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In an effort to enhance Sydney's influence on the international business scene, the Australian city is currently redeveloping swaths of underused land around the financial district. On the northern edge of Sydney's downtown core, a former port facility known as Barangaroo is undergoing a dramatic transformation from primarily industrial uses to a mix of office, residential and entertainment spaces. The first phase of the transformation is currently unfolding on the southern side of the emerging neighbourhood, with the construction of a three-tower complex named International Towers Sydney.
Consisting entirely of office spaces, the International Towers project is taking its final shape along Darling Harbour's waterfront. Designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, the development is characterized by rounded corners and dark-tinted glazing covered with colourful vertical fins acting as brise-soleil and allowing for better thermal performance during the summer months. The towers' heights gradually increase, with the tallest being the northernmost edifice, at 217 metres and 49 storeys above ground level.
While International Tower 1 is scheduled for delivery some time this year, the shorter International Tower 2 — situated immediately to the south and rising 178 metres in height — welcomed its first tenants in August 2015. International Tower 3, the southernmost and shortest building at 165 metres and 39 floors, will be completed by the end of this year. In total, the LendLease development will create 280,000 square metres of office space offering a 6 Star Green Star rating, the maximum a building can obtain through this Australian sustainability assessment tool.
When completed in 2021, the Barangaroo precinct will be home to 1,800 residents and 23,000 office workers. The area will boast a strong connectivity with its surroundings thanks to extensive pedestrian and cycle infrastructure along the waterfront, while 50% of the total 22 hectares of the site will be dedicated to open public spaces. Additional images and information on the projects above can be found in the Database files linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
