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A major tower planned for the Greater Western Sydney suburb of Parramatta has now chosen an architect following a design competition. Poised to be the tallest building in Sydney's metropolitan area, Melbourne-based Bates Smart came out as the winner in a field of four architects. They will now work with the developer, Walker Corporation, to bring the landmark residential tower to life.
The current iteration of the Aspire Tower would house 700 apartments, a 150-room hotel, and a 'sky deck.' It would become a key part of the larger Parramatta Square development, which will also see two 53-storey commercial towers rise from a retail podium. The Johnson Pilton Walker-designed pair was selected after a similar but separate design competition. A double-height sky terrace and sky lobby would take space on the 25th and 27th floors, respectively.
The original proposal for the site by Grimshaw Architects saw a gently rotating edifice that prompted height-related aviation concerns. Air Services Australia, the Sydney and Bankstown Airports, and the Australian Government Civil Aviation Authority unanimously expressed their worry about possible interference with takeoff and landing corridors. In response, a maximum height of 243 metres was recommended.
In a further twist to the saga, the New South Wales government scrapped the existing height limits shortly thereafter, paving the way for a supertall. Amid regulatory uncertainty, Walker and Grimshaw came back with a revised 230-metre proposal that abandoned the curvaceous characteristics of its predecessor.
Now, Walker is seeking to build 90 storeys, a request that will likely raise objections from aviation authorities once again. Their plan will be to submit an initial application for a shorter 70- storey proposal, then continue discussions about the remaining 20 storeys with the relevant parties.
The building would be defined by billowing sides and clad in a bronze-coloured material recalling the sandstone buildings of the area. The $2 billion (AUD) Parramatta Square project is one of the most substantial urban renewal endeavours in the Southern Hemisphere, aiming to unite a range of uses and provide a place for people to live, work, and play. The local council had originally hoped for a 2019 completion, but given the mounting delays thwarting the project, that timeframe may be too ambitious.
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