The Parramatta City Council has announced Sydney firm Johnson Pilton Walker as the unanimous winner of the Parramatta Square Design Competition, beating a shortlist (curated from 73 submissions) that included Sydney based Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp, Bates Smart, and Italian practice Mario Cucinella Architects.
The 53-storey commercial towers will provide up to 140,000 square metres of office space to Parramatta's central business district as well as act as centrepieces for the future Parramatta Square, in the heart of the CBD.
See images of the towers, which feature a unique floating "public space in the sky," after the break...
Features of the plan include: a cantilevering double-height sky terrace on the 25th floor; a double-height sky lobby on the 27th floor, accommodating public and semi-public spaces; a retail podium along the southern edge of the future Square; and a clear, accessible and active link between Parramatta transport interchange and Parramatta Square.
According to Lord Mayor John Chedid: “This project is essential to the revitalisation of the Parramatta town centre and to the safe, easy, pleasant delivery of pedestrians from the transport interchange to the civic heart of Parramatta."
The Parramatta City Council agreed, stating: “The JPW scheme proposes a highly legible, naturally lit connection between the rail station concourse and the future Parramatta Square, with multiple opportunities for retail activation on two levels. It proposes twin towers which complement but do not compete with the landmark ‘Aspire’ tower design. These towers will provide 21st century workplaces in the heart of Parramatta.”
Story via Parramatta City Council
