Architecture firms Hassell and Populous are the designers behind the multi-billion dollar plan to build Australia's largest convention and exhibition facilities along with a 900 room plus hotel complex on Darling Harbour.

The firms have been allocated as design consultants to Destination Sydney consortium, which has been selected by the New South Wales Government as developer and contractor of the facility. The consortium comprises of developer Lend Lease, its infrastructure development business Capella Capital, venue managers and operators AEG Ogden, and Spotless, which will deliver Facility Management Services.

Ken Maher, HASSELL design leader on the project, said the firm was pleased to take on the challenge of transforming a key Sydney precinct through the design of three major public buildings and the unifying public realm.

“The re-making of Darling Harbour is a rare opportunity to design a significant new quarter within the central city,” he said.

“It extends the urban fabric and re-connects the city to Ultimo and Pyrmont with more permeable networks of streets and lanes. Importantly it can bring a new level of public amenity for visitors and citizens alike through extended public parkland that is identifiably 'Sydney' in character.

The theatre view from the west.

“It will be a fusion of architecture and landscape, of indoors and outdoors, of engagement, education, living, creative working and entertainment. The project demonstrates the imperative of responsive design to sustain urban life at this critical time for our cities and communities,” he said.

Populous has designed both the London and Sydney Olympic stadiums in addition to 45 convention and exhibition centres around the world. The firm’s senior principal and project leader, Richard Breslin said:

"Sdney will have a state-of-the-art venue that will showcase the city to the world and revitalise Darling Harbour, both economically and culturally."

“The landmark Convention Centre, deliberately clad in materials which reflect its spectacular harbour outlook, will be complimented by the rest of the precinct which looks onto parkland. Here, the building’s boundaries  are set back, designed so the landscape becomes part of the building, with circulation and meeting spaces open  to the park, terraces functioning   as meeting spaces, and a huge 5000 sqm  open deck on top of the building providing a  platform to be used for major events,” said Breslin.

The exhibition centre will be over 35,000 sqm plus another 5,000 sqm of internal flexible space. This includes a 20,000 sqm exhibition space on the ground  level, with a 13,000 sqm exhibition space situated above it and directly linked, allowing the combination to be used for the larger exhibitions. This stacked configuration has been deemed as best suited to high-density CBD environments and has been modelled on facilities in Hong Kong and Vancouver.