Fender Katsalidis design selected for sculptural commercial tower
A Fender Katsalidis proposal for a translucent, sculptural commercial tower has been selected by the Parramatta City Council Design Competition.
The $230 million, 32 Smith Street project by property company GPT Group will sit on a 2440 sqm parcel overlooking the Parramatta River.
Fender Katsalidis principal Mark Curzon, who recently joined the Sydney office, drove the design of the glass towers.
Curzon, who previously worked on 1 Blight Street in the Sydney CBD, said the building will be the most translucent in Parramatta.
“The city loved that our design is both spatially generous and flexible,” Curzon said.
“The floor-to-floor height of the car park floors could easily be transformed into other useful spaces such as commercial spaces in the future.”
Above the raised car park is an oasis level, an outdoor terrace that offers northern river views.
The development opens up the ground level as public space and is anchored by two pebble-like forms.
Each pebble form is designated for a different use – a commercial entry lobby and a retail space – yet they inherently complement each other in both shape and function.
Glass has been used throughout the ground plane, maximising natural light.
The facade has been designed with twin external timber louvres, providing shade to the building.
The lifts have been designed to deliver a unique arrival experience.
The southern façade provides a glass lift atrium with glass-backed lift cars, articulating this exciting space while providing the floor plates with fantastic views back to the city.
On the 26th floor, the building is crowned by a tree-lined open-air terrace.
“This special floor provides an amazing externally landscaped terrace, allowing tenants to enjoy the experience of being elevated and looking out to the Parramatta River and beyond,” says Curzon.
