Detailed plans of the new International Convention Centre (ICC) Hotel at Sydney's Darling Harbour have been unveiled by Lend Lease as it continues its period of consultation with the community.
Designed by Sydney architect Richard Francis-Jones of Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (FJMT) in collaboration with the Lend Lease design group, the new hotel will be operated by Accor (Sofitel) and is a key component of the 20-hectare Darling Harbour redevelopment.
The 38-storey ICC Hotel was approved in June 2014, but Lend Lease is now seeking approval of minor changes to the building’s exterior makeup as well as approval of its interior fitout and facade lighting scheme.
Approval is also being sought by Lend Lease for the deletion of the ‘plate awning’ element in the porte-cochere, an enhanced wall treatment at the south-east corner of the Ground Level/Level One, an additional area of glazing on Level Four in lieu of metal louvres and an adjusted pool terrace and screening on Level Four.
The majority of the building will still be characterised by a flush-glazed curtain wall system which, not unlike FJMT projects of the past, will feature a variety of coloured shadow boxes. The podium levels will be more robust and consist of a combination of composite metal cladding, metal louvres and dark stone cladding.
If the proposed lighting scheme is approved, the building will be wrapped in linear LED strip lighting fit with white, red, green and blue luminaires. The RGB Line flex lights will be situated within the external sunshades of each level and when viewed from a distance, will give the appearance of being a single line of lighting along each level which wraps around the building.
For the first time, the public has also been granted access to the ICC Hotel’s internal layout plan which includes details on floor plans and statements of design intent from the project’s interior designer, A+ Design Group.
The 600-room hotel will also include a Level Three (podium) restaurant and a pool, terrace, gym and bar facilities on Level Four. A+ Design Group says that their interior design will reflect the topography, geology, and maritime history of the site through the considered selection of finishes, furniture and artwork.
The modifications, interior fitout and façade lighting scheme is currently available for viewing on the NSW Planning website.
Images: FJMT. Source: NSW Planning