I know we have threads about World Tower, Latitude and East but having just found the new World Square retail website, I think this deserves its own!

Check this out:
24,000M2 over two levels (as large as centre point and QVB combined!)
Supermarket
90 other retailers

I had no idea that with the purchase of the World Square podium site, World Square retail was going to be so huge. I think this is a great outcome for everyone (especially since Meriton's track record of retail isn't exactly fabulous - Summit Arcade anyone?).

The entrance on the corners of Liverpool and George and Pitt and Goulburn will take you to the Upper Ground Level whereas the Gouldburn and George entrance under Latitude will take you to the lower ground where the food hall will be located. A second entrance on Liverpool (next to the monorail station) looks like it will have food outlets running the length of world tower and the monorail/horden podium leading to the centre atrium.

In the cross section diagrams of the project, there is retail on level 1 as well but perhaps this is a phase 2 expansion as it's not mentioned elsewhere on the site.

Walking past today, it looks like there is some movement on the world tower side of the site, with demolition of some of the old structures just north of Latitude (I always assumed they were plant rooms for the car park or lifts). Looks like this section of the podium will start construnction fairly soon.

Visit http://www.worldsquare.com.au for the new renderings and floor plans - this thing is huge. Can't wait for it!

cool website. should be a nice stroll thru when completed.

Thanks for finding the website reidmjohn! It looks like it will be a brilliant development, providing a retail centre right in the middle of Australia's (soon to be) densest residential area! :D

I really like the looks of the exterior street-front facades, with the World Square logo and signage, plus plenty of bright colourful lights!! :okay:

Thanks mate, I've been waiting for this one for a long time! :cool:

Originally posted by finn
I really like the looks of the exterior street-front facades, with the World Square logo and signage, plus plenty of bright colourful lights!! :okay:

Indeed. After looking at the renders of the final construction I am very enthusiastic and excited about the positive impact this retail section will have on the surrounding area. I wonder how successfull it will be... I wonder if it will coax the 16-35 yo's who frequent the cinemas only 50m away. I wonder. :cheers:

That's a BIG retail area though, and let's hope its successful. Galleries Victoria anyone?

Great website.:) The facade has that Times Square feel to it which I find to be quite nice and provides that feeling of vitality. I hope they allow for electronic signage on it too. I'd look even better.

Originally posted by fro
That's a BIG retail area though, and let's hope its successful. Galleries Victoria anyone?

I think it might be more along the lines of Market City/Broadway than Galleries Victoria - more convenience and everyday shopping than high-end, infrequent products.

And Market City is usually pleasantly abuzz...more than a few times I haven't been able to get a seat at the food court, despite the fact that it's located three escalator rides above the passing pedestrian trade!

World Square will not only have far greater passing pedestrian trade than Market City, but also a much larger immediately surrounding resident population thanks to World Tower, Hordern Tower, Century Tower, The Summit, Regis Towers, The Miramar, Museum Tower, Maestri Towers, Millenium Tower, The Raddisson, The Waldorf, North, Hyde Park Towers etc., plus the under construction towers of Cassia Garden, Meriton Tower, Rialto Tower, Aspect and the forthcoming East, Park Central, Cb Hotel Redevelopment, 720 George St, Regent Place etc. and other smaller residential complexes I've forgotten I'm sure! All within a couple of blocks walk!

In addition, it will probably have the only full-line supermarket in the CBD - considering that most of the other supermarkets are "express" versions of the larger stores.

This development is hella cool. Cul whats the time table for this baby? When can we expect it to finish?

Originally posted by zulu69
This development is hella cool. Cul whats the time table for this baby? When can we expect it to finish?
scheduled opening is November!! :guns1:

WOOT!!!!

They do know they have to BUILD the thing to open it dont they?? Man they must work quick!
Anyways i cant wait *want to camp out outside now till opening*

Yeah it sounds unbelievable that both World Square Retail and Sydney Hilton will be open in November this year! 8 months is a long time but they must work really hard! :D

Looking forward to this one! Hope they can get some high profile tenants... It's great to have a whole new centre like this to rejuvenate the tacky part of town called Southern CBD (some people use a new euphemism "Mid-Town precinct")! :cool:

A display/information centre regarding the complex has opened on the Pitt St side if you want to get some information. Plus a rendering of the retail component has appeared on Latitude's hoardings.

A Multiplex crane has now appeared on the north west corner of the retail complex just in front of World Tower. Work has begun on that part of the complex, which will include a few floors of commercial office above it.

A Multiplex crane has now appeared on the north west corner of the retail complex just in front of World Tower. Work has begun on that part of the complex, which will include a few floors of commercial office above it.Yeah, I saw it too yesterday - about bloody time.

If it's going to be like any of the renderings we've been seeing with all the illuminations and neons, it will be damn amazing. The renderings are of course on http://www.worldsquare.com.au & at the cnr of George & Goulburn Streets.

I reckon it will shoot up like the Latitude retail section is and The Hilton's base podiums are doing so as well.

It looks like they're re-using at least part of the pre-existing carpark structure. Is this true, or am I just imagining it?

I cannot WAIT for this to be finished! Hahaha .. it's right around the corner from me, and I am sick of going to broadway or bondi junction for anything other than a bottle of milk or some bread.

Even Adelaide has an (almost) full line supermarket in the CBD!! Hurry up Sydney!!! And it better have a liquor shop, too.

Ditto - it's a stone's throw from me also and the supermarket couldn't open sooner from my point of view. A local Gloria Jeans would really make me happy though :D
Small concern however - I know there's a push to consolidate the CBD as Sydney's premier shopping locality, but can it really support all of these additional new shopping complexes at this point in time - World Square, Hilton, Lumiere etc? They're all pretty big and the CBD retail market has had mixed fortunes over the last few years as it is. Obviously it will come good in the future though and in the meantime it's a huge bonus for city residents like yours truly. :cheers:

Good point, we don't want another Galeries Victoria diaster on our hands...

I like the idea of being able to walk diagonally through the centre. its a big block to have to walk around.

Yeah, some valid points Alelarch. As nsn referred to, the stores of Galleries Vicotria's @ 2 Park St on the upper levels, apart from the huge bookstore Kinokuniya, had trouble getting people to the upper levels.

It seems that unless it is 'in' to go there, a tourist pull-in or there's lots of passing pedestrian traffic (perfect eg. of all 3 is The Q.V.B. - I reckon it's 'in' for certain people), it's really hard to get people to venture all over.

World Square and Regent Place will have a 'captured audience' though. A huge residential (and working in W.S.'s case) population in a hurry to get somewhere with the convenience of coffee bars, take-away, entertaining guests downstairs @ fancy-smhancy restaurants, pharmacies, newsagents yadda, yadda, yadda.....

.....this perhaps all being in an ideal consumer world and expecting the studied future demographics/psychographics that would have been tediously done to behave in certain patterns. A large part of it has to be a surefire though.

I bet the supermarket/s will be overpriced like Town Hall Woollies though.

I hoping for the Blade Runner-like neons and illuminations that are in the renders along the streetscape.

good analysis there Muse. I think you're right about the resident populations being a prime factor in the sucess of the retail section. I think a lot of people will be picking up items from the supermarket before heading off home, likewise, it's the major shopping centre for the whole southern section of the CBD. Also, I think that the clothing shops will be a target for the large teenage population who visit the George St cinemas just 1/2 a block away...

All in all, it should be an impressive centre. LOL @ Bladrunner-like neons.

I wonder if the underground tunnel that goes from Town Hall Stn to the base of HSBC tower (under george st) will be continued all the way to World Square? That would make so much sense.

Also, I would like to see an underground tunnel connection to Regent Place. It seems every corner of Town Hall Stn has an underground connection except that south west corner! There are always so many ppl wanting to cross that road because you cant get to the other side using underground connections.

I dont know if thats in the plans would be nice but very unlikey

Also, I would like to see an underground tunnel connection to Regent Place. It seems every corner of Town Hall Stn has an underground connection except that south west corner! There are always so many ppl wanting to cross that road because you cant get to the other side using underground connections.Yeah, that needs it really bad. I think that isn't in the plans as such though (stupid I know).

In the 90s, I remember they were thinking of having a subway station on the eastern suburbs lines @ World Sq. The rail tunnel was like less than 1 metre away from the retaining walls and the concrete base and core of what is now Latitude....and like derrrr, guess what? It was CANCELLED!!

Imagine being able to come out of a subway station right into World Square.

That was a lost opportunity for sure. Gone forever.

Greencliff were proposing an underground link to link Regent Place with Town Hall Station but I'm not sure if it's still going ahead or not. The tenants at Regent Place would benefit from such a link if it's goes ahead but also improving access to the station from the western side of George St.

Nice crane.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/p88a373317015b99b11a56a5d14627aa4/f919da0d.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/pa59803250b77ceb5b60bef76ed70d699/f919d8bb.jpg

Drove past the site this afternoon and the facade has started.

Looks real good too.

Well i think thet need another subway stop at world square. screw this walk way tunnel. Sydney needs more subways and for a city of its size it surely needs more train stations (funny an american girl was telling me the same thing). Instead of improving only the roads build more stations esp out near me @ castle hill. I swear if they built a station traffic would be cut to 50%+.. just so ppl know the shire has a population of 150, 000 ppl and no real public transport. Its no wonder then why at peak time it can take 2 hours to get home >:( ...ok im ranting now.....

I've lived in Sydney my whole life and the thought of a new station in the CBD has never crossed my mind.

That's one sexy mofo of a crane there...

A trainstop at Chinatown would be sweet...

You have the tram at China Town.

What does mofo mean???

What does mofo mean???

Muthafucka

Thought so. World Tower complete isn't really a building a pay attention to from close-up. Huge yes but the facade from some places kills it. Get used to it kiddies because Village/Meriton Tower will look have the same concept. Latitude however I never get sick of. It is almost as if human beings ideas have already peaked and everything we try to change just seems to get worse. Extinction is near peoples so go after what you want.

Enough of my absurd ideas.

A trainstop at Chinatown would be sweet...Once agian, there were plans in the late 1990s/early 2000's to have a subway from Redfern, bypassing Central straight down to a Chinatown subway station, a subway station for the eastern side of Darling Harbour (I'm pretty sure from memory around Sussex Street) and then straight onto Wynyard using 2 of the disused platforms there, where it would the terminate back....another subway plan unfortuantely gone to the scrapheap :bleep: Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Once agian, there were plans in the late 1990s/early 2000's to have a subway from Redfern, bypassing Central straight down to a Chinatown subway station, a subway station for the eastern side of Darling Harbour (I'm pretty sure from memory around Sussex Street) and then straight onto Wynyard using 2 of the disused platforms there, where it would the terminate back....another subway plan unfortuantely gone to the scrapheap :bleep: Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

I remember reading something similar about a rail line running through the western CBD but different to what was stated. This was known as Citywest, running parallel to the existing rail line with stations at Town Hall and Wynyard, linked up to the existing station. It was intended to go under Kent St. It could of even crossed the harbour if they wanted. The line was intended to relieve overcrowding at Wynyard and Town Hall. There was a station at Haymarket as well. I hope Railcorp still have on the cards for the future.

Yeah we need more metro stops. i mean, lets say i was at circular quay and wanted to go to darling harbour. At present i would either walk the way (at least 20 mins) catch a bus to QVB and walk 5 mins or catch a train and then a monrail. Now thats pretty Inconvenient and what i wanted to do was nothing out of the ordinary...just a simple example. Like Fab said, town hall and wynard are overcrowded for a reason. Anyways i might be stressing it but ppl talk about the congestion and a really viable and real solution would be to better our inadequate public transport. I know they have it in the works but 10 years is a little too laid back. I agree china town, darling harbour, kent st, haymarket , even Worl square (so you could go between the current massive void of central and townhall would be real sweet.

According to the business section of today's SMH, Coles has committed to the supermarket tenancy in the World Square Shopping Centre. The store will be "state-of-the-art" (whatever that means - there is only a certain level of technology that can be incorporated into a supermarket) and reportedly the largest "single-level" supermarket in Sydney's CBD (probably implying that Woolworths Metro on the corner of Park and George is considered to be a supermarket, although its really more of a variety store, spanning several levels), with a total floorspace of 2,300sqm.

Picture of work on the George St side today. Some scaffholding is already visible.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/pa09c05eb963f726bf19ed8e9d37806bb/f915073a.jpg

Little of Track there for a while !
Any ideas how the monorail station willbe incrop in to the retail floors ?

It won't affect the monorail at all as it has been built above the footpath. World Square Station will remain at Hordern Towers

Continuing on from finn's last retail update, a few quotes enclosed "___" (and editorials by moi in brackets) from last Thurs. 8/04/04 The Australian's Prime Space liftout....

"Multiplex's World Square development has snared its first real retail tentant, a 2300sq m Coles Supermarket." - (reiterating finn's post...and hk-star will be chuffed about this.)

"Coles has committed to an anchor tenacny at the two-level 24,000sq m retail plaza, on an undisclosed rent (probably because it's exorbitant and will be passed on to the prices of goods on the shelves), and Multiplex has tenants at heads of agreement stage over 35% of the total space"

"The Coles store will become the largest supermarket over one level in Sydney's CBD. Woolworths' store at the cnr of Park and George Sts is bigger, with four levels on an 800sq m floorplate" - (So the actual downstairs' grocery section would be about that i.e. 800sq m.)

"Multiplex is focussed on attracting national brands to W.S.'s 700-1000sq m boxes in the fashion, electrical and homwares' categories, plus 90 specialty shops."

"There will be a lifestyle and homewares' precinct to cater for all the unit-dwellers above and surrounding W.S., and food and entertainment feeding off the George Street cinema precinct. Multiplex is pitching that the square kilometre surround W.S. is the most densely-populated in Australia.

A predicted 75,000 traffic movements at the corner of George & Goulburn Sts - actually expected to increase after the Cross-City Tunnel opens - is being used to draw international fashion brands to retail shopfronts on the south-west corner." (Of course they meant pedestrian traffic.)

"Multiplex wants fashion tenants along similar lines of Chatswwod Chase and Oxford Street."

"The whole retail space is tagged as CBD/sub-regional" (Hmmm, a new term).

"The W.S. retail space is expected to open next February" (Next February!!! Might be opening in stages as I'm sure the section under Latitude will be completed before the section fronting World Tower on George & Liverpool Sts. It was initially said that the retail section @ the base of World Tower was to open by December this year - oh well).

Good researching there Muse. Its very interesting that they want to attract, let's say "international brands" to WSR. I mean, look at Galleries Victoria, that would be something similar in terms of brands. I just don't think it's the right way to go... sure, have some "international brand stores" but also have some stores like Jeans West etc. Please, please, please, no tacky Asian trinket stores like the ones only a few 100m down the road. We've got enough of those.

The february 05 opening date aint so bad. I mean it's pretty much late04/early 05 as i see it. I think the November opening date would have meant 1/2 of the complex would still be underconstruction and final fitout, so this isn't such a bastard. On thing though, what will happen to the coles express just up the road? Will they close that Coles???

On thing though, what will happen to the coles express just up the road? Will they close that Coles???The Coles Express on the cnr of George & King Sts? If you mean that one, it's 5 city blocks away. There's also another one in Wynyard Station.

Coles Expresses mostly cater to a niche market. No 'family-size' packets to be seen anywhere and ideal for people on the go-go-go (those packaged stir-fry things you chuck in the wok. Like how long does it take to chop up a few veges yourself? :ohno: ).

There are actually 2 closer reasonably sized supermarkets to World Square in Chinatown. One on the first level of the Market City complex and the other being the Burlington Centre on Thomas Street.

He mean't the one at the base of HSBC Tower which is in the walkway heading towards Town Hall. I don't think they would want to close it seeing it's in a major pedrestrian throughfare leading to the station. There is a good stream of people who walk through there particularly during peak periods as they try to access their offices in the southern CBD and use it to go to the station when they go home. Then you have Woolworths just a block up. This means big bucks!!!!

Also I've noticed in the CBD, Coles Express supermarkets have been rebranded as Coles Central.

Great Web site, very informative.

Could some one clarify for me, as I have not been in Sydney for a number of years. Was this development sitting in an unfinished dormant state for a while?

Actually, my "sources" tell me that the Coles Express in question (under HSBC) has not made money for some time. So maybe it is due for the chop after the new one opens? Then again, maybe they'll keep it open like it is now, even though it's losing money, just to keep those few customers it lures from escaping to woolworths ...

Welcome to the site TooFar :okay: Great Web site, very informative. Could some one clarify for me, as I have not been in Sydney for a number of years. Was this development sitting in an unfinished dormant state for a while?Don't know how long ago you were in Sydney last however...

...during the late 80s' bubble-burst, the original Kenzo Tange 4 tower design for World Square was just beginning construction after the mega-foundation had been dug. It was shelved and left this core for 12-13 years without the Multiplex banners, the crane & the recently topped-out World Tower directly behind. Hordern Towers to the right in the background was completed in 1999. Shown in this pic by Fabian, taken Oct., '02 from the cnr of George & Goulburn Streets:

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

The core was 'shaved' back approx. 5% to bring it up-to-date for to begin construction for the now quickly topping out Ernst & Young Centre @ Latitude (see Official thread in this same section if you haven't already done so).

:)

In regard to the Coles Express (or Central) @ HSBC, if it has been in the red for some time, I'm sure Coles-Myer Inc. can continue to subsidise it until the residents of Rialto move in and fill it up. Perhaps even wait for lumiere's completion. This is if they're smart and have at the very least a five year plan/strategy in place.

However, if in the boardroom they decide to close it, well then we'll all do the "Coles-Myer downsizing/economic rationalisation jig".

BTW It seems a couple of forumers can't distinguish between the Express (or Central) & Metro thingies to actual supermarkets. They're some kind of hybrid of convenience stores and supermarkets.

To my understanding W.S. Retail is getting a "real" supermarket.

yeah, good wrap up there Muse. I was referring to the one under HSBC tower. LOl, sorry for the confusion.

Looking at that picture above, "we've come a long way baby!"

Yep has been good fast ride to what we are approaching now on the site
And seems Coles is in the habit of closing stores that don’t make a profit and if they do close then who would take the site space ?

see below .lol

probably the best vantage point to watch cnr bldg grow!
from Waldorf today!

http://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2004/04/259187.jpg

using imastation>
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p4f1b1f78ecc8232a7319fbdea818835f/f90812cc.jpg

I've been having a look at the floorplans and those rectangles in Cul's pic with scaffholding etc and I can say is those rectangles indicate where the esclators and stairs which will link the upper ground level with the lower ground level.

View from Liverpool Street today. More scaffholding is appearing on site.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/pb11edb83015279196c35722670c05149/f903badb.jpg

^ Yeah, the hoardings are going up like there's no tomorrow! Went by today and there is a blatant sign @ the base of W.T. advertising 650 George Street c/- Multiplex and others; boutiquey office-like development as in 688 George on the Goulburn St side.

It's going to be one helluva base when finished, with lots of activity. V. exciting. I don't think Australia has ever really seen anything like this b4 (oh yeah, Crown in Melbourne!).

BTW latitudetower.com.au still has the Maroubra Junction shopping centre renders and hasn't updated to the newer ones yet lol:

http://www.latitudetower.com.au/images/retail/img-6-1_1.jpg

heres a large model pic of how EAST interacts with latitudes retail component.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/126lateastbest.jpg
as you can see EAST is a separate structure but will "blend" in quite well!

^ I like how Aspect Apartments in the above is making its presence in the above post, even in balmsomwood or the like ^ :)

BTW Forgive if I'm wrong, but shouldn't the spire of Latitude be on the other side :?, or am I losing the plot?

It's in the correct spot as shown in the city model. Sorry for this model pic being blurry

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid102/pea5d7e49f48612266d13547400ee510e/f9b64122.jpg

^ I like how Aspect Apartments in the above is making its presence in the above post, even in balmsomwood or the like ^ :)

BTW Forgive if I'm wrong, but shouldn't the spire of Latitude be on the other side :?, or am I losing the plot?

I don't think it's Aspect in that pic - it's that pissy little office tower across Cunnningham St from Aspect.

your right finn, its the 100m Sydney plaza.Aspect isnt shown.

Well, finn & CULWULLA. That is the strangest shape for 69 Goulburn aka Sydney Plaza I've ever seen. Way too slender, triangular in shape along with a traingular-shaped LMR :?

The wooden model is not even on an angle, as shown in this pic by Fabian including theeeee Sydney Plaza:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid109/p71035883c266f8bf90e0162ee1af5c36/f93996f2.jpg

Although the balsom wood model isn't on an angle that Aspect Apartments will be (also it's not in the right position), I still believe that it is Aspect, just placed ad-hoc-ly!!

So there :bleh:

Muse, you're definitely losing the plot. :weird: ;)
It's definitely Sydney Plaza, albeit about 1/4 of it.

MrTall, stop being patronising regardless whether were joking or not.

To be fair, I don't always consider myself to be always correct. However I did state "Although the balsom wood model isn't on an angle that Aspect Apartments will be (also it's not in the right position), I still believe that it is Aspect, just placed ad-hoc-ly!!", in my last post on the previous page of this thread. "ad-hoc-ly" being the key word/phrase.

I do realise that the balsom wood model is of 69 Goulburn aka Sydney Plaza as in its correct poisiton on Goulburn. It's just an incorrect shape for it, obviously.

More importantly, I spoke to the World Square retail office yesterday by phone and the guy was extremely helpful. He informed me that they don't want to open the whole retail section in "drips and drabs".

They aim to open the whole World Square retail section, icluding that fronting East on the cnr of Pitt and Goulburn Streets, that fronting Latitude and also on the cnr of George & Liverpool Streets by March/April '05.

Funny, as it looks like Latitude's base is quickly nearing completion. 680 George Street is nearing completion too. This may discount the eatery areas, I believe in and around the open piazza areas that to my understanding will lead to the main entrance of E & Y Centre.

After enterng this Flash 6 website @ http://www.worldsquare.com.au, click on the 4th sqaure below to see five changing renders of World Sqaure and it's retail base and illuminated signs.

:? :dunno: :runaway:

Kor, there's a lot of passionate people on here! I think someone needs to step outside for a bit and take a chill pill.

Lets cross back to the scene where the workers have gone absolutely gangbusters!!!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/p68aeb19cc234fe55bdaa10556e221e95/f8ea64b9.jpg

@ MrTall, the only emoticon I appreciated in your last post was this one ---> :runaway: Good idea.

@ Vitriol, I've seen some of your posts and in general they are passionately angry via one-liners. At those times, perhaps you could step outside for a bit of fresh air and don't take a chill pill - just swallow the whole bottle of them.

Personally, I feel passionate about architecture and in regard to this thread, I feel passionate about the developing World Square retail sections :okay:

Anyway, more importantly and back on track:

After enterng this Flash 6 website @ http://www.worldsquare.com.au, click on the 4th sqaure below to see five changing renders of World Sqaure and it's retail base and illuminated signs.

LOL, I'm not saying anything of what happened above, but I think we need some of this -> :grouphug:

Anyway, they've taken down those hoardings!!! Those old ones lining George St have, sorry, were there for a bloody long time!! Bring on the retail section please!!

^ Yeah, the hoardings are going up like there's no tomorrow! Went by today and there is a blatant sign @ the base of W.T. advertising 650 George Street c/- Multiplex and others; boutiquey office-like development as in 688 George on the Goulburn St side.

It's going to be one helluva base when finished, with lots of activity. V. exciting. I don't think Australia has ever really seen anything like this b4 (oh yeah, Crown in Melbourne!).

BTW latitudetower.com.au still has the Maroubra Junction shopping centre renders and hasn't updated to the newer ones yet lol:

http://www.latitudetower.com.au/images/retail/img-6-1_1.jpg

I was just thinking that in that uber-large render cul posted, the podiums looks a hell of a lot like the network of podiums type design thingmebob (yeah, GREAT architectural terms there, eh? ;)) that's employed a lot down here, creating lanes etc.

Ignoring the towers, the World Sqaure podiums actually look somewhat like QV, rather than Crown (size and look).

Anyway, they've taken down those hoardings!!! Those old ones lining George St have, sorry, were there for a bloody long time!! Bring on the retail section please!!I ended up disliking those damn boards, showing couples holding hands, shopping, drinking coffee and product placements. Now Meriton Tower's hoardings across the street show couples in lurve and shopping LOL.

BTW tayser, I was thinking that the base being developed for Freshwater Place is similar too. Pic taken by yourself and posted 14/04/04:

http://metropolis.tayser.net/projects/southbank/fwp/fwp1404043.jpg

Well, anyone got recent pics of the work on site? Also of the boutique offices in front of Latitude?

Please? :D

I can tell you that 650 George (cnr Liverpool/George) is being thrown up like there's no tomorrow and 688 George (Gouburn/George) has the cladding looking pretty spiffy - should be completely clad soon.

i saw the base of Freshwater Place and though wow ( thinking it was WOrld tower for a sec )
looking closer saw it was not ratilo in the back ground was also big clue

Here is a shot of work back on May 14. I'll grab a fresh shot later this week

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/pe2c708920486e2942c137df7c201a2c6/f8ad07e0.jpg

Cropped, lightened, slightly sharpened, enlarged and enhanced pic by Fabian above of 650 George St (crn of George/Liverpool Sts) including the commencement of the 650 George Strata offices and entrance from the same corner of the W.S. retail component mark II:

____________http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/379worlsquareret3-med.jpg?3415

...

As Muse stated a few posts before 650 George has been flying up like there is no tomorrow. It's around level 2 according to this shot

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid120/p977c1a1fc52f87412b9d695fe5ddc67e/f868f7cc.jpg

And here's 688 George

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid120/p3f631946e88e24ac64603379b8c23133/f868f7a3.jpg

This one continues to rise quickly. Already up to level 3

I took this last Thursday.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid121/p73f5b51fd2369c9b5036893a09503b9f/f854624d.jpg

This one is so fast moving up mazed the progress in this last few posts

Todays shot - The floorplates for level 4 are now being laid on the Latitude side.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid122/p012014872174c21ea8b74a526556bddf/f83c1396.jpg

Today

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid123/p983b3ab5602fdb74607663c7fccf4094/f8230200.jpg

Corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid123/pb885ecdba58bb97bd805ce78878c14c8/f8230269.jpg

Thanks for keeping us informed Fabian! I can't wait till Christmas this year, man, Latitude will be finished so and they'll be already started on EAST. Good times.

It's now five levels above ground

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid125/pd6a9c9e2481fd0e4b31b396e0b0e715f/f8073158.jpg

you said 2 levels at start its now at 5 ?
Confused ?

you said 2 levels at start its now at 5 ?
Confused ?

Never done that. I've kept tab each week of what floor it's up to and posted it with an accompanying photo. :)

it was at the start of the thread not by you but still so what are the correct details then ?

It's topped out guys. It is now six levels above ground.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid127/p9d3ac99f817bec10688aeaa3cf81033c/f7f0404d.jpg

Hoardings have become more advanced at the corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets. Floorplates for the podium are also starting to take shape. It's a bit difficult to see due to the hoardings

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid127/p05c0a8d6b36724abe44d32b84f9cef65/f7f04212.jpg

And the scene inside

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid127/p54eb8178296dc4e8d25916659830af12/f7f041e2.jpg

And also the 2005 Sydney UBD features a map of the layout of the complex and also lists shows the location of the towers (WT, Latitude & Hordern Towers)

Excellent Fabian, you are keeping this thread pictorially alive.
The corner of Pitt & Goulburn Streets will be forever changed with the completion of this complex. Good to see that they've already started construction. They're moving fast on this one... wonder if the construction of EAST is waiting for this retail section to complete? At least the footings and whatever...

View from Pitt Street today

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid128/p5f9cbebd6d447068d0fe3ff487575bcd/f7d8522b.jpg

Today's pic - new floorplates appearing

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/p630c5484dd4649dc0570d64b584cd45e/f7a0c1f0.jpg

And the fire brigade was called out today too to deal with something. I don't know what it was

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid132/p5d5c00dab44b630d5189d03864782876/f7a0c20e.jpg

The green boards look retarded!

on pic 1 it says 3(upside down) 33=9 ? and a whole bunch of words!
on pic 2 it says world square then lease ... then more retarded words!

anyways... when can we go shopping in there?!

maybe they used old boards and it is yet to be covered

anyways... when can we go shopping in there?!

Feburary next year.

The first cladding has appeared on the George Street side. Shines like gold but it appears to be more brownish upon closer inspection

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid134/p231b82bcebd573f558eb37f11dc57bda/f76f3822.jpg

On the Goulburn Street side

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid134/p70775838e4fd79ae3cc668afebe20d2c/f76f38c9.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid134/p2e3867ace9c9698665339052d97c69d0/f76f3956.jpg

The scaffholding is now revealing the cladding. The windows have been tinted gold!!!.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/pc6a567a6d9c314247a0cde07c77e8e4e/f7569083.jpg

Closeup

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/p671d15d0ac64276797e8c3f6103606eb/f756906c.jpg

That's AMAZING! HOLY CRAP! Gold?! I love it. It contrasts so nicely with the darker and sombre Latitude and the somewhat confused facade of World Tower. Gold.

Fits in nicely with the Olympics! LOL.

Love it. :D :D

Wow! That is certainly unexpected! :eek2:

Holy kazoowie! :eek:

Just had to come back a 2nd time.

Holy kazoowie Mark II. :eek:

A new era for the entertainment district of George St. Of course that is the office ccomponent, but really obvious on the streetscape. Yanks George St right into the 21st Centuryyyyyyyy!!

*Does a jolly jig around living room*

I'd kind of expected the retail podium to follow the same colours and materials as the towers, but this is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better IMHO! :okay:

If all the colours and materials were the same it would have seemed like one huge urban complex...which is not the style of Sydney. Sydney is more a jigsaw or patchwork of various building sizes and styles from different eras, and the very different colours in the retail podium certainly provide a break in the continuity of the World Square buildings! :)

Just the fact that it is a different colour from the green of 580 George gives it its own identity.

...and what a colour it is.

Hrrmmmm. Green 'n gold. Yes fro, very Olypmic!

How about Australia Square instead of World Square? :yes: Oh! It's been done.

Now the lower levels have to be top-notch neon work and signage. Say NO to billbaords!! http://www.sayhey.co.uk/invboard/html/emoticons/mad.gif

The removal of hoardings along Latitude have revealed this. It's coming along nicely.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pef91993e967725a69289a2f1545d6c9c/f740a9b7.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pc4793329485b28c3c40c6d0aca2e877b/f740a9ae.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p3890f41995c73c0738c260e2477ba472/f740a999.jpg

lookin' modern! nice designing.

looks very open

The facade is done. It looks sensational. I thought picking Gold was a smart choice. Very eyecatching. This has brightened up this part of George Street for sure. 10/10

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid138/pf88d21a500190637f1486ab23f3f120a/f727dbb6.jpg

This facade is just as reflective as those at the Hilton Hotel.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid138/p08f328a2e4a590988b17da984cad66f2/f727dba5.jpg

WOW. Didn't realise that it was going to be wedge shapes!!

This one gets the prize for low-riser of the year surprise award!!

that is great
blades and the gold are a great mix

Sensational work!!!

The Gold Canyon leading in to the depths of the Black and Blue Mountains...

Will be great journey when this is completed.

LOL... the funny thing is that I understand totally what you mean. It's such a great contrast and totally unexpected that I think everyone's taken with this design... I agree Muse, surprise lowrise of the year BY FAR!

Someone give this World Square block a bloody medal or something.

wow! could you just imagine of World Tower or E&Y ended up with this colour? lol
must say one thing. its very striking!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/culwulla/wsqretail.jpg

Splendid in color !!!

Really, this cladding was very surprising! And I'm generally not a huge fan of 'gold' tinted cladding (= tacky), but since it is limited to this north-west corner of the complex, and is the main entrance to the future shopping centre, I think it is a superb decision! :okay:

It provides some variety in the bulk of the World Square complex, and visual interest, as well as making a clear indication to pedestrians of the main entrance (when you are coming down George St at least) to the centre! :)

I walked by yesterday arvo @ and the gold was literally glowing from the sunset. It was so vivid.

In this sense it's a great P.R. exercise. You just cannot miss it.

the area has centainly looked brightened up! i like the gold colour. the designers must have spent heaps of time to think of such a great thing!

How it's looking in comparison to it's George Street neighbours.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid139/p1c2539238dc633ca6f13f3ad59bcfe2d/f70f23f8.jpg

Escalators were lifted down into place today on the Liverpool Street side.

I'm sure Avatar likes this. He likes everything gold

i say it to day was so wowed by the gold
perfect
shame its not linked up to base of lattuide

Today. The plantroom continued taking shape during the course of the week. This picture also shows the facade which backs onto Latitude.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid139/pc5291282167e2eacbb7d4a54b3a45302/f6f9c25f.jpg

not liking that gap at all
what lies in its future

wow it is nice! Very good Sydney.

not liking that gap at all
what lies in its future

An entrance into World Square itself I expect...like an opening so you can move into the actual square from the street. They will perhaps put an awning/roof over it, kind of like the gap between World Tower and Avillion Hotel.

and the base of lattiude ?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/culwulla/latpodiumfromeast.jpg

That grated work on the roof got done quick. The scaffolding is coming down already when it only was put up a few weeks ago.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid140/pe62365b3d149844f15987a686309ea9c/f6ef48f1.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid140/p507490e2e756471b72c901b19f978417/f6ef4819.jpg

An entrance into World Square itself I expect...like an opening so you can move into the actual square from the street. They will perhaps put an awning/roof over it, kind of like the gap between World Tower and Avillion Hotel.

People don't like the gap??

Love the gap! More gaps = more laneways, which is what our CBD badly needs. Not a lot I'm envious of in Melbourne, but the cool little laneways in the southern CBD are just perfect people scaled spaces, and we have lost many of our historic ones so we had better create new ones!

Not people, only Trances. I like them myself. All those canyon like entrances and new lanes.

:okay:

as long as it becomes use ful space and not some scary dive

I'm surprised noone has mentioned this yet:

CBD slab collapse probe continues

24sep04
INVESTIGATIONS were continuing today after an 80 tonne concrete slab collapsed and fell during high-rise construction in the centre of Sydney.

Three workers scrambled out of the way when the slab fell just over a metre at the Multiplex World Square worksite on George Street yesterday.

One worker was slightly injured in the accident, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) said.

All 650 workers from the project remained off-site today while the CFMEU conducted a full safety inquiry.

Investigations were at an early stage but it was believed the accident happened after an extra support structure for the slab was not built, a CFMEU spokesman said.

"The concrete slab that collapsed was meant to have an extra concrete pillar but they couldn't build that because a crane was in the way – so what they had was a steel formwork holding it in place," he said.

"Some of the workers were starting to disassemble some of that steel formwork but once some of it was removed it wasn't strong enough to support the concrete."

The spokesman said he did not know why the crane was not moved in order to build the concrete support pillar.

CFMEU Assistant Secretary Brian Parker said the union was conducting a full safety audit of the site to prevent such an accident from happening again.

"The health and safety of construction workers is our number one priority and we will not be allowing any work to go ahead today while we identify and seek to rectify the problems that led to yesterday's accident," he said.

"When the slab gave way, it could easily have killed the workers underneath, except for some good luck and quick thinking.

"Only one of the workers was injured but it is a reminder of how quickly something can go wrong and how easy it is for a worker to lose their life."

This is looking top class. Hope it has the 'Time Square' look to it tho. Either way its a keeper... No doubt this will add more life to this section of the city and i hope it stimulates the surge to central a bit more...even tho the skyline is really huge at present.

First i heard of this

This is looking top class. Hope it has the 'Time Square' look to it tho. Either way its a keeper... No doubt this will add more life to this section of the city and i hope it stimulates the surge to central a bit more...even tho the skyline is really huge at present.In regard to the "Times Square look" we hope so. As I menitoned that I think on the previous pages of this thread, I just have a feeing that it may end up with more suburban signage esp. on the George St lower floors. Time will tell.

Here's hoping it will end up with more flashing neons a 'la The Times Square look :okay:!!

dont think will have neons flashing lights like times
best hope is along william i would rather that
but that has limited potenital now as well

In regard to the "Times Square look" we hope so. As I menitoned that I think on the previous pages of this thread, I just have a feeing that it may end up with more suburban signage esp. on the George St lower floors. Time will tell.

Here's hoping it will end up with more flashing neons a 'la The Times Square look :okay:!!

I hope so too, i am leaning on that it will, simply becuase i see some supporting structure on the corner of liverpool st..also i mean the pic looks so cool that the developers (if they hadnt planned it) would say to themselves, hey that does look cool.... IF it does go through all we need is for MTV OZ to stage their show there, that would be amazing!!! (drools....)

today
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/culwulla/wsqretailsept28.jpg

base of latitude is nearly done also!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/culwulla/latitudebasesetp28.jpg

When's it opening

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid141/p3e5bbe3c1d7c9a0ec0784d9ed3c3c185/f6cf2e12.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid141/pfdd5d263a1852bab311e7c84fb7c0d27/f6cf2fb1.jpg

thats scond photo seems a little odd

Great pix Cul!! Love the colour scheme, but wondering how the shops will advertise on the windows (a la victoria gallery) ?? Will be hard to see if thats the case. It kinda looks 'office-y' right now.

Today the tower crane was taken down.

Not long to completion now.

Great pix Cul!! Love the colour scheme, but wondering how the shops will advertise on the windows (a la victoria gallery) ?? Will be hard to see if thats the case. It kinda looks 'office-y' right now.
maybe just alll around the base

The upper floors will be offices - that's why they look, uhmmm, "office-y".

...and apparently opening in Feb. next year (well, last time I made an enquiry). Would be nice for an Xmas opening but that might be pushing it.

apparently HarryT is fuming about yellow coloured glass!!!! he wants buts! So does council officers! no one can find documents that approve that colour!
they want it replaced immediately!!
lol
it does look pretty shit.
it supposed to be a ligher browny bronze, like the colour at base of wt.

What are they on! It will be lighter once they paint or put in white cielings, like they do in all shops and offices!

apparently HarryT is fuming about yellow coloured glass!!!! he wants buts! So does council officers! no one can find documents that approve that colour!
they want it replaced immediately!!
lol
it does look pretty shit.
it supposed to be a ligher browny bronze, like the colour at base of wt.

Fuck him. If council doesn't like it make em pay to have it replaced.

Jeezus. The minute something slightly interesting comes along in this town the monocles start dropping at Town Hall.

Jeezus. The minute something slightly interesting comes along in this town the monocles start dropping at Town Hall.

I KNOW!!!

When i first saw this I though 'wow, how very Melbourne!', but yeh, sure enough Sydneys conservative side prevailed and it looks like its going... Lol, what a ridiculous joke....

the planning officer which approved the retail section nearly fell over yesterday when she saw it from George street.!
lol
will be interesting to see what happens.
stay tuned.

The glass has been there for weeks, and the planning officer has only just seen it? Wish I had a job like that!

:eek: ^^ Yeah, all they must plan is whose turn is it to buy the next office birthday cake.

I don't understand. Do they just jump in their car and head home? Don't they realise this stuff is happening?

Keep the gold. It's supoib!

All things aside. The place is really starting to look awesome. Passed by it yesterday at night and the lights were on for the LAT entrance and man did it look corporate and classy. Also i saw the 'piazza' type glass ceiling covering space which also looked amazing. Once this is completed it will be so great (duh!).

....Looks pretty shit?? The previous page everyone was singing the colour's praises - what's the issue here?


it does look pretty shit.
it supposed to be a ligher browny bronze, like the colour at base of wt.

i dont mind it sort of. maybe a little darker yellow. not guinea pig piss yellow.
but love the overall design.
muse- i think they planner is very busy and cant see every job she has. she is head planner and is in charge of a dozen projects and basically hasnt got time to walk out side door.lol
anyway

very intresting CUL have to see how it turns out

isnt it a bit slow for the concil guy to say it now?

I think its groovy and adds a bit of character to that area of the street. THe blue is smick and all, but some contrast is nice...

personally I think the angular design is very schlick, just wish the colour was a bit more like the lumo orange as in the renders on the hoardings

they were still bringing new pannels to the site today when i walked past

workers were getting stuck inot East podium today.
hope Multiplex hurry up with replacing those missing panels.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid143/pf48a97b57b7d70258612f577588fb098/f6968330.jpg

The gold looks awesome. For farks sake SSC, accept this "mishap" as an perhaps unintentional shove into the daring, brave, brilliant. It'll be a focal point of the whole block.

How very "Melbourne." That'll shit 'em off!!

I'm sure it's exactly the same glazing that was approved, only it looks different in-situ. BTW where do you guys get yellow from? Dark gold/bronze for mine.

I can't see them replacing it in any case.

Just got a little corporate update newsletter on World Square Shopping Centre! Some info:

- Planned for an Easter Grand Opening
- Larger than QVB and Centrepoint combined
- New tenants include: Coles (largest single level supermarket in the CBD), Sony, BaySwiss, Rebel Sport, Vodafone, Retravision, Hype DC, G-Star Raw, Flight Centre, Howards Storage World, The Health Zone, plus 90 other specialty stores, cafes and restaurants.
- New neighbours for Ernst & Young in the office tower include AAPT and Austereo, and the big news is...
- Austereo will have a live broadcasting facility on the ground floor, with 2Day FM and Triple M broadcasting from the facility! So apparently we should be expecting to see celebrities hanging around the area from time to time for radio interviews etc! :)

>Larger than QVB and Centrepoint combined

Farrrk, that's huge!!

but...

>New tenants include: Coles

Fuck off Coles!!!

^^They need a big supermarket since they're located in the centre of Australia's densest area come 2006! Soba, as it is known (South of Bathurst).

coles? coles is mad! better than buying your essientals at a convenience store!

- New tenants include: Coles (largest single level supermarket in the CBD),

So I take it that qualification just means it's smaller than Woolworths Town Hall!

^^Yep, smaller than multi-level Woolworths Metro - although realistically that store is more like a Woolies Supermarket + Big W, so I personally wouldn't consider it comparable.

Today they have fitted a wave- jagged edge design on the roof of the street overhang thingy (sorry for the jargon ;). IT LOOKS DAMN GREAT!!! I wish i had my camera. The design of this whole complex seems to be in the little details and they look so good.
Also its kinda funny, i wanted MTV to have their broadcast premises there, but radio is close enough. I think this definately supports my theory of them trying to make this like time square in NYC so hopefully they will put that electronic billboard.
thnx for the info finn....Easter cant come soon enough!

^ Sounds grand. No doubt, we'll get a gander soun.and the big news is...

- Austereo will have a live broadcasting facility on the ground floor, with 2Day FM and Triple M broadcasting from the facility! So apparently we should be expecting to see celebrities hanging around the area from time to time for radio interviews etc! :)Ouwh, maybe I'll be able to get Dannii Minogue's autograph!! ;)

Nah, more likely Davo 'n Chocko (they all sound like that), the arvo DJs.

http://www.sayhey.co.uk/invboard/html/emoticons/laugh.gif

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid144/pc22b61942a243ed6eb44f5a233e4a88e/f677c40b.jpg

Thanks for the info Finn! Yeah, the broadcasting of those radio stations from this tower will bring a bit of LIFE to this little section in hopefully a big way...

Muse, Not sure about your chances of getting Dannii Minogue's signature! LOL, more like getting Jackie O's, although she's not the nicest women if you read some of the stuff she gets up to.

Anyway, the podium keeps on looking better!

fro. I already have D.M.'s signature. It was bit of an in joke for finn.

^^Yes indeed! ;) Ah well, who knows, if I'm working up on the 38th floor (our new offices come January 2005) and I happen to hear that Dannii is doing a radio interview downstairs I may jump in the lift and get you an extra one anyway Muse! :D

lots of unvieling going on. looks fab
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/culwulla/latbasenov23.jpg
the entrance is perfect!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/culwulla/latentrancenov23.jpg

^^ Yes, a big 'n bold corporate entrance!! :eek:

Who would have thought even 5 years ago of seeing such a site on that part of George St?

finn is going to get very strong legs racing up & down those stairs.

^^ Yes, a big 'n bold corporate entrance!! :eek:

Who would have thought even 5 years ago of seeing such a site on that part of George St?

finn is going to get very strong legs racing up & down those stairs.
Not I! I am so happy the way this podium and street level has turned out!!! EGADS!!! That second picture looks like it belongs around Chiefly tower or around Circular Quay, not the southern section of the CBD!!

Top pics!

Not I! I am so happy the way this podium and street level has turned out!!! EGADS!!! That second picture looks like it belongs around Chiefly tower or around Circular Quay, not the southern section of the CBD!!

Top pics!...and fro, what's your beef in regard to the the 2nd pic? Chifley Tower is a well respected tower in Sydney.

Compared to such 70's built mid-risers such as 69 Goulburn aka Sydney Plaza and Roden Cutler House on Campbell re the entrances/lobby areas, the new corporate entrance on George for E & Y @ Latitude is looking top-notch and eons ahead of the 2 above examples mentioned.

On a last note, the southern traditonal Sydney CBD is burgeoning, with more spiffy towers to come in 2005/2006.

...and fro, what's your beef in regard to the the 2nd pic? Chifley Tower is a well respected tower in Sydney.

Compared to such 70's built mid-risers such as 69 Goulburn aka Sydney Plaza and Roden Cutler House on Campbell re the entrances/lobby areas, the new corporate entrance on George for E & Y @ Latitude is looking top-notch and eons ahead of the 2 above examples mentioned.


I think your comment is what fro means Muse! He was referring to his feeling that the Latitude lobby/entrance looks so classy that you'd expect to see it up around the Chifley/Circular Quay area of the CBD rather than in the southern CBD. :)

Not @ all finn. Particularly fro saying in (partially) the below quote "not the southern section of the CBD!!". There was no misunderstanding there finn.

Not I! I am so happy the way this podium and street level has turned out!!! EGADS!!! That second picture looks like it belongs around Chiefly tower or around Circular Quay, not the southern section of the CBD!!

Yup looking very good indeed, so good I just decided to give my legs some exercise and run up there myself, until some security guy told me that they weren't open yet.....

Really can't wait til they open the retail section though.

Cheers

Yup looking very good indeed, so good I just decided to give my legs some exercise and run up there myself, until some security guy told me that they weren't open yet.....

Really can't wait til they open the retail section though.

CheersWell no surprise in regard to the security guy...that was fair enough.

Initially World Sq Retail was supposed to open in the latter part of Januray '05 but according to finn, it will have its "grand opening" pushed back @ this stage to around Easter '05. Let's hope it may be a month earlier than Easter; here's hoping :okay: !!

BTW When I got the bus downtown this morning to get off @ Town Hall Station to go to North Sydney, from the bus I noticed a mall type lighting in the retail section just above the escalators on near the cnrs of George and Goulburn Sts. It was illumnated....they're obviously "fiting out" the World Sq Retail component....like derrr lol http://www.sayhey.co.uk/invboard/html/emoticons/laugh.gif

Well no surprise in regard to the security guy...that was fair enough.

Initially World Sq Retail was supposed to open in the latter part of Januray '05 but according to finn, it will have its "grand opening" pushed back @ this stage to around Easter '05. Let's hope it may be a month earlier than Easter; here's hoping :okay: !!

BTW When I got the bus downtown this morning to get off @ Town Hall Station to go to North Sydney, from the bus I noticed a mall type lighting in the retail section just above the escalators on near the cnrs of George and Goulburn Sts. It was illumnated....they're obviously "fiting out" the World Sq Retail component....like derrr lol http://www.sayhey.co.uk/invboard/html/emoticons/laugh.gif

Some of the retail outlets will most probably be open before the grand opening...there was apparently an agreement somewhere (from what I heard in the office) that when we moved into the new HQ some of the retail outlets had to be open - dunno whether that is still the case, but my division is the last to move in and we'll be in after the New Year so it's always a possibility!

Yeah, I was praising the design Muse... :okay: I love it! It's good for the Southern CBD! What I meant was that I thought it was a standard that could easily place it in the northern section of the CBD...

I just said it wrong!

Damn nice :D

Really looking forward to giving the place a look at when I'm next in Sydney....

I found out that Retravision will open a store in the complex. From my knowledge it's the first store they are opening in the CBD. A major pharmacy chain will also open a store in the complex.

As for the opening of the complex - March 2005

Retravision has had a store in York Street for years - it's between Market and King streets.

No surprises about stores like Retrovision having an outlet, considering SOBA will eventually be the densist populated residential area in Sydney.

I'm still hoping that the Blade Runner-like illuminations will eventuate. Just as a reminder, see the multiple changing renders after entering World Square Retail (http://www.worldsquare.com.au) by clicking on the 4th box from the left. When the renders change, there are brief descriptions to the right of them.

Hee hee, Soba. Can we start using that term for real?

Oh course it'll be only two blocks wide because Haymarket starts south of Goulburn.

Don't quite understand what you mean Randwicked about being only 2 blocks wide.

SOBA as you know just means anything South of Bathurst and W.S. Retail will mostly service residents and workers alike, basically those anywhere South of Bathurst. Simple!!

Nah I mean adopting it as an official name for the area, like SOHO or TRIBECA.

I have mixed feelings about the finishes @ street level.

The off-white metallic tiles are safe enough.

The new blades appearing along Goulburn are reasonable. They are disguising the huge grating and have slivers of blue lighting directing downward. The blades also complement those at the overhang of the main tower.

There are metallic goldish clad round columns that I need to see closer on the cnr of Goulburn and George. When I viewed them quickly from afar the other day, they just looked cheap.

Dunno :dunno:

Muse I'm glad you've brought it up because I've been uncomfortable with the very generic panel/glass insert combination on those low level offices/shops. Very pre-fab looking.

That glass is *very* yellow when you see it in person.

today
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/9213/i4pmvc142f.jpg

The blue light is grandly impressive at night... I was shocked, pleasently that it is. Feels like an age since I was last standing in that bargin basement bookstore on that very same corner....

well marchis not to long to wait
i working at wynard now and dont really get down there any way

Was just at the base of Latitude 20 minutes ago, and boy, do those flourescent blue 'wavy' strip lights on the ceiling of the base (and vertical fins) look fantastic! You can just see them in Culwullas last photo, but they really stand out at night.

Do you play a musical instrument Tony ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Fortunately there was a door open @ the new George St entrance b/ween Latitude and the gold clad 550 George. I grabbed a snap.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/509/379worldsqret1.JPG
...

WOW! Nice opportunistic pic Muse! Interesting footpath thing they've got going there... I like the coloured awnings, very classy and they way they've created a laneway between the two buildings. Can't wait till this one is open, not much longer now!

Yeah fro, unattended. Had always been curious as to how it might be turning out.

The wheelchair access makes it kind of interesting http://i.somethingawful.com/mjolnir/images/emot-corsair.gif

Thanks for the scoop Muse. The laneway looks nice which should enhance the shopping experience :) However I don't like the idea of ramps crisscrossing with stairs running along the side. It would of been better if they had the laneway rising in a slope minus the ramps and stairs.

BTW I meant to post earlier, all the hordings are down along George St. Wire fences and a lot of tidying to do, but the ground floor along George is completely visible.

when will the screen go up?

I gotta get myself down there again soon by the looks of it!!

HELL YEAH its looking great but i can only see one place on the george st side that could have the screen

Have I missed something? What screen are you talking about?

Have I missed something? What screen are you talking about?
It appears with other neon work on the 4th menu box "Impressions" @ World Square (http://www.worldsquare.com.au)

has anyone been inside foyer yet, reall y groovy

http://img221.exs.cx/img221/3606/latitudefeb86jk.jpg

The office lobby off George St?

A few weeks ago a gallantly went up the stairs off George, as you do, and went into the office lobby. I found it all sparkly-warkly and clean but rather non-descript.

thanks cull

They have just begun recruiting people for the Coles Supermarket inside the complex. It's been listed on the Coles Myer careers website for around a week now.

noticed today the World Tower- day care centre is being built atop the podium which joins Wt. not a bad view for toddlers. notice timber panels, there part of outdoor area.

http://img107.exs.cx/img107/267/imgp37164yu.jpg

Thats one big TV screen, that will be awesome if it eventuates.

it will...

Had a quick look into World Square construction site on my way into the office today - stairs from Hordern Arcade down into the square are currently under construction, and the trees for the square (ficus) were sitting there waiting to be put in place.

It's all coming along very nicely and with the grand opening of the Coles Supermarket scheduled for Saturday March 19th, it's only about a month away from being ready for the public!

Of course, I don't expect that many of the specialty retail stores will be ready to open by that time, but it will be a good chance to have a look at the layout and public spaces! Maybe the square itself will even be open before then?

Given the strict controls on any form of obtrusive advertising in the CBD, I find it hard to believe that this big screen will be in place in an area with plenty of high density residential development. If it does go up, the controls on it's activity will be very strict.

^ They could just show the eye, and it coulld select ppl on the street via motion sensors and just watch them......
Seriously tho, i really do hope that it will go up. Seems strange to include it when its not going to be shown, it very well can serve as a marketing ploy. MY fingers are crossed that it isnt tho.

Good news guys. Part of the complex will open on Monday. you will be able to access parts of the complex from the George Street entrance (between World Tower & Latitude) and Goulburn Street entrance.

I also saw some trees in the square at the centre of the complex as well. It looks good.

Seems to be running so late
looking forward to having a look next week

Some neon signage going up today on the corner of George and Liverpool - neon signs advertising some of the bigger tenants in the centre including Coles, Bay Swiss, Rebel Sport and Retravision, just above the entrance! Will be very visible when looking down towards World Square from George St entertainment precinct.

Also, screen is up in the internal square and lots of fit-out evidence in stores fronting George St - counters and security scanners in G-Star Raw and a pink wall and chandeleirs in store next door to G-Star.

Had a STRANGE dream last night that i was walking through this brand new complex..

It was so colourful inside, lots of fluoro flashing lights and twinkly things... think Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds! :nuts: :nuts: :nuts:

^ lol, has anyone seen the tall sculpture in between WT & E&Y just off George street? looks c00l

Sounds interesting. I may take a walk down there now.

i managed to take some pix @ lunch
lot of big wigs walking around. must be opening to humans soon?

http://img172.echo.cx/img172/136/wtsculpture3vs.jpg

new signs going up cnr george & liverp00l.

http://img193.echo.cx/img193/5625/wsqsigns0lx.jpg

:O neons!!!

i managed to take some pix @ lunch
lot of big wigs walking around. must be opening to humans soon?

http://img172.echo.cx/img172/136/wtsculpture3vs.jpg

new signs going up cnr george & liverp00l.

http://img193.echo.cx/img193/5625/wsqsigns0lx.jpg

Not a great selection of tenants....Rebel Sport is boring. Why not Nike Town?

Yeah specialty shops should be sought after. Glad to hear about Sony Central.

I don't have a problem with Rebel Sport, but RetraVision? It doesn't belong to CBD!!


Neons look awesome nonetheless, it will be just like a little TimesSquare.

There is a retravision in the cbd already, near the QVB (least there used to be).

Stop being so pretentious, they are probably having these more suburban bands moving in because there is a market to servicing all the residents living in apartments in an around the southern CBD and Haymarket.

cant wait till night time!

Wow! Sony Central! But meh...Chatswood has one of those. Heh. How about a nightclub.

:D

i managed to take some pix @ lunch
lot of big wigs walking around. must be opening to humans soon?

LOL @ "must be opening to humans soon"

http://img172.echo.cx/img172/136/wtsculpture3vs.jpg

^ Great looking sculpture. Will make a detour to check it out today ie Friday, while I'm downtown.

new signs going up cnr george & liverp00l.

http://img193.echo.cx/img193/5625/wsqsigns0lx.jpgfinn mentioned a Coles sign also. Might be obscured by the monorail in the pic above or by the workers just above the Sony Central signage. However I will also check it out today :okay:
@ this stage they are looking more like suburban mall fluorescent-lit signages rather than neon work.

.....

I like it!! The signage looks pretty good and will liven up that corner a bit. I think the mix of shops is wonderful, I think it's better to have these sorts of shops that expensive clothes/hi-tech shops like Galleries Victoria, which is dead most of the time.

Go World Square Retail! I like it! Well done!

Not sure about the sculpure!? The guy in the photo on the far right is looking at it and thinking "We paid how much for this thing?".. anyway, it's all good! Not long now before it opens!! :)

you can see the coles sign in that pic right above the sony one!

The sculpture looks like it's still wrapped in plastic.

I like it!! The signage looks pretty good and will liven up that corner a bit. I think the mix of shops is wonderful, I think it's better to have these sorts of shops that expensive clothes/hi-tech shops like Galleries Victoria, which is dead most of the time.

Go World Square Retail! I like it! Well done!

Not sure about the sculpure!? The guy in the photo on the far right is looking at it and thinking "We paid how much for this thing?".. anyway, it's all good! Not long now before it opens!! :)

Do we have any news on whether the big screen on the exterior in the renders will be present on the final building?

Is that sculpture supposed to be a pine cone or a christmas decoration? And who was "commissioned" to design it?

The signage/neons on the cnr of George and Liverpool Streets will consist of, from top to bottom & obviously not to scale, more so indicative:

The new World Sq logo:

________http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/379worldsquaresymbol.JPG

______world square

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/379coleslogo1.JPG

http://www.sonycentral.com.au/images/mast/logo.gif

REBELSPORT

BAY SWISS

http://www.ixlmodena.com.au/images/retravision_logo_large.gif

BTW yesterday, I was speaking to 2 of the workmen (one was a foreman) and they gave me a hard hat and showed me the white screen in the middle of the courtyard to the northern section.

They told me that it will broadcast TV and ads for World Square Retail. I think it may be the complexs' own in-house TV mixed with public TV station broadcasts.

Also the above sculpture will be changing colours in the evenings.

There are also neon strips in different colours lining under the eaves on both sides through the George Street middle entrance, on either side of the as said sculpture.

I think once completed, World Square Retail, its entrances, any facade signages and the courtyard are going to give Sydney a really great "night show" :okay:

Also, don't forget this related thread: News on World Square Retail (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=194653&page=1&pp=20)

BTW yesterday, I was speaking to 2 of the workmen (one was a foreman) and they gave me a hard hat and showed me the white screen in the middle of the courtyard to the northern section.


Oh, so it's a white screen as opposed to LCD...
A bit disappointing.

Oh, so it's a white screen as opposed to LCD...
A bit disappointing.The 2 guys and I were about 30-40m away from it. I'm not completely sure, but it may have been a protective covering.

It certainly wasn't a screen just for a projector from afar to project images onto it. That wouldn't be feasible for the daylight hours.

I didn't ask, but it may be an LCD screen or some other type of screen that will be wired up for us to view @ all hours.

looks like june 2 is opening day
pic of laneway at rea r of wt.
curious looking circular sculpture being built in background. looks like its getting leaves .

http://img265.echo.cx/img265/4199/wordlsqretial0jy.jpg

Coles opens tomorrow!!!! :)

The centre is now open! Went for a quick stroll through on my way into work today - some of the stores are open (Bay Swiss, Priceline, Coles, G Star, Napoleon Perdis, Surf Skate Ski, Bank of Queensland etc), but heaps are still undergoing fit-out - which explains why the "Grand Opening" is next week I guess!

Looks cool though! I hope to have a better look around at lunch time today! :)

^^ EXCELLENT!!! How quick was that! It's amazing to think that it'll be all systems go in a week's time!

Is there a good "feeling" and "vibe" about the place finn? Do you feel that the retail space has been designed thoughfully? I can't wait to check this out soon...

Went pass this one at night and boy did it look great! The stairs leading to the courtyard were lit up in white, the shops where all on and bright. Even Cassia Garden's office facade was nicely lit up. This part of town is honestly unrecognisable! Its so great to have something like this with the always busy China Town. This area rocks!!!

Yesterday my good friend Anthony visiting from Melbourne on business and was staying in the Avillion Hotel Sydney, World Sq and we met up for lunch.

Many of the stores are already open, and many still aren't.

The lower ground floor, besides the only coffee/cake open ATM is where we sat and Gloria Jeans wasn't quite open as yet. The Coles supermarket on this lower ground level was open and looked like it was already doing a roaring trade.

One small men's hairdressing "totally male" was handing out promtional leaflets...
LOL \/

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/379worldsqtotallymale.JPG

Also sat in the middle sqare itselft, which isn't mega and they still were working on the huge mutli-coloured sculpture/installation by Singaporian/Australian artist Suzann Victor. Once completed, should look great when it is flood lit with it many metallic anodised components. :okay:

....

Is that picture of the two guys taken before or after getting a haircut? Because they both look like they were standing in a wind tunnel before someone pissed on their faces. Not flattering at all.

They wouldn't wanna shag u either vitriol! Anyways, i went along to see the new centre last night - kind of reminded me of the new Maroubra junction centre, but i did manage to christen the toilets :laugh:

On the one hand, there's the usual combo of same old shops/cafes, yet at least there are some original ones too like the G Star store & Quiznos subs (better than Subway IMO). It'll be interesting to see how the furniture shop on the cnr of Pitt/Goulburn trades.

I'll be interested to see what the Hemmes family's new bar/club facility, called Equilibrium is like when it is all complete and open - it's just next door to the lobby at work (cnr George and Goulburn) and they're currently fitting it out with staircases etc. It's a massive tenancy spanning over the whole 3 levels of the shopping centre, so will add a different element to the feel of the centre I think.

^ imagine trying to say "Equilibrium" after you been at the bar all afternoon. :drunk:

I went today. It's ok, I just dont like it as much as WBJ.

The top level doesn't feel like it's the one center, and the bottom level needs color desperatly. (Ok, Looking up in the plaza and seeing WT and Latitude is cool...)