From today's SMH:

Resurgence in western CBD
Carolyn Cummins Commercial Property Editor
June 2, 2007

CHINATOWN and the nearby Darling Harbour are due for another resurgence amid plans for a new office tower and a mixed use project.

One of the projects is said to include the Darling Walk area, the site of the former Sega World entertainment area.

Development applications have been lodged with the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority that may include a $500 million office tower.

In the past there have been plans laid out that include strata offices, mixed use retail, a hotel and an eatery area similar to the nearby Cockle Bay wharf area.

There have been suggestions that the SHFA could be looking at redeveloping the Sydney Entertainment Centre. The SHFA has declined to comment on these long-running rumours.

Agents say they have been hoping the NSW Government would look at implementing more infrastructure plans in the area, such as an extension of a rail link.

The area to the south of the Town Hall has been transformed in five years. This has included the opening of the World Square complex, which is the new home to Ernst & Young, the Meriton group's apartment tower and the Rydges hotel.

The King Street Wharf has done the same for the western fringe. Recent rental deals in the western corridor, including retail and office, also suggest the area has turned the corner.

At the moment, 93,371 people live in the centre of the city and this is forecast to grow to more than 102,000 by June 2010.

CB Richard Ellis director Gavin Lloyd said forward-looking developers were tapping into the changing nature of the western corridor.

"They are identifying key hot spots and are focusing on the retail sector to provide a much needed amenity to the growing office and residential population," Mr Lloyd said.

One of the latest developments is the Mandarin Club, which is drawing up plans for new premises after agreeing to buy a parcel of strata lots in the high profile 1 Dixon Shopping Centre.

The club has taken an option over 10 strata lots, for a price of about $16 million.

CB Richard Ellis sales agent Keith Coassin said the purchase would provide the club with a new berth at the gateway to Chinatown, near the Dixon Street Mall and diagonally opposite the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

It is the latest win for the centre's developer, Accord Pacific Holdings, the Australian property investment and development arm of Singapore's Lian Huat Group.

CB Richard Ellis has been coordinating the sales of the 81 strata shops in the project. Including the Mandarin Club deal, 70 of the lots have now been sold for a combined total of more than $50 million.

The centre's car park was also recently traded for $9.2 million to a private syndicate.

Mr Coassin said the Mandarin Club would provide a high profile anchor for the centre, which is home to a spread of restaurants, fashion retailers and a range of service providers, such as hair salons and beauticians.

"The club was keen to buy rather than lease and there is a real lack of supply in Chinatown, particularly for stock of this nature," Mr Coassin said.

The new premises will have a total lettable area of some 2500 square metres.

The Mandarin Club intends to relocate from its long-term berth in Pitt Street to the 1 Dixon Shopping Centre after development plans are approved for the new facility.

The centre, with 81 strata shops, has been marketed by Mr Lloyd, who said all 46 shops of stage one had sold for prices of up to $2.23 million.

Stage two is now under way.

Jackson Wong, chief executive of the Mandarin Club said his group was keen to remain a focal point in Chinatown. The original club opened 40 years ago.

The Raben footwear building on the corner of Pitt and Goulburn streets recently sold for $9.2 million.

yes, great stuff. im pretty sure the Coomonwealth bank are planning a 60,000sqm campus style bldg at sega world.It will rise to height of 60m tunnel stack and step down to park. should rejuvinate the area.

yes, great stuff. im pretty sure the Coomonwealth bank are planning a 60,000sqm campus style bldg at sega world.It will rise to height of 60m tunnel stack and step down to park. should rejuvinate the area.

Campus style bldg sounds allright for Darling Walk site but I would rather see CBA anchoring John Boyd tower....:bash:

There are too many low rise office buildings built these days (e.g. ANZ in Melb Docklands, Optus in N. Ryde, CBA at Olympic Park) :ohno:

From today's SMH:
At the moment, 93,371 people live in the centre of the city and this is forecast to grow to more than 102,000 by June 2010.



Holy shit. Is this just in the CBD, i.e postcode 2000 that they're talking about?

if so, that's reasonably impressive.

^ i don't know about that. according to the official 2001 community profile census stats on http://www.id.com.au/profile/default.asp?id=148&gid=290&pg=1 for the suburb of sydney there were 14,618 people in 2001 up from 5,845 in 1996 so i doubt that there are 93,371 now.

the city of sydney had a population of 137,758 in 2001 so who knows where they got that random figure from and what localities they classed as being part of central sydney.

anyway, you'll never get a tower on the sega site, there would be too much overshadowing of darling harbour and the chinese gardens, especially in winter. it just wouldn't get through.

Excellent, the area is a bit depressed at the moment, and is in need of a big makeover. Never busy compared to other parts of Darling Harbour.

It will make a great address for any firm as they will be smack bang in the middle of Darling Harbour, rather than being on the fringes.

The possible redevelopment of the 25 year old Syd Ent Cent is also an exciting prospect. It'd be great if SHFA decided to level it and build a new entertainment /convention/exhibition centre in that area and stick a 200m tower on top of it !
Remember this is SHFA land so NO height limits to stick to !

I was excited to read the "$500m tower" headline as well. Unfortnately Cul says it's gonna be only 60-70m high at best......grrrrrrr......better than nothing though.

you can see the 40m blue cone of SEGA world at left. This is where new bldg will go. great posi

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1236/530999895_e1ec3b8a9f_b.jpg

you can also see why it won't/can't be a tall.

yes, not only shadows onTumberlong park but also Chinese Gardens. Should achieve 12storeys/50m maybe?

I don't know how a campus bank office will add any life to the area outside 9-5 M-F though? Darling Harbour's busiest time is during the weekends and at night.

apparently the first 2 floors will be retail/entertainment ect.

you can see the 40m blue cone of SEGA world at left. This is where new bldg will go. great posi

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1236/530999895_e1ec3b8a9f_b.jpg


You can also see the Syd Ent Cent in the foreground of the Sega blue cone.
In a perfect world, that location would be the place for a couple of tall towers to be built above/beside a redeveloped entertainment/ convention/ exhibition space.
Also in the foreground is the 500 foot Peak apartment tower which was built way above CSPC height limits because it was developed on SHFA land !!!
There is a fair bit of space down there. With a bit of vision it could be a real earner for SHFA !!!

SHFA should just go beserk, this area could be so wonderful with the right mix of highrise. As much as I like having the entertainment centre so close to the city, it would be great to see some highrise built in its place. I cant see a reason why a new entertainment centre couldn't incorporate some highrise anyway.

I wish they would so something with that carpark diagonally across from the Peak.

The Entertainment Centre is a shit venue. It has no atmosphere and the acoustics are horrid. (The one at Homebush is much better as a theatre.) It also kills that area dead and cuts off Ultimo from the city. Can't wait til it tastes the wrecker's ball.

Something nice and tall on the entertainment centre site would have the added benefit of making even more of a mockery of the council's pointless height limits for the southern CBD.

Avatar, UTS do/did own the carpark you speak of and I think there was some sort of proposal for it a while back. I've always hated the UTS Markets Campus... maybe they could replace that with something tall too.

Knock down the Ent Cent and its cruddy multideck carpark. On their site build a giant integrated complex with exhibition space, a theatre or two, a new arena to replace the Ent Cent, and two or three towers sprouting from the roof (one World Square height, one Peak height). On the corner of Hay and Harbour Sts, plaster the building with neon and billboards. That can be our new Times Square-style area. Integrate the monorail into the facade of the new building. Reconstruct the footbridge to Harris St so it is a more obvious thoroughfare. Link this new complex over the top of the Pier St bridge so it seamlessly integrates with the current Exhibition Centre.

just think what Peaks residents would say about a highrise on ent cent site.

SHFA should just go beserk, this area could be so wonderful with the right mix of highrise. As much as I like having the entertainment centre so close to the city, it would be great to see some highrise built in its place. I cant see a reason why a new entertainment centre couldn't incorporate some highrise anyway.

I wish they would so something with that carpark diagonally across from the Peak.

the one thing that would stop talls from being built on the entertainment centre site is overshadowing of darling harbour. considering that it is just off darling harbour and at the south end there should be no overshadowing, especially in winter, so i can't see what the problem would be. the nimbys will find a problem though. and the carpark could be redevloped in the same way, so you could get a few talls.

that carpark diagonally across from the peak/market city and opposite uts library has been talked about recently in another thread. i think cul said that it has a 50m limit which is rediculous. it could be even taller than peak and not overshadow anything important i'm sure. maybe that's why it hasn't been developed, they are waiting for a break in the ceiling. fsr would have to change too for it to be as tall as peak.

The Entertainment Centre is a shit venue. It has no atmosphere and the acoustics are horrid. (The one at Homebush is much better as a theatre.) It also kills that area dead and cuts off Ultimo from the city. Can't wait til it tastes the wrecker's ball.

From a performers point of view, they would rather perform at the Entertainment Centre because it's more initimate and it's location - right in the CBD with excellent transport.

It's very hard convincing major acts to perform at the larger ACER arena, though it has improved in recent years.

Have they refurbished the entertainment centre at all since 1983?

I would like the entertainment centre to stay, and if they want to build a scraper above - go ahead. Everyone wins :)

Avatar, UTS do/did own the carpark you speak of and I think there was some sort of proposal for it a while back.

The 'bomb site' (of course it's not really)? Supposedly UTS owns it. Would be useful as an expansion of UTS's inadequate library. They're also out of space for law academics. So something might happen on that front eventually.

There's a proposal for an office tower or something on top of the substation ajacent to the site you speak of though.

just think what Peaks residents would say about a highrise on ent cent site.

How do they even get a say just because they got their first ? Peaks a ugly building a should be hidden. Just so lucky that one of few towers with any chance of cluster of gong up around it.

Have they refurbished the entertainment centre at all since 1983?

I don't think they've done anything to the inside, but they covered it in that aluminium cladding in 2000 just before the Olympics. Before that it was just concrete.

The 'bomb site' (of course it's not really)? Supposedly UTS owns it. Would be useful as an expansion of UTS's inadequate library. They're also out of space for law academics. So something might happen on that front eventually.

The law faculty must be growing quickly - they extended the markets campus for them just before I started in 1997. Maybe they can use the bomb site to build a second tower building (weren't there originally going to be three of them?). As for any actual proposals, I'm sure I saw a building in that spot in Cul's city model.

How do they even get a say just because they got their first ? Peaks a ugly building a should be hidden. Just so lucky that one of few towers with any chance of cluster of gong up around it.

Unless I'm mistaken I don't think anyone in a City highrise gets any say about what's built in front of them. I seem to remember there being a law passed saying that views were not guaranteed.

^thats right.they may jump up and down and form nimby groups and go to court action but nothing ever happens. there the biggest hipocrites, as they live in a highrise that wasnt there a few years ago also.
Its life in big city. confucious says-never buy a unit for views.

^thats right.they may jump up and down and form nimby groups and go to court action but nothing ever happens. there the biggest hipocrites, as they live in a highrise that wasnt there a few years ago also.
Its life in big city. confucious says-never buy a unit for views.

Didn't the height/design at the top of Deautsche Bank tower get modified so that the views from the top floors of the Colonial Mutual building behind it weren't impacted?

^nah. the Deutschbank had a 150m height limit. so it went to that.its smae for office views. tough for existing bldgs if they loose the precious views.

There's a proposal for an office tower or something on top of the substation ajacent to the site you speak of though.It's an 8-level @ approx. 50m above ground approved office building atop the Transgrid substation and was approved late 2004 or early 2005. Below are 2 renders papervagina posted in the NSW sub-forum back in Nov. 2005. It would be a great addition to the area IMO.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k160/papervagina/transgrid1.jpg http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k160/papervagina/transgrid2.jpg

As far as the office buidling in question here for the (ex) Segaworld site, unfortunately it can't be a tall. For one main reason, The Chinese Garden will miss out on some sun esp. during the Winter months as derrr, the sun passes over lower towards the north. If only it were Summer all year round ;)

As long as it turns out to be good modern architecture, you go girl!! :cheer:

...

50m height limit for those sites opposite uts library is just wrong. there's no fair need for such a low limit considering that the uts tower and the peak are much taller. there's no parks or any open public spaces that i can think of. and there's no lowrise residential so why?

granted that sega cannot be tall.

gee im gonna miss the blue cone and red cube.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1136/695197106_c8d288d1fd_o.jpg

Its a shame the blue glass cone and red box are about to go. I like them. They should have been incorporated into the new development.

I have always loved the cone and I will miss it.

I'm inclined to agree. I think part of the fun of the Darling Harbour foreshore was that it had those random colourful elements that gave it a bit of a amusement park feel. I think the danger with the renovations of the Harbourside building, and removing Sega World etc is that some parts could turn into another sterile corporate park.

They should really do something awesome like a theme park with some decent thrill rides (that the Nimby pricks won't allow at Luna Park) with a specialised shuttle ferry between Luna Park and Darling Harbour. I think it'd work with the Australian Wildlife and Sydney Aquarium right there too...

Who knows the new office building could be amazing and awash with colour, I mean 500 million is a shit load of money so it would be pretty amazing, especially as it will be fairly low rise.

I'm hoping for something big and black to block out the view of the white/cream scourge from Darling Harbour.

I'm hoping for something big and black to block out the view of the white/cream scourge from Darling Harbour.

Totally agree !
A 12 storey groundscraper will block a reasonable amount of that medium rise cream and beige Meritonia that sits to the west of George St.
However I don't want to see black as the colour, lots of modern and striking colours would be great.
In terms of design I wouldn't want to see a massive box ( like NAB Docklands), more like several smaller towers, each with with their own angular forms that interconnect into one large floorplate.

The sega world building fit Darling Harbour, but I think it's time for a change and I'm glad to see it go. It looks a bit tacky and the area feels a bit run down, hopefully whatever replaces it will be more classy and functional.

view today.
word is that the new bldg will basically cover the 5000sqm site and rise up with NO setbacks to 10floors. Also have a massive archway thru bldg so you can see Tumbalong park from Day st. sounds like w.o.w

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1229/969133187_8fc6ac2c53_b.jpg

I'll say w.o.w when I see renders and plans.

Will overshadowing be an issue? (Considering this is, afterall, right next to a very important park). It shouldn't be an issue because the skyline will block out its shadow in the morning and during the day the shadow will be minimal and not long enough to overshadow Chinese Gardens? and the sun will be setting on the wrong side of the sky to make a shadow overshadowing Tumbalong park during the evening, right?

This would be a great place for a 40-50,000 seat stadium right at the heart of the city.
Imagine the views from the Helicoptor as it flew above during the national anthem being played!
mmmm yum!

yes there will be no shadow issues as it wont be tall enough. it has height limit of nearby 38m high IMAX theatr,e so when sun reaches 12midday it wont be shadowing anything.

Here it is, Muse!

What!? What!?

The thread...

I knew it existed but today's article dealt with other projects. I did post it in the equivalent thread in the general section on this particular project though.

Thanks brizer!

Yeah, I know, but I came across it by accident, and leapt in etc.

just look how busy d harbour can get.
spoke to a planner last week and stage 1 DA maybe in before xmas.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1372/1433594984_7fad70642b_o.jpg

Nice shot of Chatswood and North Syd as well Cul.

yes, the RNSh really is a slab! over 100m long x 50m high.
It will be great in a few years when Chatswood links up to St leonards and then nth sydney. what a city then!

Gawd damn... I wish they'd bulldoze SEGA world already... greatest piece of shit in Darling Harbour... and that's saying something!

twas chattin to a plant, sorry planner the other day and they said this DA is about to come in.Its a great looking buildiung.only as high as nearby IMAX -38m but really massive and has an "arch de triumph" in its centre.-rather large hole in centre so you can see tumbalong park from CBD.

GREAT NEWS! So Cul, is it confirmed that Segaworld will be demolished as part of this development application?? (please say yes!).

Yes it's going.

its history

I can smell glass.. blue glass with nice shiny silver mullions! Maybe that is what the facade will be?? Well it better fucking well be glass because anymore concrete and I believe I may actually be sick.

Sounds good. Cant wait to see some renders of the design. :)

I hope they keep the lake just to the front of Segaworld. It will enhance the setting of the building.

The other downside to losing Segaworld would be the loss of the Oneworld Sports bar. They will have to look for a new location.

I hope they keep the lake just to the front of Segaworld. It will enhance the setting of the building.

The other downside to losing Segaworld would be the loss of the Oneworld Sports bar. They will have to look for a new location.

Oneworld has been closed for many months now.

I hope they keep the lake just to the front of Segaworld. It will enhance the setting of the building.

The other downside to losing Segaworld would be the loss of the Oneworld Sports bar. They will have to look for a new location.

No way, get rid of the lake. It just fills up with garbage and gets in the way. It's so artificial and unpleasant and interrupts pedestrian traffic for no reason.

The concept plan is up on the Department of Planning's website: http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/06_0054.asp

There are some photo montages of the proposed envelope, but I can't find any concept designs or anything. Maximum height is a measly 37m.

^ yes ive mentioned before. max height is height of nearby IMAX. or 10storeys

No way, get rid of the lake. It just fills up with garbage and gets in the way. It's so artificial and unpleasant and interrupts pedestrian traffic for no reason.

According to the montages, the lake is staying!!!! :cool:

It looks like we are getting two buildings, so another two for the list!!!:)

as cheesy as the lake area is i'd say it is the most visited site in darling harbour because every family with a kid under the age of 10 ends up there while in the area and the play equipment is full of little life so it would be a pity for it to go. i'm glad if it is staying.

And then you have the boat rides as well. We got some of the folks from our uni campus in Melbourne to try it out and they loved it!!!!

The kids love playing with the water features just outside Mcdonalds at this time of year as they try to keep themselves cool. I hope they keep it too. I just hope that they keep the area family friendly and keep the place alive once the office workers have gone home and at weekends.

I believe the Darling Harbour lake has some importance to maintain a recycled supply of water to the chinese gardens next door. I remember some problems about plants suffering after the gardens were opened before the lake was completed. Then again it might have changed.

Todays SMH has a short report on the proposed towers. It will step down from 9 stories along Day St to 6 stories at Tumbalong Park. The McDonalds will be staying (It has the only drive thru in the CBD), and there will be a gym, medical centre, entertainment venues and retail. It will aim to be family friendly. This is sounding good.

There is also mention of the Entertainment Centre carpark being bulldozed and the carparks being shifted to an underground carpark under the building.

The walkway between the two buildings will be 20m wide :)

^ yes, sounds right for that area! hmm, the entertainment centre carpark being bulldozed - combine this with my guess about the entertainment centre being the icon that will be gone by the end of the year and we may have something!

finnaly, some movement. this has been going on for a year now.hopefully when i go back to work i can get renders or models etxc.

^ yes, sounds right for that area! hmm, the entertainment centre carpark being bulldozed - combine this with my guess about the entertainment centre being the icon that will be gone by the end of the year and we may have something!

But there were talks back earlier in the decade of the Entertainment Centre being bulldozed. At the time it was seen to conflict with the then new and under performing Acer Arena. But the notion of removing the SEC led to quite a significant public uproar specially from those who didn't live out in the western suburbs.

I reckon the SEC is the "icon" that's about to go too... If they're expanding the exhibition centre as mentioned a few months back, and taking away the SEC car park, it sounds like it'll be the one being removed.

As for the Darling Harbour development, it sounds like it might be quite good! Let's just hope the gym isn't another Fitness First. They're like the frigging Starbucks of gyms...

Some performers prefer the SEC for it's intimacy. It has served us well over the past 25 years.

I bet there would be an uproar by Sydneysiders if it is the landmark slated for the bulldozer.

i dont think the SEC is going anywhere. its the SEC carpark that will be developed.

Visit America, saved us from recession?

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http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=506896

The SEC is a horrible venue. I wouldn't be sad to see it go. The question I always have is, why they can't build over it? Would it be too tall?

Thankgod that fugly Sega world precinct is going. Besides the Sega world box and cone its grey bland and boring. Now its all going :)

They should keep the cone and reassemble it.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2319/2229474406_44839b85e0_b.jpg

wow! so it will hand over part of the lake, that's interesting. what's the reason behind it being split in two?

so there is a vista/view from tumbalong park.

so there is a vista/view from tumbalong park.

A view of what? This development looks short enough that it wouldn't block any views of the towers beyond anyway. But I see what you mean in that the gap will enhance connectivity between the CBD and Darling Harbour - at the moment Darling Walk is a bit of a barrier.

I know what i like... and i like this.

That looks pretty exciting.... Might end up with something like NAB@Docklands....

Yay, the lake is being made smaller. I hate that thing. It's nothing but a glorified fish pond and rubbish trap.

today @ tumbalong
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2116/2231374807_ab4cc5d8ac_b.jpg

World Tower looks massive in that picture

massive news in todays fin rev, dont you just love Dubaian developers!
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/6231/combankpy5.jpg
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1145/combank2bg9.jpg

Well, it has been a while since first hearing of this, but work has begun. Lend Lease has been erecting a (very long) wooden fence (which is being painted) before the present structures and the boat lake go. Apparently the lake was used for Darling Harbour's irrigation works and there has since been a replacement catchment/water source in use up @ The Entertainment Centre's carpark, so the current lake is now totally redundant. The boat rides outside Sega were just a "bonus" attraction if you like.

SHFA says it will take about 4 years from now for completion to occur.

wow, thanks for that muse.

i've noticed that a mcdonalds is setting up in an old un-used dirty cafe area near the convention centre that mainly only has outdoor seating but is under cover. it's in a raised up spot opposite the kiddies play area across the water feature strip. i'm assuming they are moving from where they are at sega.

I loved the boat rides while they were there. Some of my friends from uni took a group of Melbourne students for rides and they had an awesome time.

yes, the site is fully fenced off
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/2815876781_dd38669b3c_b.jpg

So we are not sure on what is going there in terms of design? There is just the concept right or have I missed something?

I am surprised that there is no model either of it in Cul's model. It's been a quick exit for everyone. Just weeks ago it was teaming with people.

because its shifa, council dont get a model straight up. the design has to be given final stamp by state gov and then we will see it. hope its a good design.such a massive presence down there.

I'm not so sure that this is related to the old SEGA World site. I did a bit of investigation on the SHFA website and found these recently approved development applications:

DA 125-08-08
Chalk Urban Art Festival - 3rd to 8th September 2008 for the erection of temporary structures- Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour.

DA 124-08-08
31/08/08 - Temp structures for Malaysian Festival - Public space - Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour

DA 124-08-08
31/08/08 - Temp structures for Malaysian Festival - Public space - Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour


Perhaps this hoarding is related to one of these above temporary events at Tumbalong Park? The SHFA website link is here: http://www.shfa.nsw.gov.au/sydney-For_Business-Development_Applications-Applications_determined.htm

I have read the D/A in reference to the Chalk Urban Art Festival and they have approval for marquees and a 'Coke Zero Illusion Room'.

I'm not so sure that this is related to the old SEGA World site. I did a bit of investigation on the SHFA website and found these recently approved development applications:

DA 125-08-08
Chalk Urban Art Festival - 3rd to 8th September 2008 for the erection of temporary structures- Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour.

DA 124-08-08
31/08/08 - Temp structures for Malaysian Festival - Public space - Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour

DA 124-08-08
31/08/08 - Temp structures for Malaysian Festival - Public space - Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour


Perhaps this hoarding is related to one of these above temporary events at Tumbalong Park? The SHFA website link is here: http://www.shfa.nsw.gov.au/sydney-For_Business-Development_Applications-Applications_determined.htm

Nah, they'd probably be for food stands and other stuff like that.

^ yeah, happens almost every week.

And there is a sign saying McDonalds has relocated due to redevelopment.

i can assure you the hoarding us up for the demolition.
the 2m fence is all around it now and scaffolding is going up at southern end.

Good news. Project has been officially announced.

Check the Lendlease website for full details.

CBA is taking the entire 58,000 sqm for 4,500 staff.

New retail and connections to CBD. 2 x 9 story office campus style buildings.

Anyone have any pictures?

Demolition is to start immediately for an early 2009 start.

I am trying to get the artists impressions as I know someone who has them, will try and post today.

Architect: FJMT (Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp).
Total area 65,000m2, completion 2011.
Should be a good one.

DETAILS FROM RELEASE:-

Lend Lease selected for landmark redevelopment in Sydney CBD
Lend Lease Corporation Limited (“Lend Lease”) today announced it has been awarded the A$560 million Darling Walk regeneration project by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. Lend Lease Development has entered into an agreement with Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority to redevelop the 1.5 hectare site in Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD) Darling Harbour precinct.

The 65,000 square metre development will comprise 58,000 square metres of low rise, campus style office space, a Youth Theatre, a rejuvenated retail precinct, a water play park and associated car parking.

Demolition will start immediately, with construction of the new precinct commencing following final planning approval of the project application, which is anticipated in early 2009. Bovis Lend Lease will undertake the project management, design management and construction. Completion is planned for late 2011.

Australian Prime Property Fund (APPF) Commercial, one of Lend Lease Investment Management’s wholesale property funds, will finance and acquire the project in joint venture with one of its existing offshore institutional investment partners. Lend Lease Investment Management will act as Investment Manager for both owners.

Underpinning the quality of the development, Commonwealth Bank of Australia has signed an agreement with APPF Commercial and its partner to lease the entire 58,000 square metre commercial tenancy for an average of 13 years. The building will provide high quality office accommodation for 4,500 staff. The development comprises two nine-storey buildings, separated to maximise views and enhance connectivity with the CBD and adjoining park.

International best practice sustainability outcomes will be delivered through a commitment to a 6 Star Green Star design rating and 5 Star NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) Energy rating. Achievement of these targets will include: a high performance façade; chilled beam and fresh air systems; carbon emission reduction; waste water treatment and rainwater harvesting generating an 80% reduction in potable water usage; and onsite waste recycling during construction.

Mr David Hutton, Director of Lend Lease Development said the Darling Walk project is a prime example of a State Government initiated private sector partnership, delivering on Government’s vision of Darling Harbour as a world class waterfront, mixed use precinct complementing the city centre. The pre-commitment of the Commonwealth Bank emphasises the importance of this development.

“Building on Lend Lease’s experience from developing Darling Park and Cockle Bay Wharf, we are excited about the opportunity to again work with Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority in transforming Darling Walk into a quality home for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and a successful, interactive destination for city workers, residents and visitors. The end result will reinvigorate this part of Darling Harbour by enhancing the link with the CBD, upgrading the public realm and dramatically improving the quality of experience for all users of the area. The building is being designed by Richard Francis-Jones, partner in architectural firm FJMT, and DTZ acted as leasing agents,” Mr Hutton said.

Carmel Hourigan, CEO, APPF said, “We are pleased to be able to offer our institutional investors exposure to this new generation office building in the Sydney CBD. This agreement positions our investors well to benefit from this landmark commercial asset. On completion, the new asset will increase APPF Commercial’s scale to over A$2 billion and enhance the Fund’s weighted average lease expiry (WALE) to over seven and a half years.

“Darling Walk will deliver world class environmental initiatives and innovative and sustainable design that is sympathetic to the surroundings. The acquisition by APPF Commercial is in line with its core strategy to provide investors with a prime commercial office portfolio with industry leading sustainability outcomes, in accordance with Lend Lease Investment Management’s vision of making APPF Commercial the most environmentally sustainable office investment fund in Australia.

“We see the delivery and ownership of highly sustainable commercial office buildings as integral in underpinning investment value both today and over the long term,” added Ms Hourigan.

The public domain plays a central role in the Darling Walk upgrade, with key elements including an active water play area, a community green, a new and expanded children’s playground and the creation of a Youth Theatre. The Youth Theatre will be operated by the Jacobsen family’s Arena Management (operator of the Sydney Entertainment Centre and Capitol Theatre). The Theatre will focus on the development of local talent and family entertainment.

The development will also include a ground floor retail precinct to provide a quality offering of food and services to meet the needs of workers and visitors to the area. Underground car parking will also complement the development alongside the links to public transport.

Darling Walk will lead the rejuvenation of Darling Harbour's southern precinct and further activate and improve this important part of Sydney’s CBD.

For more information contact:

Sally Cameron
Lend Lease Corporation
Tel: 02 9236 6464

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wow, looks very cool. love the curve.

It does nothing for me, I dont find exciting at all, it doesnt look any different to other office proposal in Australia. Looks quite Docklands to me. I guess it is better on what is there already.

Is this FJMT's standard building now? Looks an awful like like their new one at the University of Auckland. If they're going to waste space in the CBD with campus-style crap, they could at least make an effort for it to be interesting...

its an improvement of whats there now.

It looks OK, but I am impressed with the wavy rooftop.

this bldg and fosters corner bldg at cub site will be combined 65,000sqm +85,000sqm=150,000sqm!!

Upper levels are pretty good but disturbingly the pedestrian level design treatments are utter kuk !! It looks as bad as the revolting entrance canopy at the ABC in Harris street, all circular and square concrete columns. I hope these are early drawings and that we'll see something significantly improved at ground level in the final product.

If you look at the Day St side, the building does open up to the street, so it will be good to see some activity there. The streetscape there is very uninviting dominated by the traffic.

it looks out of place.

nice design though!

It's transitional between the open space in front,ie, west, and the high rise to the east across Day St.
I suspect it will make up for its lack of height by being grand and imposing in scale and form. FJMT do a very nice glass façade with 'crisp' detail - see the Syd Uni (Communications?) bldg on Cleveland Street alongside the theatre complex at City Rd.

I don't mind it, it's not phenominal design however it will do the job for this site. It's fairly conservative... I don't know, it'll do I guess.

Could've been a cutting edge architectural statement - but it's not. It may as well be at North Ryde. Well it's Sydney I s'pose so you gotta take what you can get these days.
Architecture works when it embraces and engages people who may not ever walk inside the foyer, but simply walk by. It fails to deliver based on these renders.

^i think your being bit harsh. i think its a great design. nice sweeping statement. hey there only early renders.reality is always dif. these bldgs will deliver. it will improve the darling harbour zone and connect the city better which sega world failed at.

http://www.civbox.com/x/IMG_9887.jpg

Hehehe... "office tower project".

^well there official skyscrapers at 45m tall.

Lame and unimaginative designs, still very sad about it. If this was Melbourne they would have at least had some guts and go ahead with something much more ballsy than this safe, pedestrian design that would not look out of place in Ryde or Homebush.
Premier address, good tenant, shame about the shell.

Yeah, but "tower" implies something taller than it is wide; this thing looks like it's twice as wide as it is high.

Lame and unimaginative designs, still very sad about it. If this was Melbourne they would have at least had some guts and go ahead with something much more ballsy than this safe, pedestrian design that would not look out of place in Ryde or Homebush.
Premier address, good tenant, shame about the shell.
i dont know about that! this is probably better then most lowrise campus stuff in docklands atm.its as good as ANZ. theres nothing wrong with this design. im not sure what you guys are after.youve been in dubai threads too much.:lol::nuts:

anz docklands is 200m long. the new Darling walk will total 225m long. so its massive!
http://www.melbournephotos.net.au/misc/new%20anz2.jpg

I think some of you are going to be a bit surprised at how imposing and impressive the reality of this one will be on completion.

Have I misread the info or does this development have the name 'Darling Walk'?

yes the complex is called darling park with comonwealth bank occupying most space.

darling walk ;)

Darling WALK?

I agree it is massive and I agree that it is an improvement on what is there, but architecturally I think it is plain, the colour is bland and there's no "va'va'voom!" The area is meant to be family orientated and a tourist destinantion, lively, fresh and exciting, nothing to me that this building represents. This building would be great elsewhere, but just not fitting for this site.
I would like something cutting edge, light, bright, landmark with youthful energy. I just can't imagine this brown corporate building catering for children nearby with water play parks, restuarants and fast food joints and family entertainment.
ANZ in Melbourne at least shows some slight creativity.
The architect for this one should be slapped!

...The area is meant to be family orientated and a tourist destinantion, lively, fresh and exciting, nothing to me that this building represents. This building would be great elsewhere, but just not fitting for this site...
The architect for this one should be slapped!

Yes! Totally agree.

sorry darling walk !darling walk.!! i had darling park in my head and typed it fuc. lol

OK! You are forgiven, but don't let it happen again, young man!
(Ffs! I've turned into my father!)

Every time I come to this thread to post something Cariad has already said what I wanted to say. Thanks, Cariad!

typical Australian design of nothing bold... just curved shape is all that is 'bold' here. the building just has clean lines and a few "out there, and zany" grid lines that are sticking outside the normal structure... smacks of conservatist design to me.

i saw bold designs for small buildings in the 1965 NYC world fair archives...

today
should really open up the vista to tumbalong park when its demolished
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2858812712_74b1374087_b.jpg
i thought it was sega, sga?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2857982303_b9cffec45d_b.jpg

No bumming around on this one.

smacks of conservatist design to me.
.


Did you just invent an architectural movement... and a word?

It's no Mac Bank.

Looks like a dumbed down ANZ.

Malapropism.

lots of bulldozing today. not much left

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2966136354_e9a4b48160_b.jpg

just the cone structure left. ill post a pic tommorrow

some deck and north cone left. sega cone gonsky
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/3003834299_7b05445a25_b.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/3003834307_bfc2468f50_b.jpg

Good riddance!

Taken this morning from the northern pedestrian bridge at the end of Liverpool st ...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/3022545813_a0dd746587_o.jpg

just the exhaust stack and Imax to go? HA
ta for pic

It feels like a barren wasteland, not to mention the biggest development at Darling Harbour since it was built.

yes its a mAssive site.

Good wrap about the development in todays Daily Telegraph. The Water park will return which is excellent.

It feels like a barren wasteland, not to mention the biggest development at Darling Harbour since it was built.

I want a dirt bike and go for a spin there!

checked out the site yesterday. lots happening. piling going on. lots of digging. full steam ahead

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3456/3254105369_681c62a2f4_o.jpg

No rest on this one. I think we dont understand the scale of this one at all. It's not tall, but the amount of space it offers will be huge.

yeah that pic is only half of it.
both bldgs stretch 200m long. compared to 150m for ANZ in docklands which is largest office bldg in australia.so gonna be a big project.
sorry for crap pic. my work cam is broken, so going to use phone for a while.

Feburary 6 2009

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v28/Fabian/Construction/DSCF9743.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v28/Fabian/Construction/DSCF9739.jpg

footings have been cast in concrete, so i guess this is now UC
shit pic from last week
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3360449827_b7d118cc67_b.jpg

today
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3637/3420505918_bbb6c375a0_b.jpg

there going crazy yesterday
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From 73rd floor of World Tower.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/emerbot/IMG_2023.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/emerbot/IMG_2024.jpg

^fab shots. really good vantage point.

Agree, good shot's
from when i last went there. ((a few month's ago))
i've noticed they've really hooked in. :) it's nice to see that :)

the carpark hole is getting deep.really different shape to what 2 bldgs will be.
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Is there a retail level for this development? Or is it another typical office block like in North Ryde?

Yes, there is retail at ground level. At a place like Darling Harbour you need it. I want some of the icecream shops that were at Segaworld to comeback.

CBA have been given a move in date of August 2011

Yes, there is retail at ground level. At a place like Darling Harbour you need it. I want some of the icecream shops that were at Segaworld to comeback.

By retail, that will no doubt mean

- McDonalds
- KFC
- Hungry Jacks
- Ali Baba
- Gloria Jeans
- Some squishy juice company
- a "City Convenience"
- Gellataria
- Oporto
- Mr Wongs Flied Lice
- Sydney Aboriginal Artefacts
- Australian Gifts

And why not?

Well, you get the picture...

I don't mind Aboriginal Artefacts and Australian Gifts, it is a tourist spot after all.

true. there's no doubt i will grab a burger of some sorts at some stage when i walk past.

I want some of the icecream shops that were at Segaworld to comeback.

French Riviera is still pretty close at Liverpool Street, although I wouldn't mind Passionflower opening up a 3rd branch to replace the one that moved from Harbourside to George Street...

French Riviera *drool* I love that place

i know im going to sound like a spaz.
what is French Riviera?

We will definately see some cafes pop up.

cafe's are good, but i can feel that a KFC is going to pop-up here, look at Mcdonald's, they've got 2 darling harbour restaurant's so i think KFC might take this opportunity to snap up an ideal location for a 2nd darling harbour KFC to furthermore battle with mcdonald's

what is French Riviera?

:eek:

Im serious, what is French Rivoera?

Originally of Double Bay, French Riviera migrated in recent times to the corner of Liverpool Street and Day Street in the CBD.

Example (http://grabyourfork.blogspot.com/2008/01/french-riviera-sydney.html)

They are a great Ice Cream Parlour that come in HUGE sizes and I always manage to polish them off on my own. I was devastated once when I went to Double Bay and it had gone, I was frantic, but then found out they moved to China Town.

Just thought id put it in. I want a coppenhagen's to go there.
plus french riviera, even though iv'e never heard of it, sound's nice though.

How about a brewery. Now that'll be awesome. Will totally make cops go insane.

A micro brewery would be good. I havent seen one anywhere in the CBD.

^ i think james squires is technically a mico brewery joint (although only a token amount is made on site from what i understand). the lord nelson is as well.

just my opinion, i dont want a brewery to go there, itll have smell. I dont care if it's a pub, BUT not a brewery.

just my opinion, i dont want a brewery to go there, itll have smell. I dont care if it's a pub, BUT not a brewery.

It doesn't have to smell. I have been to many small breweries around the world and can't really say I have smelt the horrible hops. We have a brewery quarter back in Wales in Cardiff, small(ish) brwery there called Brains and that doesnt smell.

They probablly dont smell, i dont know. It's just, i do-not want a brewery of any kind there.

It's a great place to locate a small brewery. Darling Harbour has:
- Lindt cafe
- Cockle Bay Wharf restaurants
- Wine restaurant near Imax
- King Street wharf bars

It fits the locality.

Yep, perfect place!

Perhaps a boutique brewery like St Arnou. I am actually surprised that there is not a British Beer hall, we have Lowenbrau and Belgian Beer cafe/halls. I know we can get some British Beers here but that is from pub to pub. It could fitted out quite nicely as to not attract the backpacker crowds.

^ that would be great!

Can you just imagine Commonwealth Bank locating their employees above a brewery?

"I work above a brewery"

A nice bragging right...

If you love beer (like me) that would be heaven :)

I don't want a brewery there. I rather keep all ground space for retail and all above level's office space.

I havent suggested a Tooheys or XXXX style brewery there at all. A micro brewery is a small brewery and doesnt take up as much space as you think. Some pubs across Sydney do have microbreweries within their pubs. From the street you wouldnt even notice its there.

You's just keep thinking of way's dont ya's.

WELL, i just dont want one there, that's my opinion.

going great guys. keep up brewery talk.
btw any construction photos?:banana:

I wouldn't mind seeing some photo's. Just to see how much they've done.

ffs. stop with the brewery talk. any construction photos?

JAWOHL MEIN FUHRER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is the current proposal maintaining that small pond? Or getting rid of it altogether? Or is it controlled by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, like the rest of Darling Harbour?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/SWScomplex.jpg

Isn't the pond already demolished? That used to be the best part of Darling Harbour imo.

I walked there about a year ago. *thinking thinking* I think it is demolished because i remember it being extremely close to the playground next to the development and now it's gone.

april09
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3622/3482128837_146224f08e_b.jpg

You can see the site in the bottom right of shot. Looks huge from above. It also looks like the pond is history.

It's gone, but the renders do show that it will be rebuilt.

May 26 2009

Posted on SSL by CULWULLA

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A crane has now appeared on site :cheers:
Still digging!!!

Channel 7 News: the briefest of items on this, nothing new, a fleeting glimpse of the model and a 3 second 'grab' from Kristina Kenneally.
I suppose we should be grateful it scored a mention at all but I do get pzzd that some mundane item gets several minutes for sometimes several days, but projects of importance to our city and which will be will us for another 50< yrs are lucky to get 15 seconds. Lost cause, I know, but Gripe! Gripe!

yeah todays MX has a little story about how it offically started construction today with many jobs and how good it will be for sydney.

2GB made mention of it as well - 7000 jobs they were reporting. A big boost for Sydney.

Friday July 31 2009

The first basement level is taking shape :)
At the northern end, a corebox for one of the buildings is taking shape.

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/2872/dscf2251.jpg

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http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/6504/dscf2252.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/710/dscf2254s.jpg

wow what progress. ta fabs

hi there
i am still new here so feeling my way around a fair bit

So - question for here is does any one know if Darling Walk has a web cam like the one on UNSW C25 bldg??

http://129.94.184.83/view/index.shtml

thanks
barry

A official buildings with brewery on the bottom, it sounds nice. However, I never drink beer or wine.

^^ i also never drink bear.

I would imagine that would leave you with a hairy taste in your mouth.

^^ i also never drink bear.

oops! spelling mistake....:nuts:

youll get crucified for mis-spelling on this forum.:-)
btw, why are com bank building this AND planning a 40,000sqm tower for 1martin place?

They probablly think soon when the GFC ends they will get alot of people getting loands and stuff, so they need more space for paper work and workers filling it, lol. ohh and it should get them better management, hopefully, most banks are a mess and are greedy.

Commbank doesn't own 108-120 Pitt Street (the Moneybox Building) known elsewhere as Commonwealth Bank HQ (which is wrong) any more - it's now owned by First State.
One of the points of contention in the development application is that council etc want to keep some sort of banking presence in the building. Commbank, for whatever reason, wants to quit the building entirely.

But Colonial First State is owned by the Commonwealth Bank!!!

Commonwealth Bank is still making big profits even in troubled times so it has the money to do what it wishes!!!

oh that makes sense.
ta briz

True but they operate as separate entities even with such obvious links.
Your 2nd point is true, I think, that Commbank has continued to make substantial profits while First State is the biggest managed funds organisation in Oz, so they are not short of a quid, and separately or jointly, are more than capable of building such substantial buildings. The developments are probably seen as long term investments unaffected by the current Great Far Cup.

a large solicitor firm are interested in money box redv, but also shown interest in JB tower.

Like me and im pretty sure a few others here would like that solicitor firm to go to the JB Tower(official name : 163 Castlereagh).

A second crane has popped up on the southern section of the site for the second building :)

today
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3460/3831913484_eace120357_o.jpg

YAY indeed!! :D

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3438/3848875875_55f63395ea_o.jpg

strabanepheots,flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3438/3848875875_55f63395ea_o.jpg

strabanepheots,flickr

That is a beautiful shot.

Im just trying to think of the height of this development.
Would it be 48m. that's just a wild guess?

its about 45m.

Nice view of the southern CBD skyline but that will view will disappear.

Ohh, so close, it is definitly a good height for the area as it will not be too demanding but it will still be noticible

It's going to be a unique complex for Central Sydney.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3431/3908055849_5171a43fc3_b.jpg
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Good to see them picking up the pace as they hit ground level. It's all skyward now :)

Yes, Skyward.
i wonder how much they've completed when i next go to Sydney.

From Sydney Tower, yesterday:
http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh423/lijman/IMG_0882.jpg

Thanks for that. There goes the view of Tumbalong Park. They are doing well with the northern building.

great shot

I don't like it - the new design is too corporate officey

For the area, i think the old Segaworld suited it more than what will succeed it.

Maybe you prefer Bates Smart's design for this site, dajumper?

http://www.batessmart.com.au/admin-resources/image-tools.php?src=/projects/17_Darling_Walk/resized/darling-walk-ext1.jpg&h=410&w=745

http://www.batessmart.com.au/admin-resources/image-tools.php?src=/projects/17_Darling_Walk/resized/darling-walk-ext2.jpg&h=410&w=493

http://www.batessmart.com.au/admin-resources/image-tools.php?src=/projects/17_Darling_Walk/resized/darling-walk-ext3.jpg&h=410&w=745

^^
Is that the final design?

No, I think it must've been an entry in a design comp or something. The one being built is designed by FJMT: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=25158038&postcount=105

oh, that's a dissapointment. The final design looks so sterile.

I am happy with it as it is.

I like the Bates Smart design, has a bit more spunk to it and charatcter

The BatesSmart design was a good design, but the final design is still good as it is not all blocky as it has a wave roof. it'll look great for the area.

I'd be equally happy with either.

Bates Smart design looks a LOT better. The final design looks unfriendly and dulls down the fun/family style of the area. I hope there are welcoming shops and fast food/alternatives there to attract people. It better not be just CBA workers in suits smoking outside on their breaks and the site becomes dead of a night.

The one we got is hardly ugly, but I think the Bates Smart design is more striking... it looks a bit more boutique than the wall-o-office.

The current design belongs in Rouse Hill or North Ryde, not Darling Harbour. Big floor space doesn't belong in a CBD where real estate is premium.

You have to keep in mind that this is Darling Harbour and not the actual CBD itself. Firms want bigger floorplates these days, otherwise they leave the CBD altogether which we are seeing.