A $1 billion revamp plan for Sydney’s Wynyard Station surrounds by Make architects and Australian firm, Architectus, has been met with a $100 million pledge from the NSW government to upgrade the station.
Under the proposal from developers Brookfield, the station surrounds and the Sydney Menzies Hotel will receive a $1 billion-plus revamp, which includes a 27-level, 58,000sqm office tower called ‘One Carrington Street’, made possible by the demolition of the Menzies Hotel and Thakral House.
Designed by London firm Make architects, with help from Australian firm Architectus, the tower will facilitate a new eastern transit hall for Wynyard Station off George and Carrington Streets, and will offer four levels of retail space and a basement car park.
The project will be developed by Brookfield who took over the listed Thakral Holdings to win access to the Wynyard station site and the Menzies Hotel back in 2012. Brookfield has said the development will include six hotels with over 2,100 rooms operating under the Novotel, Sofitel and Hilton brands.
The heritage-listed Shell House building on the corner of Margaret Street, Carrington Street and Wynyard Lane will be spared from demolition under the proposal.
The building’s interior will be retrofitted with 8,000sqm of office space and 1,500sqm of retail tenancy, but will maintain its historic exterior façade.
Above: The site is within the city's CBD. Image: Brookfield
A new laneway planned between George and Carrington Streets will provide pedestrian access between Wynyard Park and George Street.
On completion, the Wynyard area will be an important transport hub for Sydney and will lead into the planned Wynyard Walk, designed by Woods Bagot which runs from Clarence Street down to Lend Lease's $6 billion Barangaroo precinct.
Make Architects’ Project Director for One Carrington Street Ian Lomas said the development could see the Wynyard precinct become associated with the world’s great stations.
“The route between Wynyard Station, George Street and the Hunter Connection will give the city a new urban space, with the generosity associated with all great stations around the world,” said Lomas.
“The new office will be sculpted to optimise views to and from the building – each elevation is different to complement and enhance the city’s skyline.”
Contiguous to the project is a $100 million upgrade of the Wynyard train station from the NSW government which will see the city’s third largest transport hub transformed to facilitate the proposed increase in railway traffic from the Bangaroo project.
Already the station sees over 8,700 people passing through the turnstiles in peak hours, a number that NSW Auditor-General Peter Achterstraat has said will increase by thousands with the Bangaroo development commencement.
Built in 1932, the Wynyard station upgrade will encompass the concourse and ticket area, including wider ticket gates, new signage, an upgrade of retail outlets, and new tiling, paint and light fittings.
Planning approvals for the train station upgrade are set to begin within months while Brookfield hope their own Wynyard project will begin in 2015 for a 2018 completion.
