb planning mistake of the period.

the 70s weren't all bad. What about the Green Bans that helped to save a lot of heritage sites... like the rocks.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>the 70s weren't all bad. What about the Green Bans that helped to save a lot of heritage sites... like the rocks.</td></tr>
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Yes - saving The Rocks was good, but saving Wooloomooloo was bad IMO!

Now it feels like a bit of "ghetto" (well, as ghetto-ish as it gets in Australia ;)) when you walk through it - it seems like its all housing commission, with pedestrian malls everywhere! And only a small percentage of the buildings actually seem to be heritage! A whole lot of it looks like 70's and 80's two storey housing commission townhouses.

Lets hope the same will happen to the other car park monstrosity in Sydney, on the corner of Goulburn and Elizabeth st

That Carpark in Goulburn St make's the area look very uninviting. The proposed 110 metre office tower would do alot of good for the area in addition to the Civic development.\ and attract some activity to that part of town.

just to be contrary .. i kinda like that carpark on elizabeth st, it has this cool sort of "urban decay" feel about it. An ideal Matrix set, or music video location ..

And what else would you put there? The trains go right underneath, it would be noisy as hell, plus very difficult to demolish without disrupting services ..

WOW! hk-star, I know exactly what you're talking about! I don't know why, but I associate that site with the early 80's, I can imagine a band like ACDC or Cold Chisel (bleaaugh!) doing a filmclip there, or a bunch of people dressed up in Souths or Balmain rugby league jerseys and footie socks standing outside eating meat pies or something :). I have noticed there have been a few model shoots outside as well in the past few years. You and I are not the only ones who think it has some sort of charming urban decay element to it.

That said, I'd still welcome a redevelopment. It's not thaaaat charming! :)

pix i took today of site!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid54/p316a5d3ae9e6a5934e423b2d4c4f8adb/fc8ad895.jpg


nice old terraces along Erskine st to be retained.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid54/p9f42f1ae1b2719cfb50b630fd5a6280b/fc8ad893.jpg

I parked in the KENS carpark today and bugger me, they're not advertising 'monthly passes' any more !
I asked the hairy pleb in the booth and he said they are only taking weekly passes now ( i.e pay $140 and get 7 days worth of parking) . He didn't know about the re-development ( and hence the loss of his job) but he said that he "wud probly git anuthu job sumwere els close by if they build sumpthin ere".....
Touche young man.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>I parked in the KENS carpark today and bugger me, they're not advertising 'monthly passes' any more !
I asked the hairy pleb in the booth and he said they are only taking weekly passes now ( i.e pay $140 and get 7 days worth of parking) . He didn't know about the re-development ( and hence the loss of his job) but he said that he "wud probly git anuthu job sumwere els close by if they build sumpthin ere".....
Touche young man.</td></tr>
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lol!! leightons will start to demolish very soon weather he looks it or not! lol

That part of town looks very drab and rundown. I hope those buildings are fully restored as part of the development.

The Sydney Morning Herald (smh.com.au) has a report on Westpac's decision to lease the tower and intention to start it's own property trust.

Westpac move has scope for investors
By Anthony Hughes
March 8 2003

Westpac Banking Corporation has dispensed with the notion that the headquarters of a big bank must be next to the central bank in Sydney's Martin Place by signing what is believed to be the biggest pre-leasing deal of the Australian property market.

The big four bank will gradually move out of 60 Martin Place over the next decade to take up new premises at a $600 million, 33-storey building to be developed and built by Leighton Holdings at the so-called "KENS" site at the northern end of Darling Harbour.

The site will effectively be Westpac's new national head office when it moves in 2006, housing its most senior executives and key divisions including the institutional bank.

Westpac plans to move in gradually as the bulk of its leases over 10 sites across the city expire by 2006, though it appears likely that some space will be maintained at Martin Place.

The lease on the new property is for 12 years with three six-year options.

At the same time Westpac looks set to re-enter the property trust business by setting up a $350 million initially unlisted property trust that will bankroll the development but not be exposed to any construction risk.

The head of Westpac Institutional Bank, Phil Coffey, said said the bank was still finalising the detail of the trust, but it would be paying high distributions to investors from day one.

"The first stage, which is during the construction phase of the building, investors will be getting a guaranteed return and then post-construction and the occupancy, investors will continue to get what we think will be an attractive yield backed by a rental stream from Westpac," he said.

It is likely that the trust will be restructured eventually into a listed vehicle, but the initial structure means that it is more likely to appeal to high net worth individuals and institutional investors rather than small investors.

The parties have not disclosed the rental agreed by Westpac, but it will be taking almost 74,000 square metres of office space in the complex.

The development will also include 3000 square metres of retail space and a 650-space public carpark, while Leighton will also be refurbishing and conserving the heritage-listed Erskine Street terraces.

The managing director of Leighton Properties, Vyril Vella, said the deal with Westpac was the largest "pre-lease" ever signed in Australia.

Mr Coffey said the deal was "a pretty significant statement that the bank's keen to get as much of the Sydney staff as possible onto one campus".

He would not disclose the anticipated savings.

Westpac has been seeking new premises for the past year, and Mr Coffey said the group had looked at 50 properties.

This is great news Fabian! Well all of a sudden it seems Sydney is really bubbling along... with 101 Bathurst and KENS and not to mention all the other towers unde construction, things are looking better everyday.

We may hate the banks for their shoddy service and high bank fees, but damn, they sure help us with the towers they build and occupy ;)

LOL fro about "those greedy 'n sleazy banks"

Thanks again Fabian - always with the early morning breaking news. Truly appreciated.

Well, Kens is a goer! Unless there is a stock market and/or property crash, this report makes it a sure thing. Westpac giving us a press release like this shows certainty in the project going ahead 101%. Yay :) !

With the advent of further technological advances in business and banking, there is no need for "No. 4" to have their operations on Martin Place. They'll still keep a representative branch on Martin Place though.

...and thankfully the Erskine St Terraces are being kept. Double yay :) :) !!

Now one of the only things to be concerned about is the inclusion of the
f-u-n-k-yyyyyy beacon in the final design. ;)

....and goodbye bloody drab-part-of-town :tongue3: !!

by signing what is believed to be the biggest pre-leasing deal of the Australian property market.

EXCELLENT.

They have signed on the dotted line.

How long until the demolition of the carpark and start of construction ?

Will it be a steel or concrete frame ?

museumb
Well, Kens is a goer! Unless there is a stock market and/or property crash,

Unfortunately that is extremely likely.

Everyone has been saying there is a property bust on the way.

lol at the name- (The head of Westpac Institutional Bank, Phil Coffey)
How many times do you reckon he has asked someone to "fill his coffee" at board meetings?? lol
anyway, Ive recently chatted to leightons contact and he assures me that demolishment will start asap! so i guess this month sometime? also leightons love reinforced concrete so i guess KENS will be concrete!

Culawalla

Thats good to hear that they will be demolishing that car park soon. There is nothing you don't know.

i wonder....would KENS' construction be visble from about lvl 4 o few streets back at kirribilli??

I am also in a wondering mood - I wonder what KENS will be called when the building is completed?

Undoubtedly "Westpac" something - like Westpac World HQ, or Westpac Plaza or something.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>I am also in a wondering mood - I wonder what KENS will be called when the building is completed?

Undoubtedly "Westpac" something - like Westpac World HQ, or Westpac Plaza or something.</td></tr>
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Yeah i definatley think the KENS name will go.

"Kens" sounds like yer local petrol station.

Now Westpac World HQ sounds pretty standard yet still dynamic enough.

Any news on when Leightons is going to start demolising the carpark and contruction to commence:guns1: :guns1: :guns1:

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Any news on when Leightons is going to start demolising the carpark and contruction to commence:guns1: :guns1: :guns1:</td></tr>
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2 weeks!-this is what i was told from leightons!the demolition will start on the 100m long carpark.
:bash:

Alright

Just in time for the holidays!

I'll have to drop by the site.

Sounds like you're spot on as usual Culwulla !
The carpark attendant told me that his job there finishes on Friday of this week. He frowned - I smiled !!

This is going to be one unbefu**ingleivable project. I've known about it for a few months now and knew it's general location but couldn't for the life of me figure out where it would fit. Thank god that carpark is going to hell where it belongs though I must the top level has been useful lately for taking photos of King Street Wharf construction.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Sounds like you're spot on as usual Culwulla !
The carpark attendant told me that his job there finishes on Friday of this week. He frowned - I smiled !!</td></tr>
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u are evil!! lol:lol:

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by spazpecker </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Sounds like you're spot on as usual Culwulla !
The carpark attendant told me that his job there finishes on Friday of this week. He frowned - I smiled !!</td></tr>
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u are evil!! lol:lol:</td></tr>
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That's what I was thinking! LOL! :)
But it is REALLY mega-great news that the carpark will be going in only 2 weeks! I think we should hold a vigil there the night before it goes... to make sure it goes to carpark hell, and not the other place...

Bring on the wreckers!
:guns1:

It's going to the ozscrapers jail and will then be excecuted for being ugly.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Sounds like you're spot on as usual Culwulla !
The carpark attendant told me that his job there finishes on Friday of this week. He frowned - I smiled !!</td></tr>
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u are evil!! lol:lol:</td></tr>
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Not evil enough! I am the Diet Coke of evil..... more of an "a-hole" really ....... ;)

The carpark demolishment will take a couple of months due to the 10 levels of concrete slabs to cut thru! The site should be cleared by june-july. then its hammer time!!!!!!!!:guns1:

I remember that it took 3-4 months to demolish the buildings on the 126 Phillip St site but they had to strip the buildings and then demolish them.

They should demolish it a week early without telling anyone and take out all the cars with it. There's too many cars in Sydney. Actually they should invite every prick taxi driver for a free days parking and then demolish it taxi drivers and all.

im glad to see this babi start!

will the roof be ani higher cos of the higher beacon?

I wonder how many Cranes Leighton are going to use with this one, cause KENS Is a Major fat Mutha furker;) :baaa:

This building vaguely resembles 363 George Street or former Arthur Andersen building. This part of town will be majorly re-vitalised when it's done. It would be a nice place to work in looking out where all the boats come and go. I thought Leighton's only built roads.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>This building vaguely resembles 363 George Street or former Arthur Andersen building.</td></tr>
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Good call c_c! They were both designed by the Sydney offices of DCM.

no doubt ill be able to see the cranes go up and see thm as it tops out from school!

According to a post by climbing_crane in the Sussex Place thread, the carpark is now closed.

Let the demolition begin!!!

I asked this before but this a huge building, so how many cranes do we think are going to be needed to build this massive mutha furker

im going for 4

I can't figure out why they don't explode them to demolish them. It would be heaps quicker.

Why not implode buildings? Fear of "collateral damage" - remember Canberra Hospital demolition in which, despite "overseas expert" and enormous precautions, a young girl was killed even though she was in the alleged safety zone. Imagine the havoc if things went wrong at the KENS site! Remember also the current vogue for litigation - there's is bound to be some wally who discovers they can no longer play piano or have suffered a relationship breakup or broke out in hives b/c of the "trauma" of the explosion/implosion - and the cost of insurance = no-no method.

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by brizer </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Why not implode buildings? Fear of "collateral damage" - remember Canberra Hospital demolition in which, despite "overseas expert" and enormous precautions, a young girl was killed even though she was in the alleged safety zone. Imagine the havoc if things went wrong at the KENS site! Remember also the current vogue for litigation - there's is bound to be some wally who discovers they can no longer play piano or have suffered a relationship breakup or broke out in hives b/c of the "trauma" of the explosion/implosion - and the cost of insurance = no-no method.</td></tr>
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Thats no reason. Your saying that because one of these implosions went wrong that there should never be another one ? This carpark is a perfect candidate for an implosion. You don't do it on the assumption something will go wrong.

I though that to "implode" a structure you had to seal off the building from the outside. The implossion created is more like a vacuum that basically sucks the building in on itself.

Therefore, unless I am wrong, there is simply no way you can implode a multi level carpark because of the vast "openess" of the structure. So I guess we can forget that idea folks ............

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>I though that to "implode" a structure you had to seal off the building from the outside. The implossion created is more like a vacuum that basically sucks the building in on itself.

Therefore, unless I am wrong, there is simply no way you can implode a multi level carpark because of the vast "openess" of the structure. So I guess we can forget that idea folks ............</td></tr>
</table>

That doesn't stop them from doing it in America where they have a building each side.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>I though that to "implode" a structure you had to seal off the building from the outside. The implossion created is more like a vacuum that basically sucks the building in on itself.

Therefore, unless I am wrong, there is simply no way you can implode a multi level carpark because of the vast "openess" of the structure. So I guess we can forget that idea folks ............</td></tr>
</table>

That doesn't stop them from doing it in America where they have a building each side.</td></tr>
</table>


I think you missed my point. To implode, it needs to be a walled structure. Sealed in a way that when you detonate, the building sucks itself in. You seriously cannot expect them to construct a wall around a 10 level carpark so as to get the "implosion" needed. Its a vacumm effect!

Oh ok I get what you mean now, but still they bring down stadiums and things like that in America.

I think with the situation of stadiums it involves a chain of minor explosions at weak points in the structure. If you sufficiently damage the weak points, this will cause the weight of the structure to collapse down on itself. I guess they could do this to the carpark, but it would still lead to flying pieces going everywhere.

I LOVE DESTRUCTION :D :D :D :D :D :D

Always good to see some humor in here:)
And yes the carpark closed at 10pm Tuesday night.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Always good to see some humor in here:)
And yes the carpark closed at 10pm Tuesday night.</td></tr>
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WOOOOOOO!!!! :guns1:
People, your dream is coming closer to fruition! Sydney gets its KENS!

WOOOOOOO!!!!
Thanks for the update C_C!

The shit thing about this development is that, when the skyline is viewed from the west, Westpac will block out so many of the towers behind it (including taller ones, depending on where you stand). Not good IMO.

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by SinCity </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>I though that to "implode" a structure you had to seal off the building from the outside. The implossion created is more like a vacuum that basically sucks the building in on itself.

Therefore, unless I am wrong, there is simply no way you can implode a multi level carpark because of the vast "openess" of the structure. So I guess we can forget that idea folks ............</td></tr>
</table>

That doesn't stop them from doing it in America where they have a building each side.</td></tr>
</table>

Another main reason why don't really implode buildings in Australia is because we have a surprisingly high level of "building recycling" - like up to 90% of the building materials!

The buildngs are taken apart over a period of time - almost "unbuilding" - but obviously it doesnt take as long as the original construction did.

It is just too hard to recycle a building's materials if it is all imploded into a big mass of random debris.

Imploding the carpark would damage surrounding buildings from shockwaves, rubble etc. You need some open space surrounding the building in order to do it.

as i said before, there just going to jack hammer it !:bash: it will take a couple of months.
imploding would be a silly idea.?:? as finn, said that would just produce a giant pile of twisted concrete. the jack hammer way is more sensible. when a chunk is broken away, it is put down the rubbish shoot down to awaiting trucks and wizzed off to recycle plant or garbage tip. very efficient.

The World Trade Center collapse was, essentially, an implosion of sorts, if not exactly planned, and you saw how much dust, silt, debris etc came out of that! Apart from building a Chernobyl style concrete bunker around the entire building it is well nigh impossible to contain all the resultant crap neatly and tidily.
The authorities here take the line that the best laid plans can go awry so it is best to lay down the law accordingly. The principle is that Murphy's Law will usually assert itself in these matters.
Those keen on the sight of collapsing buildings can't go much past the demolition - or trimming - of the Pruitt-Igoe development in St Louis. It took place a good 20-30 yrs ago but the Wow! factor remains high. Enjoy.

Anyway, there is a council policy never to implode buildings in Sydney's CBD (or I believe in any other OZ city CBD or satellite CBD areas).

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>I can't figure out why they don't explode them to demolish them. It would be heaps quicker.</td></tr>
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im sorry..ARE U A BLONDE!?!?!?

in the one of the worlds densest cities, it australias most populated city..theyre gonna explode it... :ohno:

I don't care how it comes down, just so long as it comes down. You've got more chance of a stray missile creaming it than any chance of it being imploded. What I would like to know is how exactly will they start the demolition. I know they start on the roof but where exactly on the roof and what machinery do they use.

well i might be wrong, but i think the demoliters would use the same things which are used to build with!

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>I don't care how it comes down, just so long as it comes down. You've got more chance of a stray missile creaming it than any chance of it being imploded. What I would like to know is how exactly will they start the demolition. I know they start on the roof but where exactly on the roof and what machinery do they use.</td></tr>
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they will use a few of these guys>

http://www.okwind.com/images/jackhammer.gif
and start from a corner and work inwards. floor by floor with shoots going to trucks which takeway debris!

:)

those apartments are ugly ( i think they r apartments lol ) the bottoms oright but the rest is ugly:puke:

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>those apartments are ugly ( i think they r apartments lol ) the bottoms oright but the rest is ugly:puke:</td></tr>
</table>

The whole thing is Commercial, unless I'm wrong. I quite like the design, it's rather modern. But you're entitled to your opinion...

It's all commercial ... repeat, all commercial. I don't think Westpac staff will be sleeping over, even though some may fall asleep @ their workstations:
http://dj.comtv.ru/smales/sleep.gifhttp://dj.comtv.ru/smales/sleep2.gifhttp://dj.comtv.ru/smales/pfohnmacht.gif

...and CULWULLA - you whacky zany you!

This picture might provide an explaination as to how the carpark will be demolised

Picture by Tony P

http://www.urbanaustralia.org/photos/116-1603_IMG%20copy.JPG

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>I don't care how it comes down, just so long as it comes down. You've got more chance of a stray missile creaming it than any chance of it being imploded. What I would like to know is how exactly will they start the demolition. I know they start on the roof but where exactly on the roof and what machinery do they use.</td></tr>
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they will use a few of these guys>

http://www.okwind.com/images/jackhammer.gif
and start from a corner and work inwards. floor by floor with shoots going to trucks which takeway debris!

:)</td></tr>
</table>

I understand. Cool picture by the way, seems like your resources are endless. Nice pic of Meriton Tower as well Fabian. That has to be from Waldorf Apartments eh.

And can anyone go up to that vantage point. I'd love a picture of Meriton Tower from that angle. And who's Phat91. This COMMERCIAL building will be one of the best towers if not the best tower in this part of town. The only other tower to come close would be the Maritime Trade Towers.

i dont live in sydney so i dont no the area i just think they are too grey and on a rainy day it wouldnt loook 2 nice!

listen perth boy, this building is better than your whole damn city put together so quit whining!

by the way, don't go to melbourne, the whole place is grey and it's always a rainy day so you'd probably commit suicide within a few days

hk

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>And can anyone go up to that vantage point. I'd love a picture of Meriton Tower from that angle. And who's Phat91. This COMMERCIAL building will be one of the best towers if not the best tower in this part of town. The only other tower to come close would be the Maritime Trade Towers.</td></tr>
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Our Sydney meet is on this week, will be held at the Waldorf. Culwulla has contacts with people there and they will let us go up.

My lunch break is an hour. Is that long enough. I wanna go.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>My lunch break is an hour. Is that long enough. I wanna go.</td></tr>
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hopefully the manager will let our group go up? ill speak to him this week to tee it up.
We might have to be quick up there, possibly 5-10mins at most.

I've got mid-semester exams this week and one on Commercial Property Management on Thursday, so I won't be there this time - but take heaps of good photos!

Westpac site is dormant at the moment. Nothin' happening at all.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Westpac site is dormant at the moment. Nothin' happening at all.</td></tr>
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well its all about to start!!! Today Leightons moved in with large workman sheds,concrete barriers & earthdigging equipment/trucks etc. You cant get into service station now also!

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/04/189266.jpg

Well its all about to start. they have got a lot of work infront of them! no doubt the demolition of carpark will start either before Easter or straight after!!

Thats great that construction has finally begun. The revivial of the north west corner can begin.

The service station itself has been lying dormant for years. It closed three or four years ago so KENS could go ahead.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Thats great that construction has finally begun. The revivial of the north west corner can begin.

The service station itself has been lying dormant for years. It closed three or four years ago so KENS could go ahead.</td></tr>
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Fabian, i watched a guy fill up at the station last month! its a very popular station as its the last one in the CBD!! (not incluing one near Cleveland st)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1915000/images/_1915859_car_ap150.jpg

Yeah yesterday morning I saw about 7 or 8 men standing down there in deep discussion, plans and all. Here we go baby yeah.

well i talked to my leightons contact yeaterday due to that we need a new model for our city display. So over next few weeks ill be making a new model which should look cool !
i asked him about its demolishment/contruction schedule and he told me this!
over next week hoarding will be set in place and within a month the demolishing of the sites bldgs will start! He indicated this will take 8 months! Then excavations will commence and the massive hole will go down 6 storeys or 100ft!
This carpark will reach street level within another 8 months after that!
So Sept 2004 the construction on tower will begin whcih will take 18months to complete!
thus total of 34months or 2 half years or spring 2005!
so we might have to be patient for this big guy to get underway!!

:)

Cool, thanks for this important update Mr CULWULLA.

100ft foundations :banana: (with a background in Geology, i love me rocks and rock watching).

IMHO I think the development/construction process is equally as interesting as having the finished product!

It means that we are looking at BT Tower (or Deutsche Bank Tower) coming on line about the same time as this one.

:rock:

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>well i talked to my leightons contact yeaterday due to that we need a new model for our city display. So over next few weeks ill be making a new model which should look cool !
i asked him about its demolishment/contruction schedule and he told me this!
over next week hoarding will be set in place and within a month the demolishing of the sites bldgs will start! He indicated this will take 8 months! Then excavations will commence and the massive hole will go down 6 storeys or 100ft!
This carpark will reach street level within another 8 months after that!
So Sept 2004 the construction on tower will begin whcih will take 18months to complete!
thus total of 34months or 2 half years or spring 2005!
so we might have to be patient for this big guy to get underway!!

:)</td></tr>
</table>

Hmmm...September 2004 + 18 months = February 2006, and April 2003 + 34 months = February 2006...so that's just that little bit longer.

Well, it is definitely a long time away, but also a long time for us all to be taking pictures of the construction process! ;)

this sounds great! Although it sounds a wee bit long before we see a rise :(

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Cool, thanks for this important update Mr CULWULLA.

100ft foundations :banana: (with a background in Geology, i love me rocks and rock watching).

IMHO I think the development/construction process is equally as interesting as having the finished product!

It means that we are looking at BT Tower (or Deutsche Bank Tower) coming on line about the same time as this one.

:rock:</td></tr>
</table>
I think the construction process is way more interesting than the finished product. When a project finishes I lose some inteest, like Cove for example. Not to say I still don't look up and admire it though. Anyway I can definitely wait until this one finishes because it just means I will be 3 years older when it's done.

Well thanks for the update Cul! Good news all around.

And patience Noonos, everything must go down before it goes up... lol.

How many sq/m's does each floor plate have for each of the 2 towers must be sheet load? :? :?

76,500 sq m over the conjoint twins @ 40 levels. So average floorplate must be 76,500sq simply divided by 40 = 1,912.5 sq m. Stressing that is only an average as the tower changes shape over its height (will have to wait for actual floor plans to be specific).

Everchanging shapes....

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2002/12/174249.jpg

The render looks great. It is one massive mother of a tower.
It's a shame it doesn't look anywhere near as tall as what it will be because the size of its 'girth'.
The view from the western distributor ( which will run right over the top of the edge of the courtyard as seen in this render !!! ) will be awesome !

well i just measured the plans of Kens.
The west and east towers measure 65mx 19m. The middle section measures 50mx18m. so an average lower floor equales-
east tower floor-1235sqm
west tower floor-1235sqm
centre tower-900sqm
total for 1 floor on lower section= 3370sqm per floor!!!!!!
obviously you minus the servie cores ect. so maybe about 3000sqm per floor? easily the biggest floor plate in Australia!

What is the floor to space ratio of the site. It must be very big.

Dunno if this has already been posted but there will be more than just an office tower !

- Retail facilities including a food court, a retail bank and childcare facilities.

- A large, north facing ‘pocket park’ urban space, available for public use.

- Conservation, refurbishment and infill of the heritage listed Erskine Street terraces. The terraces will be double fronted to enliven the public amenity at street level.

- Direct public links connecting the Darling Harbour Wharves to Wynyard.

- The large public urban space is designed to capture the historical and maritime references of the area, in particular the original harbour’s edge and terracing, and will make use of raw textured materials including sandstone and wharf timbers. The park will be complemented by the adjoining retail and food court.

Wow! I thought it was a massive development before now I think its even MASSIVER!

Should really be a massive boost to this crappy area of the city. But we knew that already, right. ;)

Hoarding has started and digging at north of site!! i took pix today but will post tonight;)

pix of hoarding and digger today!!

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/04/191552.jpg

its started at north end of site!

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/04/191553.jpg

Yeah, just do it!

Good stuff CULS :) . The evidence is clear!

...but "digger"!?! ANZAC Day was last week ;)

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Hoarding has started and digging at north of site!! i took pix today but will post tonight;)</td></tr>
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Bloody hell. It's really happenning! HA! This is truly a great day.:cheers:

bumped so as thread wont get deleted

Let em rip. Time to fix up that part of town.

Woah... Just read in another thread that Wespac haven't signed the contract yet! Let's hope it still goes ahead eh?

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Woah... Just read in another thread that Wespac haven't signed the contract yet! Let's hope it still goes ahead eh?</td></tr>
</table>
many other contracts have been signed with probably many more to sign. but this one is a go-er BIG TIME!

No need to panic. This takes time and remember the tower will take a long time to build so it means plenty of time to get things in order and in concrete.

new height-now taller!!!
just got plans of KENS tower and they have really refined the design! looks brilliant. The roof is now 141m up 1metre. also weather beacon is 166m high, up from 164m! should start on model this week!:D

It's nothing big. No real impact expected.:(

If it were another ten metres tall, there would be some impact.

Also found exact floor sizes of KENS!
level 3 has an amazing 4,420sqm {this includes the section that extends north 60m above Kent st.)
The lower floors 11-14 have -3,185sqm per floor!!!
these have to be the largest in Australia by far!
the highrise floors after level 22 step in -are 2,190sqm per floor!!
this is one big building!!

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Also found exact floor sizes of KENS!
level 3 has an amazing 4,420sqm {this includes the section that extends north 60m above Kent st.)
The lower floors 11-14 have -3,185sqm per floor!!!
these have to be the largest in Australia by far!
the highrise floors after level 22 step in -are 2,190sqm per floor!!
this is one big building!!</td></tr>
</table>


WOW! big numbers! I can't imagine how bigg this building will be. It will be absolutely massive! But what's this like in comparison to other buildings in Sydney? For eaxmple, what's the comparison in floor size between MLC and KENS? or World Tower?

Remember Cityone - 1000 sq/m per floor. Thats very slender.

KENS is one bulky tower! It's definately one of the fattest towers ever being built in Sydney. About time Sydney had a fat tower.

Thanks for the info Fabian.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Remember Cityone - 1000 sq/m per floor. Thats very slender.

KENS is one bulky tower! It's definately one of the fattest towers ever being built in Sydney. About time Sydney had a fat tower.</td></tr>
</table>
KENS will be not only largest floor plate in Sydney, it will largest in Australia by far!!! at over 3000sqm per floor, its nearest rival is Rialto with just over 2000sqm per floor on lower levels!
KENS is also the widest at 80m from side elevation!!
So KENS Is a major landmark scraper!!

an interesting bit of trvia about KENS design. Saw on plans today that at the north end of site, the terraced landscaped area which will step down to Sussex st will have a wavy sandstone wall which will indicate the original "shore line" of 200 years ago!
its amazing how far in the original edge was back.

cool:

Alot of land was claimed in the area for the port. I saw an old map of the area and part of Millers Point really stood out.

another amazing fact! KENS will have the most lifts in Australia!!
28!!

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>new height-now taller!!!
just got plans of KENS tower and they have really refined the design! looks brilliant. The roof is now 141m up 1metre. also weather beacon is 166m high, up from 164m! should start on model this week!:D</td></tr>
</table>

Culwulla- a big "thanks" once again for your bloody excellent updates! :cool:
I'm really interested in this new "refined" design that you speak of. I guess we're all a bit starved of 'visual stimulation' on this tower. I think all we have seen are the standard 2 or 3 images taken from Leightons website - have you been able to get your mits on any newer renders ?

In terms of the impact the tower will have on the skyline I am guessing that it will not be visible from the north ( Kirribilli, Cremorne, Willoughby), south ( Chippendale, Alexandria, Botany) or the east ( Manly, Bellevue Hill, Potts Pt, Bondi Jn) but will DOMINATE the foreground from the west ( Hunters Hill, Leichhardt etc) ! ?

28 lifts!


Anyway, I'm sure it'll be GIGANTIC from anywhere in Darling Harbour. The best view will undoubtaby be driving along the western distributor and having the tower mere METRES from you!
WOOOOOO!:guns1:

spaz, we have just started on DA model which will take 2 weeks. ill post pix of new model when completed. The 30m high weather beacon will be a landmark from all around. It measures 10mx 10m and reaches 170m above sea level. So yo wont miss it at night!

Will the weather bacon record temperature, rainfall and wind speed or does it have another role?

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>Will the weather bacon record temperature, rainfall and wind speed or does it have another role?</td></tr>
</table>

the weather "bacon" lol will do everything i was told!

LOl @ bacon.

I just hope it turns all different colours, expecting the unexpected.

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<tr><td align=left valign=top>new height-now taller!!!
just got plans of KENS tower and they have really refined the design! looks brilliant. The roof is now 141m up 1metre. also weather beacon is 166m high, up from 164m! should start on model this week!:D</td></tr>
</table>

Culwulla- a big "thanks" once again for your bloody excellent updates! :cool:
I'm really interested in this new "refined" design that you speak of. I guess we're all a bit starved of 'visual stimulation' on this tower. I think all we have seen are the standard 2 or 3 images taken from Leightons website - have you been able to get your mits on any newer renders ?

In terms of the impact the tower will have on the skyline I am guessing that it will not be visible from the north ( Kirribilli, Cremorne, Willoughby), south ( Chippendale, Alexandria, Botany) or the east ( Manly, Bellevue Hill, Potts Pt, Bondi Jn) but will DOMINATE the foreground from the west ( Hunters Hill, Leichhardt etc) ! ?</td></tr>
</table>

It will be visible from much of the St George and Sutherland Shire. I'm not sure about my suburb. It might just pip in as it is nearly directly south. KENS should be visible (at least in part) from Kirribilli and Neutral Bay.

I'd actuallly imagine you'd be able to see quite alot of it from milsons point...

It will be very visible from the suburbs north-west of the CBD and just across the harbour, especially places around Waverton, Wollstonecraft, Greenwich, Longueville and St.Leonards, with city views.

Leightons held a "wrecking party" party on Friday night to officially start the 'wrecking ball' rolling! it was in Fin Review last week lol.
:bash:

This must rate as a very signifcant development for them if they had such a party.

heres a sussex st elevation from a plan we are bldg model from. its such a graceful bldg.

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/05/193362.jpg

It looks more slender in that plan.

yeah your right...also, those blue things @ the main entrance look tobe about 5 stories hih..wtf?

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Noonos </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>yeah your right...also, those blue things @ the main entrance look tobe about 5 stories hih..wtf?</td></tr>
</table>

Quite impressive huh? Should be a very nice entrace to this building.

I was reading in the Herald that the relocation of offices from Martin Place to KENS spells the death knell for Martin Place as a financial centre. I don't think it's true seeing that some of their offices will remain.

thos "blue things" are an architectural feature like a "welcome" sign to all people who enter from that north entrance. they are huge concrete sections 16m high!
the stair case you can see in the sussex st elevation goes up to plaza area at tower then straight up to kent OR under to Wynyard Station link! It will be a major predestrian thoroughfare!

pic from today! lots of stuff happening at site.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/509/126kensite.jpg

our new model will be finished this week. ill post a pic next week.

Nothing real as yet other than some digging at the northern end of the site. I won't start taking pics for a while.

lots and lots of scafolding are up to height of carpark roof, trees are hiding it,at southern end .

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by CULWULLA </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>lots and lots of scafolding are up to height of carpark roof, trees are hiding it,at southern end .</td></tr>
</table>

Good news and nice pic. In fact that's the nicest picture of the site I've seen. Must be because there's all that boarding HIDING everything! lol.

Anyway, what's going on with those plane trees? Are seriously going to keep them all the way through construction?! I find that hard to believe!

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by CULWULLA </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>thos "blue things" are an architectural feature like a "welcome" sign to all people who enter from that north entrance. they are huge concrete sections 16m high!
the stair case you can see in the sussex st elevation goes up to plaza area at tower then straight up to kent OR under to Wynyard Station link! It will be a major predestrian thoroughfare!</td></tr>
</table>

I hope they build a link from KENS to Wynyard Station. That walkway is dead at present. Those working at KPMG should make this a bit busier.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Fabian </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by CULWULLA </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>thos "blue things" are an architectural feature like a "welcome" sign to all people who enter from that north entrance. they are huge concrete sections 16m high!
the stair case you can see in the sussex st elevation goes up to plaza area at tower then straight up to kent OR under to Wynyard Station link! It will be a major predestrian thoroughfare!</td></tr>
</table>

I hope they build a link from KENS to Wynyard Station. That walkway is dead at present. Those working at KPMG should make this a bit busier.</td></tr>
</table>

i just mentioned in the above quote!! read the quote!
it says you can go up to kent or under to Wynrad Station link!

:ohno:

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by CULWULLA </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Fabian </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by CULWULLA </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>thos "blue things" are an architectural feature like a "welcome" sign to all people who enter from that north entrance. they are huge concrete sections 16m high!
the stair case you can see in the sussex st elevation goes up to plaza area at tower then straight up to kent OR under to Wynyard Station link! It will be a major predestrian thoroughfare!</td></tr>
</table>

I hope they build a link from KENS to Wynyard Station. That walkway is dead at present. Those working at KPMG should make this a bit busier.</td></tr>
</table>

i just mentioned in the above quote!! read the quote!
it says you can go up to kent or under to Wynrad Station link!

:ohno:</td></tr>
</table>

LOL :bash:

hey the carpark doesnt look THAT bad :D

I also think its about time i make my way to the CT to take some piccies :guns1:

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by CULWULLA </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Fabian </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by CULWULLA </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>thos "blue things" are an architectural feature like a "welcome" sign to all people who enter from that north entrance. they are huge concrete sections 16m high!
the stair case you can see in the sussex st elevation goes up to plaza area at tower then straight up to kent OR under to Wynyard Station link! It will be a major predestrian thoroughfare!</td></tr>
</table>

I hope they build a link from KENS to Wynyard Station. That walkway is dead at present. Those working at KPMG should make this a bit busier.</td></tr>
</table>

i just mentioned in the above quote!! read the quote!
it says you can go up to kent or under to Wynrad Station link!

:ohno:</td></tr>
</table>

I said that because it seemed you had some doubt about it.

Any chance of them building some sort of walkway to kent street or maybe even under to wynyard station?????

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by hk-star </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Any chance of them building some sort of walkway to kent street or maybe even under to wynyard station?????</td></tr>
</table>

Culwulla? know anything about it?

This morning I noticed for the first time demolishing under way. Crikey's it was very loud, a huge roar I was kinda getting excited. I haven't seen any work done during the week, maybe because it is so loud so they might only be demolishing it on weekends. Could this be why it will take 8 months to kill.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by fro </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by hk-star </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Any chance of them building some sort of walkway to kent street or maybe even under to wynyard station?????</td></tr>
</table>

Culwulla? know anything about it?</td></tr>
</table>
yeah i mentioned in earlier posts, there will be a large connection under kent st to Wynyard station!:)

ive changed my mind on kens now i quite like the design!

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by climbing_crane </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>This morning I noticed for the first time demolishing under way. Crikey's it was very loud, a huge roar I was kinda getting excited. I haven't seen any work done during the week, maybe because it is so loud so they might only be demolishing it on weekends. Could this be why it will take 8 months to kill.</td></tr>
</table>

I did see a bulldozer in action on friday. There is some sort of work going on during the week, saving the noisy work for the weekend when no-one is around.

Well it's certainly great news that there's some action on the site already! Wooo! Get those jack hammers pumping.

well here it is! after 1 month of model bldg. the latest and final design.
this model shows the over 20 coloumns at ground level 9some reaching 30m). the rooftop skygarden on 100m Sussex tower.
the grey tends to hind the detail but its better in real life! . The weather beacon is now solid and will have coloured horizontal bands which turn colours to indicate impending storm or show time.
ill post more pix soon

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/509/126mvc-243s.jpg

heres one from south. it is so massive!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/509/126sw_city_view_close_up.jpg

Is it still going to be as high as Gateway Plaza, i.e- 165 metres?

I love the base, as it is much more better than the previous proposal and will provide an impressive entrance to what will be a great building. In general, the new design is not too bad.:)

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by climbing_crane </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Is it still going to be as high as Gateway Plaza, i.e- 165 metres?</td></tr>
</table>
The height to beacon will be 166m, or 2m higher than gateway!

Love the model pics Cul.
The drive along that one kilometre stretch of the Western distributor ( part of which is seen in your view from the south) will be one of the most brilliant 'big city' drives in THE WORLD in a few years time ! :guns1:

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by spazpecker </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Love the model pics Cul.
The drive along that one kilometre stretch of the Western distributor ( part of which is seen in your view from the south) will be one of the most brilliant 'big city' drives in THE WORLD in a few years time ! :guns1:</td></tr>
</table>

I couldn't agree with you more. That connection onto KPMG will make that drive down the western Distributor even more amazing. I doubt there's anything like it in this country!

Top work with the models Cul! Could you explain a bit more about this beacon? It sounds very interesting for a weather beacon! Changes colour AND tells the time? WHAT THE-?

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by fro </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by spazpecker </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Love the model pics Cul.
The drive along that one kilometre stretch of the Western distributor ( part of which is seen in your view from the south) will be one of the most brilliant 'big city' drives in THE WORLD in a few years time ! :guns1:</td></tr>
</table>

I couldn't agree with you more. That connection onto KPMG will make that drive down the western Distributor even more amazing. I doubt there's anything like it in this country!

Top work with the models Cul! Could you explain a bit more about this beacon? It sounds very interesting for a weather beacon! Changes colour AND tells the time? WHAT THE-?</td></tr>
</table>
ive only been told little about the 31m tall structure but it will be a first in Australia! it will change colours when dif atmospheric conditions happen, and the coloured bars will indicate time ect. should be a real climax to its construction !

Thanks for the info! Sounds like KENS will have a lot of surprises for us! Sounds like this beacon thingy will be rather expensive! Hope its got a way of keeping bird droppings off it!

Another (minor) things is why haven't you painted the model red Cul? That building next to KMPG which you can see in the pics above is painted red and I'm pretty sure its not under construction yet...

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by fro </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Thanks for the info! Sounds like KENS will have a lot of surprises for us! Sounds like this beacon thingy will be rather expensive! Hope its got a way of keeping bird droppings off it!

Another (minor) things is why haven't you painted the model red Cul? That building next to KMPG which you can see in the pics above is painted red and I'm pretty sure its not under construction yet...</td></tr>
</table>
the smaller tower is at foundation stage, apparently.

The building is at ground level. A core should start rising soon.

Kens Looks like a fat assed beer drinking sit in front of the TV version of Chifley tower:cheers: :eat: :cheers1:

It may not be the tallest but I suspect it is going to be one of the best, ie, Real Architecture, as opposed to just a big building! Now that is exciting. I am however, fearful of driving along the Western Distributor as it is hard enough keeping eyes on the road as it is already without having this potential beauty there as further distraction.

Sydney should get a Grand Prix once this is built.

@ CULWULLA.

Thanks for posting the new model of KENS i.e. Westpac World HQ :okay:

Cheers,
mb :)

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by climbing_crane </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Sydney should get a Grand Prix once this is built.</td></tr>
</table>

It'll make good TV, don't think it'll ever happen though :)

How many Cranes is it going to take to Build Kens?

Give an estimate if nobody knows!
:guns1:

At least four cranes

Two for the core

Two for the floorplates.

MODEL FROM ABOVE!
at scale of 1;500, its equivalent to being 750m high!
you can see from this view that it has such a large floor plan!!

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/195786.jpg

Nice pic from above!
Just wondering, how you managed to take that picture? I know you're tall but not that tall... Is there a special camera rig above the model? I never noticed none...

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by fro </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Nice pic from above!
Just wondering, how you managed to take that picture? I know you're tall but not that tall... Is there a special camera rig above the model? I never noticed none...</td></tr>
</table>
lol, nah just stood on the water and aimed downwards!:D

It is so fat I think it should go on a diet.

looking at cul pictures, zoom in a bit and thats the veiw guys in bruj dubai r gonna get!

took this today! there really getting stuck into the carpark.
2-3 levels have already been demolished. Its progressing rapidly!

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/196510.jpg

Wow that is fast
So where does all the waste in this case go ? Must be Huge voloume ?
Common question and me still a newbie whre does it go on other sites for that matter.

The northern half is nearly demolitionized. Who said it would take 8 months to demolish. I have my doubts.

More like 8 weeks:guns1:

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by climbing_crane </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>The northern half is nearly demolitionized. Who said it would take 8 months to demolish. I have my doubts.</td></tr>
</table>
i said 8 months for full excavation competion. this is when they will start pillings ect and concrete pumping! or this is when its UC!
:) the site is 100m long x 45m wide, so were talking a big hole! i 6 levels below grd!

still much more of this too go>>
http://www.okwind.com/images/jackhammer.gif

The buildings on site were still up two weeks ago and workers were putting up scaffholding along the Hickson Road side.

two things:

Cul, can you get a picture of the skyline with kens in it from where milsons point would be.

and;

whats that approved building across the road form wynyard park that has a sloped roof?

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Noonos </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>two things:

Cul, can you get a picture of the skyline with kens in it from where milsons point would be.

and;

whats that approved building across the road form wynyard park that has a sloped roof?</td></tr>
</table>
give me some time. and the 100m 30storey office is 320 George st.


heres some demolition pix from today. there really getting stuck into it!!

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/200071.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/509/126kenssitejune30.jpg

They are really ripping into it now. I'm impressed by the progress made in just one month.

Nice pics Cul... Just wondering about the work being done to the Western Distributor. In your seond picture there we can see yellow "things" just under the elevated road way. What are those yellow things?

SCC's way of brightenning up the place or some more serious structural purpose?

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by fro </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Nice pics Cul... Just wondering about the work being done to the Western Distributor. In your seond picture there we can see yellow "things" just under the elevated road way. What are those yellow things?

SCC's way of brightenning up the place or some more serious structural purpose?</td></tr>
</table>
Yeah there for structural reinforcing for new extended deckway. The yellow is to "brighton" up the place a bit.lol

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by CULWULLA </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by fro </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Nice pics Cul... Just wondering about the work being done to the Western Distributor. In your seond picture there we can see yellow "things" just under the elevated road way. What are those yellow things?

SCC's way of brightenning up the place or some more serious structural purpose?</td></tr>
</table>
Yeah there for structural reinforcing for new extended deckway. The yellow is to "brighton" up the place a bit.lol</td></tr>
</table>

It brings a bit of colour to the concrete jungle that we easily find in the area. KENS will do the same thing too.

They did a report on parking ticket's and meters on Ten News Tonight and the reporter had the carpark being demolished as a backdrop making it an example of parking spaces being reduced.

Originally posted by CULWULLA

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Fabian </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Thats great that construction has finally begun. The revivial of the north west corner can begin.

The service station itself has been lying dormant for years. It closed three or four years ago so KENS could go ahead.</td></tr>
</table>

Fabian, i watched a guy fill up at the station last month! its a very popular station as its the last one in the CBD!! (not incluing one near Cleveland st)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1915000/images/_1915859_car_ap150.jpg

I believe there is a petrol station in Regent St near Cleveland Street halfway between there and Central Station and there's a Shell on Flinders St near Oxford St.

The KENS towers floorplates are huge, and Wow, that part of town is sure gonna be densified, with a capital N!:D

Originally posted by Fabian

I believe there is a petrol station in Regent St near Cleveland Street halfway between there and Central Station and there's a Shell on Flinders St near Oxford St.
Regent st is in Chippendale so not really CBD, but its being pulled down soon for a new lowrise apartments.
Oxford st one is also not in CBD.
:D

Another petrol station biting the dust. Where are innercity residents going to fill up?

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid69/pe146565c7635e41e1034926b70d5972a/fba8648c.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid69/p60bd37f67f12125669e473b0e7794ef9/fba8642d.jpg
Back to the site. Far from the best pics I've ever taken.

There's nothing wrong with those pics Crane. I like the first one, it's from a different angle and shows a bit of KPMG. KENS is really going to tower over the western distributor!

good pix cc! the demolition is progressing well! not much left of carpark.

They are really ripping into that carpark.

is the carpark almost completely demolished?

well its officially UC!! the CC was lodged this week so the model is now red!! :)

view from today! note at north end of site the excavatons have discovered some old house footings . i think its an archielogical dig now? very interesting

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/07/205035.jpg

yay! but it look like the carpark is still being demolish :?

Great news to hear that KENS is now CODE RED! LOL! Anyway, although the old house footings are fascinating, let's hope it doesn't delay construction much!

There have been numerous developments in Sydney which have unearthed remains of life from the early days of the colony eg Angel Place and Town Hall House back in the 70's. It might slow things down a bit but we get to develop a greater understanding of life in the colony.

I forgot to post this earlier in the week, there are going to be tours of the site today to show the remains and you were supposed to call by noon yesterday if you wanted to go and check out the remains.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/p463b7fe29ec45b76e08578a4361aec86/fb7d0278.jpg

View from secret walkway under KPMG building.

How can that be a secret walkway if it's above ground level?

And climbing_crane please zoom in on things when you can so we can see things in greater detail.

Originally posted by Fabian
How can that be a secret walkway if it's above ground level?

And climbing_crane please zoom in on things when you can so we can see things in greater detail.
fabian, you ask to many questions!!! CC's cam mighten have a zoom or he thinks it might look crap if you zoom in like yours does when you use digital zoom instead of optical!!!!
i think you expect way too much from alot of forumers and ask way to many inappropriate questions!
relax abit!
dont feel you have to reply to EVERY post!!!

When I take shots like that I am always looking into the future. In my pic above I see a view that will be different soon. If I take a close up I will go and get a shotm from the fence.

Very Little changes today
Still a lot has gone on form when the car park was there

I love the apartments under the road way in the photo. The short cream tower ! :)

http://athene.riv.csu.edu.au/~towers02/ForSkyScrapersCityPage/POr/KDSC03090.JPG

http://athene.riv.csu.edu.au/~towers02/ForSkyScrapersCityPage/POr/KDSC03093.JPG

Still demolishing the carpark?

Originally posted by Fabian
Still demolishing the carpark?

OMG!!!! TAKE A GUESS!! :rant: :bleep: :bash: :moods:

The speed they took that car park down is unbelieveable.

Thats Sydney for you.

Yep Sydney is full of speed freaks apparently.

Originally posted by Trances
Very Little changes today
Still a lot has gone on form when the car park was there

I love the apartments under the road way in the photo. The short cream tower ! :)

http://athene.riv.csu.edu.au/~towers02/ForSkyScrapersCityPage/POr/KDSC03090.JPG

http://athene.riv.csu.edu.au/~towers02/ForSkyScrapersCityPage/POr/KDSC03093.JPG

That short cream tower is some serviced apartments. I was walking passed it on my way to work a couple of months ago and one of the rooms curtains was open and there was this naked man playing with himself right at the window.

yeah, forget name of apartments but i remember back in 89 when they were built . they only had 20m to build to. unusual living under a highway!

You can actually own and live in those apartments. They are cheap too, some under $300 000.

Originally posted by climbing_crane
That short cream tower is some serviced apartments. I was walking passed it on my way to work a couple of months ago and one of the rooms curtains was open and there was this naked man playing with himself right at the window.

wow, thats err....different..lol :puke:

I think it's called Napoleon on Kent. Surely it's bad Feng-Shui being built under that road?

Anyway nice pic Trances. Haven't seen that angle before. You can see my work as well.

Originally posted by CULWULLA
yeah, forget name of apartments but i remember back in 89 when they were built . they only had 20m to build to. unusual living under a highway!

Didn't you post that they built in 1992?

Originally posted by climbing_crane
I think it's called Napoleon on Kent. Surely it's bad Feng-Shui being built under that road?

Anyway nice pic Trances. Haven't seen that angle before. You can see my work as well.
Thats the name! It would be a nice cool place in Summer but horrible dark drafty place in winter!
fab- i might of said 92 but ment 89.

Actually it's not a bad apartment complex ! A work collegue stayed in one of the serviced apartments on level 3 in April and his 2 bedroom pad was real nice. The building is in a nice quiet part of town and there was certainly no appreciable noise problem from the western distrubutor only metres above - must have put a shitload of insulation into the ceilings. There were 2 or 3 filtered sky and wall lights that made the place quite bright too.

I wonder how much Kens will obliterate this view.


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid75/pacc019779d160501b61f48d53c5ef416/fb5600ca.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid75/p39efd1a18ee28303e47461b4329f4933/fb560035.jpg

Originally posted by climbing_crane
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid75/pacc019779d160501b61f48d53c5ef416/fb5600ca.jpg

I'm not sure if you noticed, but something else you captured in this pic is the dismantling of the crane for the newly almost completed KPMG Tower at King St Wharf! One less crane on the skyline for the moment!

Ok that photo looks fake Crane
Did you clean it up any ?

KENS will only oblierate the view of the Lumley Building, not to mention it will be dwarfed.

Originally posted by finn
I'm not sure if you noticed, but something else you captured in this pic is the dismantling of the crane for the newly almost completed KPMG Tower at King St Wharf! One less crane on the skyline for the moment!

I noticed all right. I posted a few images of the crane dismantling in it's own thread.

There is a Archaeological Open Day at KENS SITE this coming Saturday 13 September 2003 (Tours to be on be on the half hour, starting at 09.00am to 2.30pm inclusive). The area of the Site to be viewed this time will be the western edge of the Site (adjacent to Sussex Street) where Wendy Thorp is currently excavating and exposing basements and yards of 19th Century commercial/residential premises together with evidence of the 19th century shoreline on the edge of Darling Harbour.
there will be a big NEWS RELEASE tommorrow !

well, that was pretty quick to get that all organised. Any word of what will happen to all this archaelogical stuff? Is it going to be preserved on site or taken off site? It seems to me that it'll be affecting the design of KENS somewhat, I mean, they won't exacty be able to just concrete over the whole thing won't they?

I wonder what the site manager is think now. "If only we'd kept our mouths shut..."

Originally posted by fro
well, that was pretty quick to get that all organised. Any word of what will happen to all this archaelogical stuff? Is it going to be preserved on site or taken off site? It seems to me that it'll be affecting the design of KENS somewhat, I mean, they won't exacty be able to just concrete over the whole thing won't they?

I wonder what the site manager is think now. "If only we'd kept our mouths shut..."
there keeping the relics and rebuild them elsewhere.
They will have to unfortunatley dig into these areas. see them while it lasts!lol

pix from today! the site is down to sussex st level. it sure looks large! it actually measures 200m x 100m.

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/09/217295.jpg

where some of the archeological dig is.

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/09/217296.jpg

Jeeeeezzuuzz that is one bloody HUGE site!! this tower is going to be unbelievable huge.

Culwulla, just as a comparison, how does this 200mx100m site compare to other sites around the country such as FWP and World Square?

Also, how is the office area of this tower going to compare with the other biggies in Australia. I know grovensor place has the biggest space.

cheers

Originally posted by SydneyDude
Jeeeeezzuuzz that is one bloody HUGE site!! this tower is going to be unbelievable huge.

Culwulla, just as a comparison, how does this 200mx100m site compare to other sites around the country such as FWP and World Square?

Also, how is the office area of this tower going to compare with the other biggies in Australia. I know grovensor place has the biggest space.

cheers
world square measures 140m x 140m.
KENS will have nearly 77,000sqm. i wont be biggest in Australia but will have laregst floors! the average floor will be apprx 3000sqm with the first 5 floors being 4000sqm per floor!!

This is the fattest scraper ever being built in Sydney. This is something you would normally find in the US.

Originally posted by CULWULLA
there keeping the relics and rebuild them elsewhere.
They will have to unfortunatley dig into these areas. see them while it lasts!lol

I was just thinking about the archaelogical dig on the site. It was covered by what had to be the ugliest carpark in the cosmos. A significant relic of Sydney's past knocked down for a butt-fugly hunk of concrete.

How typically Sydney.

i took this back on july 22, just noticed this is now gone!
wow its now a rare pic indeed!

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/07/205035.jpg

site yesterday

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/09/217295.jpg

It only looks like the remaining walls of the former structures has been removed.

What was the archaelogical structure that they were digging out of the site?

Originally posted by flyin_higher
What was the archaelogical structure that they were digging out of the site?
they found some footings of 1890's terraces.