This will be the thread where you can post anything relating to the construction of Latitude in Sydney whether i'd be photos, observations and the latest news.

I will get some pictures tommorrow and they should be on here by tommorrow night.

Great idea Fabian! Hopefully we'll have a total pictorial diary of the construction all the way to the completion of the building!

Yeah, good idea. We can see Latitude's progression in the one thread. It'll beat the "Never Ending Story" continual thread in regard to quality for sure!

BTW All the stores along the base are now closed including the large discount bookstore which has painted "BYE BYE" over its windows.

Anyway, kick-starting the pictorial journal.....

The very first pic taken for the forum by jcocks on the 24th Sept., 2 days after the crane was anchored onto the site:

.........http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid33/p924bdcbab656dcac46e3778cc0d86d03/fd3d4d4f.jpg

are they using the old core ?

Originally posted by chrisaus
are they using the old core ?
Yeah they are, but they will be demolishing some parts of it to incorporate the new technology (newer lifts, cabling etc) that has developed over the past 11 or 12 years.

And here is my contribution to the Latitude construction thread. When I went in to take my last installment of Cove construction shots, the Latitude crane was being put up.

Although I didn't have time to get any decent shots of the process, I managed to take a couple of snaps as we drove past - they are by no means ideal pictures, but they show the small crane used to erect the big crane quite well.

In the first picture, you can see the book shop (now closed down) which was at the base of the Latitude construction, the concrete elements of the existing structure, the witches hats for diversion of traffic on Goulburn St and the small crane used for lifting the parts of the big crane. And if you look between the skinny tree in the foreground and the "SAVE" banner to its left, you can see the framework of the big crane, lying on the flatbed truck:

http://www.arch.usyd.edu.au/~afindlay/latitudecrane01.jpg

And this pic shows what would have been an ideal view down Goulburn St, had that stupid car not driven in my way. Well, you can see the small crane well anyway:

http://www.arch.usyd.edu.au/~afindlay/latitudecrane02.jpg

Well, I tried! ;)

so whats the story with this building?? obviously it halted construction 10-12yrs ago now they are restarting construction.. but is it the same design, why did it stop in the first place?

Originally posted by Dorgey
so whats the story with this building?? obviously it halted construction 10-12yrs ago now they are restarting construction.. but is it the same design, why did it stop in the first place?

No, its a completely different design, but still an office tower. Some elements are the same, because of the re-use of the old abandoned service core, but it is a different shap, a different crown on the top (the previous tower had a sloping roof), different configuration at the base etc.

I think it stopped construction because of major union issues and strikes, and then the collapse of the property market.

Those pictures are good Finn and you would have to be right about how the project was halted and never completed.

well heres a pic from yesterdays venture up top of HSBC. the pic clearly shows the site and existing core.

http://www.arch.usyd.edu.au/~afindlay/HSBCview09.jpg

just remembered! in this pic glance your eyes up to level 69 on World tower. This is RL200m or the exact height LATITUDE will rise to above sea level. So its gonna be impressive from this roof top next year!!
http://www.arch.usyd.edu.au/~afindlay/HSBCview11.jpg

Wow, for some reason I never expected Latitude to be that tall (level 69 of World Tower).. They are going to look fantastic next to each other!!

.............................http://www.skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/images/018431.gifhttp://www.skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/images/016476.gif

Here they are, the first construction shots from Latitude.

The bookshop has now closed and is being prepared for construction. You may notice a lift on the left hand side of the lift core.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/p3cd62c4dc360fc2cba3efec32c946a07/fd354bf8.jpg

From George St near Central Station.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/p2ca05da34afbc45fe0b7f283326bdef2/fd354c0d.jpg

Lift core and crane

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/pc50754d1c17ba2256b54b209150e679d/fd354c07.jpg

Close up of the core

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/pbe3e603e333520895787eee35e10eb2c/fd354bd9.jpg.orig.jpg

i really like lattitude tower. Things are really looking good for good old sydney town, with world tower, latitude, BT, cove, john boyd and this mystery 235 meter tower than culwulla is yet to tell us more about!

Im overdue for a trip to the city, i think i will go with my digital camera 2moro or saturday. I went up centerpoint the other day and the views were amazing, you really can see everything thats going on from up there. But i didnt have my camera on me :( i might go back up there if ur lucky :D

cheers

Bloody impressive pics from all you guys! Especially Culwulla. Damn! Eye level @ 200m! LOL! If only we all could be :bleep:

:D
I have a request for a Latitude pic. It's not exactly a *construction* pic per se, but it's an atrium shot from inside Latitude. Could somebody post it please? I checked the old forums but the pic's not there anymore. :(

Originally posted by fro
Bloody impressive pics from all you guys! Especially Culwulla. Damn! Eye level @ 200m! LOL! If only we all could be :bleep:

:D
I have a request for a Latitude pic. It's not exactly a *construction* pic per se, but it's an atrium shot from inside Latitude. Could somebody post it please? I checked the old forums but the pic's not there anymore. :(

Damn, thats the 3rd or 4th request I've had for one of the pictures I was hosting on my server up until about a week ago when I had my big file clean-up! I didn't realise people were still interested in them! :)

Well, its no prob fro, here's the pic, up again :)

http://www.arch.usyd.edu.au/~afindlay/latitudemodel06.jpg

BTW, this rendering is from an earlier configuration of the Latitude scheme, and considering that "East" won't be built initially, I'm not too sure of whether this design will actually be what we get.

Man, that piazza looks bloody awesome. I can't wait for it to open, if that's what it's going to look like inside :D

Top stuff Finn! Thanks for re-posting the image! :)

Let's hope that we get *something* like this built. We'll just have to wait and see.

I've taken some more pics of the Latitude destruction. I'll post them tonight.

They're currently cutting up and taking down at least part of the two outer lift shafts with a big bad (and noisy) saw :)

Could do some serious damage with that thing! :devil:

:D

Basically, right now the Sydney CBD has 3 'keystone' scrapers going up - BT, World Tower and Latitude.
That is pretty good I reckon.
I have excluded 45 storey Lobana, 48 storey Cove and all of the other projects underway because they won't be 'stand outs' on the skyline.

North Sydney will have one 'keystoner' underway pretty soon with Beaumonde !

Maybe in 6-12 months time the Sydney CBD will have 6 or 7 'keystone' towers u/c given the mooted developments ?

I think we will have five keystone towers going up this time next year

1 Height limit skyscraper 235 metres - details could come anyday now
2 World Tower
3 Latitude
4 John Boyd
5 BT Tower

Civic Tower is not included in that list because it won't have an impact on the skyline.

North Sydney could have as many as three keystone towers this time next year

1 Beaumonde
2 The Two Pacific Highway Towers including the one which will appear to be the tallest in North Sydney

As promised... here's a pic of the demolition (or rather, dismantlement - they're taking quite a bit of care when taking this thing down) of the existing core on the Latitude site...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/pe802e8d88625b077bfce87330bdf81a9/fd33e9cf.jpg

Approx. 5% of it.

To be sure that some of us were dreading the crane was just gonna sit there for a long time without any action on the site. There is clearly action happening.

Still no updates on the project at the Multiplex site (keeping a daily vigil on that one) and/or the launch of its own web site as 126 Phillip Street already has. :)

thanx for that jcocks...please keep delivering on the promises :okay: .

When is Sydney going to actually build something seriously tall? Isn't there some sort of hieght limit, due to AMP Tower or something? They need to can that crap!

What happened to our nice construction thread, in one fell swoop :? .

Errrrr, thanx for the constructive comments J.H. ironically in a construction thread.

Many of us have been looking forward to this one going ahead.

It's kinda unfortunate but we get excited over the few morsels that are thrown to our feeble minds. There is not much happening at all really (nor are there many talls in Sydney at all really). ;)

Originally posted by Jasonhouse
When is Sydney going to actually build something seriously tall? Isn't there some sort of hieght limit, due to AMP Tower or something? They need to can that crap!

There is a height limit of 235 metres. Culwulla says it's because the council thinks buildings of that height are suitable for Sydney.

[QUOTE][size=1]Originally posted by finn


Damn, thats the 3rd or 4th request I've had for one of the pictures I was hosting on my server up until about a week ago when I had my big file clean-up! I didn't realise people were still interested in them! :)

Well, its no prob fro, here's the pic, up again :)


:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

thats awesome!

Originally posted by Jasonhouse
When is Sydney going to actually build something seriously tall? Isn't there some sort of hieght limit, due to AMP Tower or something? They need to can that crap!
The AMP Tower isn't really the reason for the heigt limits. Sydney's height limits are based on sun access planes, to ensure that direct sunlight is not lost to building shadows.

Sydney has a particulalrly high-quality set of public squares and parks - the preservation of the environment, both for pedestrians and recreation is really more important than a super tall building.

Here's a little 3D model of where the sun planes fall, and where the height limits rise to in different areas of the city.

http://www.arch.usyd.edu.au/~afindlay/cbdheightlimits.jpg

Do the higher areas of gold mean that the sun can easily reach the ground while a low area of gold may mean little sunlight?

Originally posted by Fabian
Do the higher areas of gold mean that the sun can easily reach the ground while a low area of gold may mean little sunlight?

Just think of the gold coloured area as one giant building. If this were built, sunlight could still reach all of the relevant public squares and parks (though not any of the streets the giant gold building would completely engulf ;)).

does anyone know what's happening on the corner of pitt and goulburn streets (the south east corner of the world square/latitude block)??

finn, museumb, culwulla etc:


can you guys get "plans" of big developments under the freedom of information act up there (lol that's if the Freedom of Information act is a federal law :?) ? I'd love to see the plans of the atrium & tower and all. By plans I mean like how we've got diagrams from Vic DOI (I got em for BHP, Southern Cross Hotel and Station redevelopments and the likes) ????

cheers

tays

Originally posted by tayser
finn, museumb, culwulla etc:


can you guys get "plans" of big developments under the freedom of information act up there (lol that's if the Freedom of Information act is a federal law :?) ? I'd love to see the plans of the atrium & tower and all. By plans I mean like how we've got diagrams from Vic DOI (I got em for BHP, Southern Cross Hotel and Station redevelopments and the likes) ????

cheers

tays

Usually, once it's been submitted to council for approval, it's "public knowledge" and accessable to anyone.

We should be able to get plans of such things...

Originally posted by finn

The AMP Tower isn't really the reason for the heigt limits. Sydney's height limits are based on sun access planes, to ensure that direct sunlight is not lost to building shadows.

Sydney has a particulalrly high-quality set of public squares and parks - the preservation of the environment, both for pedestrians and recreation is really more important than a super tall building.

Here's a little 3D model of where the sun planes fall, and where the height limits rise to in different areas of the city.

http://www.arch.usyd.edu.au/~afindlay/cbdheightlimits.jpg

I don't like the look of that. I would like to see some 235m buildings clustered around centrepoint but looking at the sun access scheme, that's never going to happen. Bugger!:moods:

Originally posted by MrTall


I don't like the look of that. I would like to see some 235m buildings clustered around centrepoint but looking at the sun access scheme, that's never going to happen. Bugger!:moods:

The areas surrounding Centrepoint are all in the sun access planes of Hyde Park.

If there was shadow thrown over Hyde Park, the giant avenue of ficus trees could die, as they did in one of the small squares in the northern CBD somewhere, because of lack of sunshine (can't remember the name of the square).

I've just come back from the city and stopped by to have a look at the model. Latitude was still painted WHITE!!!

Not Happy Jan!!:bleep:

They are still trying to finalise some minor changes to the development with the council such as the partial demolitions. It shouldn't be too long before it gets a red coat.

Noticed today that new construction site boards and awnings being placed around the site. :okay:

(Also the base of HSBC Tower is 'moving' with new scaffolding in preparation to replace the granite tiles - finally!!).

Latitude is certainly going to block the view south for those living in World Tower according to this picture and it appears to be blocking the view from Centrepoint and MLC as well.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid29/p8736dcc360b7f2963b684319bb447d67/fd595173.jpg.orig.jpg

Originally posted by museumb
Noticed today that new construction site boards and awnings being placed around the site. :okay:

(Also the base of HSBC Tower is 'moving' with new scaffolding in preparation to replace the granite tiles - finally!!).

Great- those 'missing teeth' in the HSBC facade badly need replacing ! It's only been a year or so ofr christs sake.

BTW the Sydney Hilton closes its doors on October 24th, in preparation for the major reno.

Pics taken on 7/10/02 by Mar:

http://129.94.223.230/07oct2.jpg

http://129.94.223.230/07oct4.jpg

http://129.94.223.230/07oct8.jpg

http://129.94.223.230/07oct10.jpg

Originally posted by Fabian
Latitude is certainly going to block the view south for those living in World Tower according to this picture and it appears to be blocking the view from Centrepoint and MLC as well.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid29/p8736dcc360b7f2963b684319bb447d67/fd595173.jpg.orig.jpg

Yeah, but thats looking from ground level - it won't block the view from Centrepoint over the tower and out to the distance, which is probably what people want to see anyway!

As for World Tower, the south facing residents are pretty screwed with that! But the square itself between the towers might be interesting to look down on. Also, you can see that World Tower is positioned slightly out of line from Latitude, so the southerly views for half of the tower will be fine.

Great to hear about the Hilton closing date! I so cannot wait till they get started on that one!! :D

So far one of the most impressive views forming of both towers is from York Street next to QVB and also George St near the cnr of King St.

Basically because of the kink in George Street and also the alignment of the HSBC Tower, World Tower and Latitude. A huge wall of towers if forming.

So far all the towers are looking lined up next to one another with abosolutely no gap in between.

Take a look, the density forming from that vantage point is very impressive.

Also throw in the new Mertion Tower on the Village site, also the planned ones on the old Regent site and there will be a f@%king whopper of a wall of towers looking from the QVB south.

Just LOVE IT!!!!!!

any chance of changing the title of this thread to ...

"---+++The Official LATITUDE development thread+++---"

just like the other threads like it!

Good point Sin City.
Stand on the King/George intersection.
Look south and you'll see the Latitude/World tower wall.
Look north and you'll see the Grosvenor wall.
It gives the CBD a very good 'depth' from that location- like a set of bookends if you will.

Originally posted by Cabbage Roll
does anyone know what's happening on the corner of pitt and goulburn streets (the south east corner of the world square/latitude block)??

this building has slowly separated from the Latitudes podium (thru design process) to become its own building now known as EAST!! its 12st/50m tall and has 30,000 sqm of office space.

Jason- i think 235m tall skyscraper is huge!!! for Sydney.

the model is still white due to internal changes and it will be finally approved soon but Multiplex was given approval to start construction. planner has told me to wait before painting red!!

cheers

Side Note: culwulla, how about making up a code for each of the official threads by city ? it's easier to identify then :D

like

Melbourne ---MMM |name goes here| MMM---

Sydney ---SSS |name goes here| SSS---

Brisbane ---BBB |name goes here| BBB---

Perth ---PPP |name goes here| PPP---



?

tays

Took a new picture today. Nothing new

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid35/pd390ce85e6e9617548504dcbfd0f002a/fd2f0b8d.jpg.orig.jpg

Hey, Cul, when will they *START* floorplate construction on Latitude??

Have you also got a sneak peak of Mystery Tower?? But is there actually gonna be one??:? :?

Is there any chance we could see something taller on the East Site? It is a good site for a tower of 100 metres minimum or more.

Most likely the 50m high planned building on the south-east section of World Square will be scrapped. I have strong suspicions that this will be the case for the below reasons.

Lattitude was initially the whole southern section of World Square. The first plan was incorporated with this podium stretching the whole base.

The latest revised plan had the 50m building detached from the main tower. Now that building is conveniently 'postponed'

I feel the reason it has been proposed and is proceeding at a later date is of the fact that someone raised on this forum.

If another tower was proposed next to Latitude it could possibly jeapordise the lease of the tower because a potential client may complain about the loss of views. This is currently happening at KENS.

I think that once Latitude is built and tenancy is fulfilled, we may see another whopper on this corner, afterall the original World Square proposal had 4 huge towers on each of the corners. Currently there are 3, therefore a 4th can easily be sustained.

The area I think also falls into the height maximum of 235m, therefore a 50m tower is a sad waste of potential. I strongly feel that after Latitude is completed 2003/2004 that we will see a launch of a maximum height tower whether it be commercial or residential.

My preference would be commercial ..... hopefully :)

I thought I share this and the 2003 Sydney UBD in its maps of the CBD shows the World Square site with World Tower, Latitude and Hordern Towers shown in it, but on the East site, it says World Square Hotel proposed.

the EAST tower which is located at cnr of pitt/goulburn sts is the left over floor space from latitude development. this 12st/50m is all that is allowed to be built due to the floor space ratio restrictions!

Why have restrictions been placed on the floor space ratio on the site.

Originally posted by Fabian
Why have restrictions been placed on the floor space ratio on the site.

with a big site like world square there has always been a floor plot/ratio restriction. The Latitude has swallowed up so much sqm which hasnt left much for the EAST devolopment.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid35/p28c409c2e82217f7fc325bb194df3a2a/fd2f0bb2.jpg

East appears to be fairly big according to the picture above, but I cannot see anything wrong with it being taller. There is a potential for alot of development in this quarter of the site and the council is letting that advantage slip away from them.

<font color=green>In order for it to be taller... Latitude would have to be more slender...

not that there is anything wrong with that, but I guess the developers decided to have bigger floor plates and go taller...

thus East can't build taller...

We won't be seeing a lot of slender tall buildings in Sydney I guess...

Of course, given the raitio of the whole of the southern World Sqaure site, Latitude could have been much taller had it taken more floor space from East, or if East was part of Latitude. </font color=green>

This is absurd that the council will only allow tall buildings if they are slender. Whats wrong with having some fat towers in the CBD. They are common in major US cities such as New York and Chicago.

Originally posted by Fabian
This is absurd that the council will only allow tall buildings if they are slender. Whats wrong with having some fat towers in the CBD. They are common in major US cities such as New York and Chicago.

Fabian, most councils have rules for "maximum floor space ratio". this means for instance in Sydney you have a 1:12 ratio to build an office tower or 1:17 for residential. This means you can only build 12 times the site area in your development (17 times for res). places like Chicago and NY have ratios of 30 to one!! and some areas unlimited!!

cheers

I'm on the same bandwagon as Fabian ......

Lets for example say that the people which own the site decide to sell off the undeveloped portion of Latitude ..... (East building). Is the council going to be so stupid and say no to a taller building, even thou the sale meant that the undeveloped portion is no longer a part of the Latitude development.

Lets face it a huge tower would have been built there anyway if World Square was sold off in 4 bits rather than the current 3 bits.

Such stupid rules that will cost a potential site another potential tower for Sydney.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.....FSR's are totally rooted. What's the point of placing a limit on the FSR. What the hell is a 12:1 FSR doing in a CBD. I'd hate to break it to the retards running the show in Sydney but it's too freakin late to make Sydney into Edinburgh or London.

Does it make a trip to the city more enjoyable if we have short-ass buildings? I think not. Some dumbasses don't seem to get the point of a city. If you don't like canyons, shadowed streets and wind or are claustrophobic then stay outa the phuckin CBD.

:bleep: :rant: :bash: :mad2: :gunz: :wallbash:

"Does it make a trip to the city more enjoyable if we have short-ass buildings? I think not"

similarly... it doesn't make it more enjoyable if we have tall buildings...

to most people, they don't care...

and most people can't stay out of the CBD by choice...

i agree kay
the majority of people dont care where the tallest skyscraper in the world is!
or else everyone would be living in chicago.
why do so many people choose to live in sydney?
cause it is a great place to live!

What is the objective of a maximum floor space ratio being implemented as part of a planning policy?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Fabian
What is the objective of a maximum floor space ratio being implemented as part of a planning policy? [/QUOTE

You mean other than to infuriate Sydney's skyscraper lovers?

Floor space ratios are useful, but crude, tools.


Ideally there would be no FSRs or height limits, and approval would depend on shadowing, view corridors, traffic plans, aesthetics, amenity and all the important things.

But that's alltogether too subject to interpretation (and thus to the legal system which drives councils broke)

So it's important to have some rules that can't easily be overidden, so as to make it less subject to corruption. And it's important to make them overridable in exchange for trade-offs of amenity, so they aren't too blindly adhered too. But it can't be too easy to averride: corruption and the law again.

any1 got any pics??:rant:

If it's all based on FSR's, then East can certainly be taller by reducing its floorplates but increasing its levels.

If they decide to change it to a hotel or residential then perhaps this may happen (taller, more slender tower, but with the same total floorspace), but while it is commercial, it is more practical in its current form.

Besides, a lower building provides more open airspace to appreciate the towers rising in the area. I mean, it would be difficult to get a good view of Latitude if it had another equally tall building directly next to it!

And has anything much been happening at the Latitude site? I mean, have they continued working on demolishing bits and pieces of the existing core?

I took a new picture yesterday, but they are still doing some work on the core. I noticed that they have put some wooden stuff on the "top floor" in front of the lift core.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid36/pb4dbba8f1a41649b4d1e9adb5cf45c2c/fd1f706e.jpg

The timber ("wooden stuff") has been around the perimeter for a couple of weeks now.

We must not forget that it has already gained some height for the first time in over 10 years. i.e. the red steel reinforcements that have appeared on top of the core. Perhaps just over a metre. :)

Hmmm, maybe that wooden box is the stuff the use for the top of the floorplates, like that yellow box on World Tower:?

Masses of green mesh going up around the massive podium. Also daggy old Multiplex banner gone and new large one being placed on the East site toward Pitt St on Goulburn.

green mesh = Good = Happy Noonos = High :D

news flash!! LATITUDE was finally fgiven OFFICIAL approval last night at council and the EAST tower will also be built simulataniously!!
So the actual construction will start aSAP although pre-works have been taking place for a few weeks now!

So Australia's tallest office bldg (to roof) UC is now growing!!:D with 20months of work ahead!

also the spire which tops the Ernst & Young Tower @ LATITUDE has lengthened slightly by 3m to 222m above George Street!!;)

Originally posted by CULWULLA
news flash!! LATITUDE was finally fgiven OFFICIAL approval last night at council and the EAST tower will also be built simulataniously!!
So the actual construction will start aSAP although pre-works have been taking place for a few weeks now!

So Australia's tallest office bldg (to roof) UC is now growing!!:D with 20months of work ahead!

also the spire which tops the Ernst & Young Tower @ LATITUDE has lengthened slightly by 3m to 222m above George Street!!;)

thats excellent!
im happy sydney is getting a tall OFFICE tower! enough of these residential ones for now!

and 222 is a good even number dont ya'll think?

Originally posted by rondeez


thats excellent!
im happy sydney is getting a tall OFFICE tower! enough of these residential ones for now!

and 222 is a good even number dont ya'll think?

Hmm...more than that...

222 * 3 = 666!

both 3 and 666 are religiously important numbers.

But I can't quite figure out if latitude is good or evil...;)

I don't know what to say...(not sad way, but confused way) I just wanna contribute.. http://www.skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/images/016476.gif

You know, I really must say, that IS a great diagram!!! :lol:

:D Oh well... I've grown to love it! :)

I think it needs a few adjustments though... when a new rendering comes out. :)

Originally posted by Kay
You know, I really must say, that IS a great diagram!!! :lol:

:D Oh well... I've grown to love it! :)

I think it needs a few adjustments though... when a new rendering comes out. :)

Yeah, its crazy that we haven't had any decent renderings displayed of Latitude! I mean its great to be able to see the model at Town Hall and Kay's diagram on skyscraperpage.com, but I want dramatic artists renderings from wildly over-emphasised angles, with full colour!

There were plenty of renderings when the tower was proposed as a residential tower, but nothing as yet of the office proposal! :(

Originally posted by Kay
You know, I really must say, that IS a great diagram!!! :lol:

:D Oh well... I've grown to love it! :)

I think it needs a few adjustments though... when a new rendering comes out. :)

Kay ur so full of yourself :lol:

Originally posted by Noonos
I don't know what to say...(not sad way, but confused way) I just wanna contribute.. http://www.skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/images/016476.gif

I wonder if that's gonna be the final colour of the building? Like a light aqua shade...

anything but white...:guns1:

Originally posted by fro


I wonder if that's gonna be the final colour of the building? Like a light aqua shade...

anything but white...:guns1:

fro, theres a distinct difference between H***y and Donald Crone :lol:

I found these snaps that were taken inside the World Square site in Sydney. These were taken on the site of Latitude site with construction now under way.

A staircase

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp3.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp4.jpg

Abandoned Equipment

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp8.jpg

Looking towards Pitt St

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp10.jpg

Looking up George St towards Central

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp11.jpg

Looking up George St towards Town Hall

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp12.jpg

World Tower under construction

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid30/p7824e61e8fd2c5a2a9487e18978c9e24/fd53bf09.jpg

Another shot from inside

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp15.jpg

Any1 got anynews???????????

I don't think there has been any real progress since I last went to the site. You could actually see the core of Latitude in the World Tower photo from Wednesday and it seems nothing has been done.

@ Fabian, I wouldn't even attempt to download pics from geocities.com as they are temperamental. 99.9% of the time, they just appear as Xs. Stick with imagestation.com. :okay:

It's a pity that the topography of the World Square site is so 'low' vs the rest of the CBD.
Latitude looks appreciably shorter than Citgroup in Culwulla's city model, despite it being only a few metres shorter in actual height.
Bugger.
Not that I'm complaining or anything...... :)

Originally posted by spazpecker
It's a pity that the topography of the World Square site is so 'low' vs the rest of the CBD.
Latitude looks appreciably shorter than Citgroup in Culwulla's city model, despite it being only a few metres shorter in actual height.
Bugger.
Not that I'm complaining or anything...... :)

But from ground level they're f**king tall... LOL, don't worry about the view from the sky... Crack some of those neck vertebrae, look up!

Originally posted by spazpecker
It's a pity that the topography of the World Square site is so 'low' vs the rest of the CBD.
Latitude looks appreciably shorter than Citgroup in Culwulla's city model, despite it being only a few metres shorter in actual height.
Bugger.
Not that I'm complaining or anything...... :)

i guess u could say that...

but not from ALL angles.

i was driving down to the st george disrict wid a couple of mates and we were on EPPING road in the ryde area and the world tower actually looked quite tall ... about as tall as the MLC!

i guess its just depends on the angle etc.

cheers!

rondeez, it is about as tall as the MLC

Originally posted by Noonos
rondeez, it is about as tall as the MLC

mwhahaa yeh i know ... its 2m taller

but i meant its height level about the sea is shorter

routemarker, have they started preparing the core to be poured or done any other construction or are they still preparing the site?

Not really, but they have started advertising the site as 'Latitude at world square', however i did see the core closest to the west considerably reduced. But no they arent pouring yet.

I like the idea of the 'piazza' between latitude and WT.. here's a pic from the latitude website

http://www.latitudetower.com.au


http://www.latitudetower.com.au/images/piazzaPage_2.jpg

And here's the spiel:

" An expansive piazza extends between World Square's commercial and residential towers, connecting to a central public forecourt.

Measuring 50 metres wide, this magnificent space brings the joys of Parisienne-style respite to Sydney.

Exquisite landscaping provides the perfect setting for reading a book, sharing a coffee or simply basking in the surrounds of this
delightful retreat.

Cafes and restaurants add to the ambience, providing a diverse range of culinary options and places to meet."

Not too bad eh. Should REALLY boost this southern CBD area in a major way:guns1:

http://www.latitudetower.com.au/images/commercialSpace_3.jpg
*cough* Kay *cough*
But maybe this is a different veiw from yours....

LOL Noonos...

Yes, it is... but I think I'll still draw it from the front, so it will complement World Tower and the angle IT is draw at. Plus, I think the front angle is more interesting, and provides a more interesting shape.

If I have some time during the holidays (after I finish uni for ever) I might draw it from this angle as well.

I've gotta fix my Latitude diagram now anyway, to change the colours and what not. :)

I found this article from The Sydney Morning Herald (smh.com.au) which means ALL of Sydney will kow about this project. I have actually discovered what appears to be inaccuracies in the report such as a 16 level retail complex as well as EAST being 21 levels tall when really it is 12.

Black hole gets some Latitude
By Carolyn Cummins, Commercial Property Editor
November 13 2002

After a tumultuous 20 years, the CBD's blackest hole, the World Square site between George and Pitt streets, is being developed.

It is the new home to a $600 million office skyscraper and retail complex, called Latitude, to be anchored by accounting firm Ernst & Young.

It is being developed by Multiplex and HSP Property and designed by Crone Architects.

It is the 20th of the City's 22 infamous property black holes to be filled, making the departing Lord Mayor, Frank Sartor, a very happy man.

Other prominent "holes" have been the former Walton's site on the corner of Market and Park Streets, now the home of the 2 Park Street office tower, and the Regent Theatre site on the corner of George and Bathurst streets, which the Genting group is developing into apartments.

Part of the development of the Latitude site will be the demolition of the existing structures on the corner of George and Goulburn streets occupied by a book store and variety stores.

In 1991 the previous owners and shareholders of the World Square site, including the Tan family from Malaysia and Singapore, spent $3 million waterproofing the property and constructing a 600-bay car park.

That area is being demolished to begin work on Latitude.

The project will go up in two stages, the first being a $450 million, 55-level office tower, with Ernst & Young as the main tenant, as well as a 16-level retail complex.

Stage 2 will comprise a 21-storey office tower valued at $150 million.

Mr Sartor said the complex will beat as the new "heart of Sydney's CBD", attracting as many as 350,000 residents and office workers a day.

"This is a very significant day and a very significant site," he said.

Originally posted by Fabian Mr Sartor said the complex will beat as the new "heart of Sydney's CBD", attracting as many as 350,000 residents and office workers a day.

"This is a very significant day and a very significant site," he said.

:D :D :D :D Significant indeed. Finally the BIG hole is filled! And judging by the renders it will be a magnificent building.

But up 350 000 people a day:eek2:

Now let's get going on the Regeant theatre site dammit! :soapbox:

The latutide website does say the podium is 16 levels and "East"/second tower is 21 levels... so perhaps the article is correct.

Fro, I think they "accidently" put in an extra 0 to attract more attention. Also with the east site, could they make the floorheight say: 10m?

Originally posted by Fabian
I found this article from The Sydney Morning Herald (smh.com.au) which means ALL of Sydney will kow about this project. I have actually discovered what appears to be inaccuracies in the report such as a 16 level retail complex as well as EAST being 21 levels tall when really it is 12.


There's no inaccuracy - they've gone and added the 9/10 storeys of underground parking to the heights of the buildings.

Damn you Meriton - look what you've started!!! ;)

What cheats they are.

How could they have 16 levels of retail?

Originally posted by Fabian
What cheats they are.

How could they have 16 levels of retail?

Exactly! Even the 6 or 7 levels of retail that subtracting the underground parking from that total would leave, would be quite excessive!

Even the top levels of The Galleria (at Citigroup Centre) and the top retail levels of QVB are struggling. ......and as for the Hilton's Royal Arcade, Hah!!

It has often been reported that Australian shoppers in general don't like to travel far from ground levels.

16 levels of shopping is the last thing Sydney needs. It was probably supposed to read "1.6 levels".

The rendering from SMH:

http://www.smh.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1037080733837_2002/11/12/nat_latitude.jpg

tays

Thanks Tays... though it seems to be washed out and lacking colour in that rendering.

Originally posted by Fabian
What cheats they are.

How could they have 16 levels of retail?

Shrek to donkey: "Do you think his compensating for something? eh?"

Enough of the bullshit!

marketting speak-------->:bash: <-----------fro

Originally posted by museumb
Even the top levels of The Galleria (at Citigroup Centre) and the top retail levels of QVB are struggling. ......and as for the Hilton's Royal Arcade, Hah!!

It has often been reported that Australian shoppers in general don't like to travel far from ground levels.

16 levels of shopping is the last thing Sydney needs. It was probably supposed to read "1.6 levels".

There was a report on this earlier in the year. The troubles start to occur around level 4 like at Galeries Victoria. It seems that Australian's are like those in Simtower, who will take no more than four esclators.

Hi Guys while working at World Tower today decided to have a look at latitude from above a lot of work being done removing old core and replacing it with new core. Also on the floor level they are at now i noticed some heavy demolishing of floor and a couple of pilings i thought this was very odd they must of changed design of building... any way another up date on latitude on friday...
:cheers:

Originally posted by Fabian


There was a report on this earlier in the year. The troubles start to occur around level 4 like at Galeries Victoria. It seems that Australian's are like those in Simtower, who will take no more than four esclators.

Not quite true. I've noticed that the food hall on the top level of Paramatta Westfield does quite nicely, and I know of another in City Arcade in Perth which does quite nicely. They don't do too badly with the shops there either..

I think the thing is to put a destination store / area like a food-hall or the like on one of the upper floors, and it improves things a bit.

You would expect food halls to do well if at the top as many have their cars nearby on the levels above or around that level. Seeing that people need to eat they would do well even if there was no parking nearby.

Perhaps, but I was actually going to bring up the Westfield Parramatta example, and then realised the difference. Westfield Parramatta, while in a city environment, is more like a suburban centre, where people go to spend time. And in suburban centres, trust me, the higher floors away from the street level are the most desireable. :lol:

It does seem to make sense that upper floors in the city would have a bit of difficulty, as Muse pointed out. In the city, people don't usually go to hang out in shopping arcades, unless it's the QVB of course. :)

And unless there's a cafe in there, they're most likely to do their shopping and go out. So even then, those in a hurry in the hectic city environment might not go up to the top floors unless they already KNOW of the store there.

Anyway, that article from the SMH also indicated that the car park on the site will also get demolished. :lol: The under ground car park? Or is this just another "item" that needs to be semantically worked around?

There were actually two articles in yesterdays SMH. The first one with the rendering appeared in the news section and there was a report on Latitude in the Commercial property section which speaks about the lack of office towers being built in Sydney.

Walking past Latitude today I noticed a second crane was being assembled in the centre of the core (its already higher than the first. This should speed things up...

Originally posted by reidmjohn
Walking past Latitude today I noticed a second crane was being assembled in the centre of the core (its already higher than the first. This should speed things up...

Damn you've got a lot of good news reidmjohn! Top job with the updates! :okay:

So there's now two cranes on World Tower, two on Latitude, and the one on the Masonic Centre...Cassia Garden should be getting one pretty soon, and Village and Aspect in the not too distant future - finally the southern CBD boom we've been anticipating is getting into gear! :D

Originally posted by reidmjohn
Walking past Latitude today I noticed a second crane was being assembled in the centre of the core (its already higher than the first. This should speed things up... So that is what was holding the traffic up on George Street last Saturday. A mobile crane at the site had closed-off half of the street and i couldn't see what was actually happening, but it looked major.

Like that news. Another sign that formal construction is about to commence.

Here is the first picture of the two cranes on the site. Photo courtsey of Culwulla.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid40/p41291f9789905260c02f7308c7ac1dd7/fd028c51.jpg

fabian, theres nooooooooo pic

I took some new pictures of the work going on today. They are still preparing the core which is taking heaps long to do. Also I have some exclusive pictures of demolition work going on the site as well as scaffholding on George St side

George St

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid40/pcb31db4718097a45a6df94aa8d0a7e09/fcfd9935.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid40/p7ce00b02a681d7cee875ef1630df9b2e/fcfdbc4b.jpg

Scaffholding

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid40/p4b7cc1d9b543ca1003fd8cce3e35d664/fcfd7b38.jpg

Demolition going on the site

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid40/peca432934cb020f8a09445f22ce6f41c/fcfd7b40.jpg

Anyone know when they will put a corebox on and start increasing the core and floorplates?

Also great pics Fabian

Yeah, great pics Fabian - especially the demolition one! :wallbash: :bash:

It's not really taking that long for the demolition of the core...I mean they've only been working on the site for a couple of months so far, and there's probably quite a few things that need changing.

Yeah they had to replace five levels of the core as it had a disease known as concrete cancer cause it had been sitting there for so long exposed it was just getting worn away

Originally posted by WorldTowerWorker
Yeah they had to replace five levels of the core as it had a disease known as concrete cancer cause it had been sitting there for so long exposed it was just getting worn away

Understandable. That core's been through a heck of a lot... Not long now before we never see it again!

Originally posted by WorldTowerWorker
Yeah they had to replace five levels of the core as it had a disease known as concrete cancer cause it had been sitting there for so long exposed it was just getting worn away

Yeah, definitely makes sense, considering that thing has been sitting there exposed for over a decade!!

so we should see some forward work there early next year?

Here are some pics I went out & took today.

I found a higher vantage point from the Ibis Hotel on Pitt St. Unfortunately to get the full view you have to be in one of the rooms. Bugger

I really like the blue hoardings that have been put around the site ... adds a nice bit of colour to that end of George St.

Can't wait to see this baby rising

:D

http://images.fotki.com/v10/photos/2/22045/167517/lat01-vi.jpg

http://images.fotki.com/v11/photos/2/22045/167517/LAT02-vi.jpg

http://images.fotki.com/v10/photos/2/22045/167517/lat04-vi.jpg

http://images.fotki.com/v10/photos/2/22045/167517/lat03-vi.jpg

Bulwara, how do you get access to the surrounding towers to take the photos?

bulwara those are awesome pics!

are u a proffesional photographer?

Yeah, I love the electric blue lighting as well!! Looks fantastic around the base of the development!

Rondeez ... no, I'm no professional photographer. I reckon I still have a lot to learn. Cheers for the compliment though :)

Fabian, they were taken from the Pitt St Ibis Hotel. I did this a lot when we were travelling overseas. Hotels occasionally have an outlook from their upper levels. You can't generally see from the rooms unless you're paying for them, but there is often a stair-well that has windows, or the hallway. That's if you don't need a security swipe for the elevator. When I was in Cairo recently some hotel cleaners actually asked if I wanted to see the view from the penthouse suites (providing they were unoccupied of course). Some of the rooms were just amazing. So I just take my photos, thank them, and leave. I just hope they weren't expecting a tip. :D

That's pretty clever Bulwara

What location did you take the picture of the site, a few weeks ago when you just came back? (I'm not referring to the ones just taken)

I walked past the site yesterday and I must say the feeling is good! Walking alongside the strong blue barricades gives you the feeling the SOMETHING is happenning.

Bring it on already!:guns1:

Still no sign of the webcam after checking the Multiplex and Latitude websites.

The webcam would be neat. Surely it doesn't take month's of planning. A news team gets cameras on the spot within half an hour ;). I wouldn't be holding out on that one though.

Originally posted by fro
Bring it on already!:guns1: The next step for this one is to see an actual floor plate being constructed atop the podium. Now that would be bringing it on.

I don't think we'll see a rise in the floorplates until early next year. From what I've seen, there is still a fair amount of work to do before proper construction can commence. I was very hopeful to see a rise in the floorplates this year, but it hasn't been the case. I keep waiting in hope.

dang! oh well the wait will be worth it...

who is building latitude??? Multiplex???
its gonna kick ass down there one WT and latitude are finished??? arent there other building u/c on teh same site aswell?

It is Multiplex who are constructing the tower. The Latitude website also lists the other companies involved.

Shit load of demolition work going on today looks like they might be getting ready to satrt construction as some reinforcment was brought in today. cant wait for the floor plates and core to start moving

Hey WTW, how much of the existing floors are they going to demolish?

I tell you what ....... the vibrations from the demolition pounding is unbelieveable. You can feel the boom as the decaying crap gets pulled down. I just hope it doesn't collapse the underground rail tunnels which skim close to the perimeter of the World Square complex over near the anticpated "East" tower.

Originally posted by SinCity
I tell you what ....... the vibrations from the demolition pounding is unbelieveable. You can feel the boom as the decaying crap gets pulled down. I just hope it doesn't collapse the underground rail tunnels which skim close to the perimeter of the World Square complex over near the anticpated "East" tower.

Every damn thing in Sydney seems to vibrate and create incredible noise during construction!

There is a house in my street being built at the moment, but they have only been working on site preparation so far, and since I live in a totally sandstone base area (like stone really close to the surface, and often above it) the excavation works are deafening!!!

There are 5 more homes in my street that will start construction in 2003 which will all have the same kind of excavation (2 of the homes across the street from me), and I dread the builders 7am starts!!! ;)

Hopefully the Latitude demolition won't go on for too much longer - as WTW mentioned they delivered some reinforcement the other day, so they could actually start on construction soon!

Hey Guys new rendering showing floor space going to be occupied by ernst and young. but i cant post so go to www.latitudetower.com.au and click on link ernst and young

The sound was incredible and very loud when I took my first batch of photos at the Lobana site back on October and this was during a concrete pour with cement trucks in the street. It gave me a headache.

Originally posted by Fabian
The sound was incredible and very loud when I took my first batch of photos at the Lobana site back on October and this was during a concrete pour with cement trucks in the street. It gave me a headache.

Thats also whatsa happening with Westfield Bndi Jct. It is very close/or over the rail tunnel and things even fall off store shelves!

This is absurd that the council will only allow tall buildings if they are slender. Whats wrong with having some fat towers in the CBD. They are common in major US cities such as New York and Chicago.


This is not good. I think the reason for this is that asian specifications and standards are finding their way into Australian architecture. When you look at many buildings under construction now in this country you can see the asian influence infiltrating.

Strange but it seems construction seems to be flying along not starting to ease up because of christmas a 3rd crane is being assembled on the site today and nearly most of the demoilition is done still heaps of core removal and adding more core but heaps of the floor plate is being demolished alot of form ply and steel has been hoisted up on to the deck so hopefully some action january 13 or early january :D

Where is this third crane located? Is this on the site of the smaller tower EAST?

on the george street side above where the book store was near the meriton world tower gate..

Hey World Tower Worker

Are you getting any sort of bomb threats there ? Other sites I know of are so I would assume you would be getting even more ??

in the latest "Steel Australia" mag, they quoted LATITUDE as being the next "all steel skyscraper"! Thats interesting? i though Multiplex only did concrete construction, anyway should be good to watch its progression!
:D

does it have a Latitude centrefold in the middle Cul ? ;)

<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>in the latest "Steel Australia" mag, they quoted LATITUDE as being the next "all steel skyscraper"! Thats interesting? i though Multiplex only did concrete construction, anyway should be good to watch its progression!
:D</td></tr>
</table>

Thats very unusual for a building here to be steel. It's going to be a very unique building to Sydney and Australia because of this.

<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>in the latest "Steel Australia" mag, they quoted LATITUDE as being the next "all steel skyscraper"! Thats interesting? i though Multiplex only did concrete construction, anyway should be good to watch its progression!
:D</td></tr>
</table>

Thats very unusual for a building here to be steel. It's going to be a very unique building to Sydney and Australia because of this.</td></tr>
</table>

Chifley Tower was actually steel as well.

The strange thing about Latitude being steel, is that they've already built to a certain stage (i.e. the abandoned construction), and that is reinforced conrete. Maybe that is why they're doing so much demolition.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<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>Hey World Tower Worker

Are you getting any sort of bomb threats there ? Other sites I know of are so I would assume you would be getting even more ??</td></tr>
</table>
Hey Steve yeah in the last 3 months ive worked there, there has been two bomb threats one we think was the union cause when we were at the evacuation point they came down and strted trying to recruit to join the union... Sly little pricks

Thats stupid. They should call in the police. I can't believe how powerful and arorgrant unions are. At least it isn't as bad in Victoria.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by finn </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>in the latest "Steel Australia" mag, they quoted LATITUDE as being the next "all steel skyscraper"! Thats interesting? i though Multiplex only did concrete construction, anyway should be good to watch its progression!
:D</td></tr>
</table>

Thats very unusual for a building here to be steel. It's going to be a very unique building to Sydney and Australia because of this.</td></tr>
</table>

Chifley Tower was actually steel as well.

The strange thing about Latitude being steel, is that they've already built to a certain stage (i.e. the abandoned construction), and that is reinforced conrete. Maybe that is why they're doing so much demolition.</td></tr>
</table>
sorry, i should of said- steel frame with concrete core!

There are a number of steel framed highrises in Sydney, but they generally are reinforced concrete. As Finn mentioned, Chifley is a superb example.

Question ........ Is it quicker to construct a steel framed skyscaper over one in similar bulk that is constructed using reinforced concrete? Someone please explain ....... :cool:

I think concrete may take longer as it has two prosesses

I think concrete may take longer as it has two processes

It's Official

There are three cranes on the Latitude. According to Culwulla, it is still being assembled as of today (December 19)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid43/pa605b9958eb6ce162e2d06ff36a6138f/fcea8cb9.jpg

New Demolition photos - TAKEN TODAY DECEMBER 19

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid43/p8dfb6e629770422a67ac88fbc8c7573b/fcea8ca1.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid43/p62eedc9bd77c22ab8622ec941c62b0d7/fcea8e3b.jpg

three cranes? wow!

anywho how do you get into construction sites to take pics?

More excellent pics. How long until we get to see Latitude rising ??? Also on the sign on latitude they have something like "Anthony Horden 30,000 people a day". Will there be an Anthony Horden store in the Latitude complex or what does it have to do with the site ?

<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>three cranes? wow!

anywho how do you get into construction sites to take pics?</td></tr>
</table>

I did not get onto the site for these demolition shots. I took the first one from the base of Horden Towers from a fence bordering the site. I took the second one from a gate on the Liverpool St side of the World Tower site which has a superb view of the site.

Also Steve World Tower, Anthony Hordens won't open a store on the site. They went bankrupt a long time ago back in the 60's. They must be referring to the number of people who visited the store daily when it was trading.

oh ok, anyway nice pics!

Still no crane on East Tower's section @ the cnr of Goulburn & Pitt Sts though :( . Maybe that will be the next to appear.

I could be wrong, but yesterday when i passed the site it looked like they are preparing to build the 1st floor plate on top of the base podium. Hope i'm not wrong ;) .

@ Steve World Tower. I would say the retail section would be more boutiques and the usual newsagents, dry cleaners, pharmacies, restaurants etc etc etc. The Latitude site mentions 120 outlets in all.

BTW A small sign on the George St side at street level with a rendering and construction info mentions that the retail component will be operating 24 hours.

A small rendering of the piazza/retail areas:

____________http://www.latitudetower.com.au/images/piazzaPage_2.jpg

BTW The sign i mentioned on street level also mentions that Latitude will consist of 3 buildings.

O.K. We know 2 will be the Ernst & Young Tower and East. But a 3rd :? . Above gorund carparking :ohno:; please no! Not possible.

That third tower might be World Tower. Who knows. It's more than likely that this is an error.

Also in regards to the retail component, does the 120 shops also include the shops that will occupy the site of World Tower and Horden Towers? There is no doubt about this being the largest retail complex in the CBD.

The sign mentioning the 3rd tower was specifically in regard to Latitude. Have a sticky beak next time you are in the area Fabian (or any other interested forumer).

I'm passing my way there again today, so if i can catch one of (the more knowledgeable) workmen, I will ask.

Also, you can read more about the retail component on the Latitude site. Of course @ www.latitudetower.com.au after choosing the "about latitude" option.

BTW If the 3rd structure turns out to be an above ground parking station because the already underground section won't cope, look for the nearest dangerous crazy looking person, 'cos that will be ME ----> :bleep: :rant: :nuts: !!! No lol!

Great pics Fabian! Looks like they're tearing everything down that remains from the original WT cluster project.

Let's hope that there is NO above ground carpark...:bash:

Passed the site just after 10.00 this morning. No workmen whatsoever on this site, @ World Tower nor Lobana's. They were continuing on the foundations at Cassia Garden though.

I checked out the info on the street level sign and it definitely says 3 seperate commercial towers. (The same sign is just around the corner on Goulburn Street too).

Now a carparking station couldn't possibly be a commercial tower in the true sense. So phew!

Unless another forumer can answer "the great 3rd Latitude tower mystery" i have the correct phone number to call on Monday.

The third tower/building is the podium. Isn't that stupid seeing that it is apart of both towers.

museumb

There is hardly any room for a reasonable amount of shops beside WT. Look how thin the piece of land is beside world WT.


Will they also be tearing town the old lift core that is on the latitude site ?

I passed the construction site on the left just before you get on the harbour bridge heading north (don't know its name) today. And they were working on Saturday, that building has progressed a great deal recently.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<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>museumb

There is hardly any room for a reasonable amount of shops beside WT. Look how thin the piece of land is beside world WT.


Will they also be tearing town the old lift core that is on the latitude site ?</td></tr>
</table>

They will maintain that lift core. At the moment, they are making adjustments to the core before any work begins.

does anyone know what the corebox will be? will it be the same as the signs around the site or will it have a (multiplex?) sign?

I found these snaps that were taken inside the Latitude site. These were taken earlier this year.

A staircase

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp3.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp4.jpg

Abandoned Equipment

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp8.jpg

Looking towards Pitt St

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp10.jpg

Looking up George St towards Central

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp11.jpg

Looking up George St towards Town Hall

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp12.jpg

World Tower under construction

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid30/p7824e61e8fd2c5a2a9487e18978c9e24/fd53bf09.jpg

Another shot from inside

http://www.geocities.com/TunnelTribe/wtcp15.jpg

If you are not getting the images, right click on properties and copy and paste the URL's onto your browser.

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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>museumb
There is hardly any room for a reasonable amount of shops beside WT. Look how thin the piece of land is beside world WT.</td></tr>
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Think you're underestimating the size of land there. It isn't just a row of suburban shops at street level. Obviously it will be over a few levels.

You're average sized suburban shopping mall easily fits 80 outlets, let alone the mega malls.

BTW i didn't create the propaganda about 120 retail outlets. The developers have; on the web site and on the hordings @ the site...

I thought needed its own thread but ill post it here too due to its relevance! Heres a classic pic i took back in 1991 from HSBC roof- Showing the WORLD SQUARE site. Latitude is still UC and the concrete is being poured at its bottom basement and top level. Also World tower first level is also started.Little did i realie that 11 years time after i took that pic, Latitudes lift core is still pouring concrete!lol

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2002/12/176264.jpg

Yeah, only other site in Aus which matches World Square for length of nondevelopment is Westralia Square in WA.... Maybe there's a jinx on the letters W and S? :)

On a serious note, just wondering if Latitude and World Tower were the original names for those two towers, or are you referring to them by their current names for simplicitys sake?

Over the last few years, Meriton's World Tower was always going to be World Tower. Just took a little while to kick-start (not as chronic as Cove though).

Multiplex who are building Latitude @ World Square was initially thinking of another residential building with press releases about it 3 years ago, settling with a commercial tower instead.

Now that Ernst & Young have naming rights for the main tower, it is the Ernst & Young Centre @ Laititude. So the basic complex seem to be Latitude.

Interstingly, there is still a World Square administration office.

Here are some model images of the original proposal for World Square. It was mean't to be a four tower proposal. The tallest would of been 248 metres tall meaning Sydney would of had a newest tallest. It was a commercial project and one of the towers was supposed to be a hotel.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid25/p3596dbd75c3641140ffe20e01ca484f2/fd8ca34a.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid25/pc216c51f300551ec9a1a39f3c3bdea7e/fd8ca33b.jpg

Also may I ask, When did work on the site stop?

Fabian

I always wanted to see what the original World Square was like. I was in school when a teadher mentioned something about it being stopped. I am guessing it stopped in 88 or 89.

Actually now I come to think of it the teacher mentioned it in 91 so I am guessing it stopped between 89-91 ?????

museumb

If you look at the rendering from meriton of the piazza and shopping are, it seems to be running parallel to George Street. What I can't understand is where are they getting the room from ? You would be lucky to fit a row of shops on that piece of land let alone a walkway in between which is what it looks like in the rendering.

:?

I wish i had planned the complex 'cos there would be swingin' nightcubs and everythin'.!

Multiplex and all the financiers are now "advertising" that there will be 120 outlets, basically operating 24/7, althought that would be up to the invidual vendor unless specified in the contract. Possibly applying more to coffee shops, restaurants, conevenience stores i.e. for when you are trashed @ 4.00AM.

I guess a retail outlet can be as small as tabacconist's kiosk, a film developers or a counter collecting dry cleaners to a resonably sized supermarket. Throw in a some small kiosks and you easily have 20 outlets already.

Anyway, 120 retail outlets is what THEY are instigating.

What i would include if i was the developer (shake ya booty!):

____________http://www.thecapitoltheatre.net/mirror%20ball.jpg

248? that would ahve been nice. So would some tall commercial. Anyone got any renderings of it(pictures, drawings etc...)

museumb

I am not doubting that there will be 120 retail outlets. All I am saying is where will they go. Look at the size of the land beside world tower. You would be lucky to get 10 small tobacconists there. There doesn't look to be much land to the south in between WT and Latitude either. Perhaps the 120 retail outlets will all be in the Latitude development. Which makes me ask the question then what is that glass structure beside WT that you see in the rendering.

Steve, Steve, Steve. Ask the developers because i only can go by their proaganda. If i were the developer, i would just have one big night-club instead of more of the same shitty service shops that are on virtually every city block.

It's definately after 91 they stopped working. They worked up to the podium levels on the south side and were still on the foundations in the northern half of the complex.

<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>248? that would ahve been nice. So would some tall commercial. Anyone got any renderings of it(pictures, drawings etc...)</td></tr>
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Fabian, remembering the 248m was its "RL" height. its height above ground was 232m.

:)

232 metres. Thats on par with World Tower, currently on the site.

Culwulla ,what were the heights of the other towers in the original project and also I would like to know how come the council approved World Tower and Latitude at their present heights?

culwulla im noonos ;) so thhe heights woldnt have been that much different.

Here is a picture of the third crane which is hopefully completely assembled

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid44/pf4202fd9146e71c138215bdeaac3c8fa/fcdb606b.jpg

Around the 18th December. It is torture seeing all the building sites at a stand still for so long.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid45/pd98c9f4b5fb8ec9328a12a1c9101883a/fcd9311c.jpg.orig.jpg

Thats a good image Steve with the third crane being assembled.

Are you using a digital or film camera to take these? Just curious.

Believe it or not a forth crane is being assembled on the eastern side of the site now (adding to the two around the core and new one on George st). Only the tower has been assembled, the arm doesn't appear to be on site yet.

When you mean by eastern, do you mean the eastern side of the core or is it on the site of "EAST"?

Fabian. Just a film camera, but I usually take a heap at a time so I can pick the better ones.

reidmjohn

Has any work been done on that crane since Christmas ?

4TH CRANE ON EASTERN SIDE NOW UP AND RUNNING

They were testing the new crane out today. It was pure bliss watching 2 of the 4 cranes busily plying away! I don't think we have fully realised how big this project is as yet. It's a biggin alright!

Anyway.....

BACK IN BUSINESS PEOPLE!! SITE IN FULL SWING!! :okay:

Is the 4th crane on the site of "EAST" or on the eastern side of the core?

I wonder how long now until we start to see that baby heading for the sky. Can't be too far away now.

As soon as they start to build the first floorplate, apart from being at the site, this thread will be the first where you'll find out.
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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>Is the 4th crane on the site of "EAST" or on the eastern side of the core?</td></tr>
</table>
Eastern side of the core. Wasn't sure if it was to service the "East" component of the project or we can look forward to even a 5th crane on the site, which wouldn't be so surprising.

I think four cranes is too many for a tower. Two is enough

<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>I think four cranes is too many for a tower. Two is enough</td></tr>
</table>


Exactly. Why are there 4 CRANES? It's shorter than WT and I can't see it being THAT much bigger than WT... If the fourth crane is for Latitute then there's still at least 2 more for EAST! 6 cranes for 2 towers less than 200m!

Perhaps they want to build it faster. Would more cranes make it go faster ?

Cranes are for two things - to take materials up, and to take materials across.

The cranes on the actual tower structure will rise with the tower, and move the materials from the ground, up to the level where they are to be used.

The Latitude site is a big site, so some of the other cranes may be used to transport materials from their delivery point (at the street), to their point of use (the actual part of the construction site where they will be used).

I think the number of cranes is probably because of the size of the site, and the height of the towers. Four really isn't all that much - didn't the QV site in Melbourne have something like 9 or 10 cranes?!?

Remember what Cul said, this tower is supposed to be steel framed with a concrete core. This Bitch will rise in no time and therefore the cranes will be need to bring up all of those lovely long beams of steel.

I love my Latitude, I just cannot wait to see its dramatic rise and its impact on the Sydney skyline ;)

LOL Sincity. i.e. "the bitch". lol ... and i cannot wait either.

In regard to the number of cranes, this is a very long site with a lot happening. It is not just A tower going up. It's one very wide tower, a rather complex podium with lobbies, piazzas and shooping areas and another shorter tower. Multiplex certainly wouldn't be lodging extra cranes if they didn't have to.

In one of the renderings of Latitude it has clouds reflected on it. If it has a glassy reflective fascade like that it is going to be one freaking good looking building. Hopefully it is all silver and glass, that will look really cool next to World Tower.

what is the approximate speed of the rise of the building?? I don't really even know how a steel building rises I've only really seen concrete.... will it rise about 1 level a week or what? Can anyone tell me basically the construction process for this steel "bitch"............ :? :D :?

Here's a picture of the core, now surrounded by four cranes.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid46/p64a83333fea35152db45bdcab44a93ee/fcce3a25.jpg

I would have thought the structure would have consisted of a reinforced concrete frame. Are you guys sure that it is in fact going to be steel framed?

I'm sure Cul said that the "Iron Lady" will be a concrete core but a steel frame. Cul, please confirm. I cannot wait for the deep green glass facade, its gonna like fantastic next to WT. :D

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by SinCity </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Remember what Cul said, this tower is supposed to be steel framed with a concrete core. This Bitch will rise in no time and therefore the cranes will be need to bring up all of those lovely long beams of steel.

I love my Latitude, I just cannot wait to see its dramatic rise and its impact on the Sydney skyline ;)</td></tr>
</table>

No no no, you have it all wrong...

The core will rise in no time, and the iron maiden will mount the core :D


Ok I'd better stop now while I'm ahead...:)

Are steel framed buildings built quicker ?

At the start of this thread there is a really good picture of the atrium of Latitude, from what perspective is this looking at Latitude ? Are standing at world tower or where ? Is it the covered area between Latitude and world tower ?

I'm not sure....I think re-inforced may take longer, but logically steel would be quicker

steel is good. It will look like an american tower being constructed.

we don't want to look american, we want to look australian :ohno:

I don't think they will build it like the way they do it in America. I expect Latitude to rise like any other building in Australia would.

If they end up doing it the American way, it might rise like Grosvenor Place did

http://image.sl.nsw.gov.au/gpo4/33/d4_33499.jpg

<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>we don't want to look american, we want to look australian :ohno:</td></tr>
</table>

I would prefer the buildings to look American rather than asian. Too many of the buildings going in are looking asian for my liking. American buildings atleast look good asian buildings are messy and ugly.

Harry Sadler buildings do look Australian though.

Nice pic Fabian. I never knew Grosvenor was steel framed.

I, for one, hope that latitude is in fact steel framed, just for a bit of variety. I remember walking along Broadway last year and seeing all the steel frames going up (no reinforced concrete to be seen!). It'll be like a piece of NYC in Sydney!

haha a peice of new york in sydney....did ya see a yellow cab too? :P

<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>http://image.sl.nsw.gov.au/gpo4/33/d4_33499.jpg</td></tr>
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It is interesting to see a picture like this, and then to constantly hear the complaints by various forum members about Seidelr's buildings being "concrete". Not only is the tower (and most of his other towers) actually glad in granite, but even the structural system isn't concrete!

i was quite suprised to find that grosvenor was a steel tower! i suspect harry was trying to give up concrete that year ( with patended concrete 12 hour patches ) but sadly failed and went crazy with horison!

haha thats interesting. maybe seidler like white: white hair, white teeth (well no not white teeth) white houses white buildings...etc :D

is that a corebox i see?:D this must have been taken a while back. (courtesy of culwulla ;))http://www.sydneymasoniccentre.com/images/vr1small.jpg

<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>is that a corebox i see?:D this must have been taken a while back. </td></tr>
</table>

That core box was on the lift core since construction stopped in the early 90's. They only removed the abandoned, derelict thing a little while before construction started again last September!

The Latitidue site is back to 3 cranes. One has been dislodged (i think it was the one closest to the Goulburn street side).

WTF ? That doesn't mean it has been canselled does it ? It just means they are finished with that crane ? Can you notice anything else that has been done since Christmas ?

yeah they couldnt possibly leave a core there for 20 years could they? why dont they just cancel it, redign it to 235 and build it? it'll get ridd of some old core and excite us forumers!:D

what the hell is this weird building ??
http://www.sydneymasoniccentre.com/images/vr1small.jpg


a- are they using the same core as the original one ?
b- do they have to 'clean' up the old core
c- why is the core a weird shape ?
d- has it looked weird looking at a big abandond core all this time?

Its looked like that for as long as I can remember. I used to wonder what it was but never knew there was meant to be a tower on it. I thought it was a cinema or something.

its the masonic centre, they're putting in a hundred storey (i wish) i mean metre tower there and the podium is 30m.

It looks weird because it's a big auditorium...when you look at the shape you can see how the seats rise up around a central stage.

Back to the subject.....

I forgot to mention the long concrete expanse along Goulburn Street is being gutted within, obviously for the shopping/piazza component of the Latitude project. Also to join the E & Y Tower and East with walkways for easy access to each.

Went past the site today

Some progress has been made with the core. It looks as if it's brand new.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid47/p139404bfe7227cf28a52604b6496bfc3/fcc5d0ed.jpg

Meanwhile demolition work continues

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid47/pff7205f8e8153685001cbf0eeb413ea2/fcc5d0af.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid47/p77f878a6c4d5069862b1ca7b0d139472/fcc5d0ba.jpg

And in regards to the cranes, one crane is located on each side of the core.

it should get going pretty quick now!:guns1:

YAY! fabiaan i have to agree with you, except for the most right one. you can still see te multiplex sign.

<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>I don't think they will build it like the way they do it in America. I expect Latitude to rise like any other building in Australia would.

If they end up doing it the American way, it might rise like Grosvenor Place did

http://image.sl.nsw.gov.au/gpo4/33/d4_33499.jpg</td></tr>
</table>

SHIT! I never knew this one to be a steel framed one at that. We seem to have a few of these "American" steel framed ones in old Sydney town. Good pic Fabs!

.... and for God Sakes can we seem some action with the floors @ Latitude already. I am getting so impatient and the suspense is killing me! ;)

Chifley Tower is an all steel tower.

what are the pros and cons of steel frame vs concrete? Is one cheaper than the other/ stronger than the other?

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by SydneyDude </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>what are the pros and cons of steel frame vs concrete? Is one cheaper than the other/ stronger than the other?</td></tr>
</table>

I'd say that when they did the numbers the steel option turned out to be cheaper than the reinforced concrete option.

I think the only reason why reinfored concrete is so popular in Australia is that because we've become very efficient and specialised at putting up buildings in this way. It may stem from all the experienced immigrants who came to Australia during the mid-20th century.

Walked past it today, still not much new. But I did notice a high steel platform that looked like it could have been the same size as the floors, however looking underneath it apart from the steel frame it was all wood ???? It was massive, like I said the size probably what the floors would be. It was on the northern end and I have no idea what it was, unless they have started the first floor plate and because it is a steel fram building they will remove the wood at a later date.

i guess thats good news! YAY!:D :D :D

Here is another picture of the core, taken from the roof of Town Hall House

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid47/p0f54d87da95fbfdf72d993844f057fef/fcc5d085.jpg.orig.jpg

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by jcocks </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 SinCity </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Remember what Cul said, this tower is supposed to be steel framed with a concrete core. This Bitch will rise in no time and therefore the cranes will be need to bring up all of those lovely long beams of steel.

I love my Latitude, I just cannot wait to see its dramatic rise and its impact on the Sydney skyline ;)</td></tr>
</table>

No no no, you have it all wrong...

The core will rise in no time, and the iron maiden will mount the core :D


Ok I'd better stop now while I'm ahead...:)</td></tr>
</table>

And so could it seem that our "Iron Maiden" has begun to mount her shaft???? :D

some people in these forums are so gross. :|

will there be a corebox??