The future of Sydney’s skyline: 9 tallest skyscrapers by 2025
Sydney has seen an impressive amount of architectural development in the past few decades since the first ever 50-meter “high-rise” back in 1912. Iconic landmark buildings such as the Meriton World Tower, MLC Centre and 1 Bligh Street have shaped the city’s famous skyline and paved the way for countless new high-rise designs to be realised.
Historically, the height limit for buildings in Sydney was capped at 235 meters due to aviation restrictions, however, today designated sites will allow developers to reach heights of 310 meters.
Given the city’s bright future for skyscraper developments, we’ve compiled a list of 9 of Sydney’s tallest skyscrapers to be constructed by 2025.
#1 CROWN CASINO TOWER, BARANGAROO (271M)
After a legal dispute with NSW Government surrounding view obstruction, the new $1 billion high-rise on Sydney’s Waterman Quay has been given the go-ahead and has now commenced construction. Crown Resorts put a call out to architects, seeking designs for what would be the country’s most expensive building to date. Wilkinson Eyre produced the winning design which features 350 hotel rooms across 75 stories, reaching a peak of 271 meters. The height will see the design claim the title of the city’s tallest building, and will also house the country’s most expensive penthouse with a price tag of $100 million. Completion is slated for early 2021.
"WilkinsonEyre has an incredible record of achievement and I am certain they will deliver Sydney an iconic building we can all be proud of... When completed, Crown Sydney will be instantly recognisable around the world. Its iconic curves and fine lines celebrate the harbour and create an architectural 'postcard' that will help attract international tourists and assist Sydney to compete with other global destinations."
- James Packer, Crown Resorts Chairman
#2 505 GEORGE SKYSCRAPER (270M)
Last year Mirvac and Coombes Property Group announced German firm Ingenhoven and Architectus as the chosen architects for their $1 billion skyscraper development. The site was purchased in 2009 for $85 million, with the aim to produce a multi-use tower which will comprise of 80 stories with residential and commercial tenants. The slim design will sit atop the pre-existing Event Cinemas which already has a long-term lease. At street level, a number of retail stores and two childcare centres will be created, providing public amenity right on the building’s George Street boulevard entrance. By late 2019, the Stage Two development application will be submitted to the City of Sydney and will be followed by a 5-year construction period.
"Our vision is to ensure that we continue the momentum allowing it to once again be a drawcard for retailers and shoppers, city workers and the local and international visitors who make such a valuable contribution to the city’s economy."
- Mirvac’s head of residential Stuart Penklis via Sydney Morning Herald
#3 CiRCULAR QUAY TOWER (263M)
Circular Quay Tower is currently under construction and is also on track to secure Sydney's first ever 'Platinum WELL core rating'. To achieve this rating, the development must reach multiple high standards for covering air inputs, water distribution, high nourishment levels, lightness, the sense of community, thermal comfort, mental health and measured high innovation levels. Other sustainability features of the design include rainwater harvesting and high-efficiency fixtures, which helped secure Circular Quay Tower's impressive 4-star 'NABERS Water Rating'. The tower will accommodate 5,500 office workers, it will contain 1200 lockers and over 450 bicycle racks.
“Lendlease has been at the forefront of sustainability in real estate for more than two decades. Its leadership approach will continue to help shape the evolution of health and wellness in real estate globally – with Circular Quay Tower, the next example of office design which demonstrates world leadership in both sustainability and human health outcomes.”
- Rick Fedrizzi, Chairman and CEO of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).
#4 ONE SYDNEY HARBOUR, BARANGAROO (247M, 207M, 103M)
The Renzo Piano design will feature a trio of luxury multi-use buildings in Sydney’s up and coming business precinct. Situated on the corner of Hickson Road and Waterman Quay, One Sydney Harbour will be within walking distance to the Museum of Sydney, Sydney Observatory, The Rocks and perfectly positioned for stunning water views from every apartment. The development will contain a total of 775 apartments across the three buildings, including the most expensive penthouse in the Southern Hemisphere with an expected valuation of $118 million. Completion is expected to be 2020.
#5 THE Greenland Centre, CBD (237M)
Luxury living is the hallmark of The Greenland Centre development, with an emphasis placed on celebrating the arts and providing world-class entertainment experiences, 5-star dining options and spectacular viewpoints throughout the complex.
The design was a collaboration between Woods Bagot and BVN and will see a brand new 68 storey tower open by the end of the year. The 479 bespoke apartments will feature ‘Sydney Balconies’ a new concept which aims to provide a greater sense of protection from the elements for year-round enjoyment of the water views and outdoor areas. In addition to the luxury amenities available for resident use, a $25 million arts facility will be built and includes a dance, theatre, music, film and visual arts hub for the greater community. The project is backed by Greenland Group who have forecast completion to be late 2020.
#6 133 LIVERPOOL STREET (PROPOSED) (234M)
A building owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney could gain some additional levels if approval is granted for the construction of a 234m skyscraper.
The proposed Candalepas-designed tower will feature 220 apartments across 70 floors, with an expansive 24,000 square meters of commercial space. The site is handy to the Pitt Street Metro Station, which is currently in the process of undergoing an intensive infrastructure project which will connect the north, west and southern areas of Sydney via an underground rail line. The build has been expected to cost around $161 million and was submitted for council consent in September last year. Approval is yet to be granted, but updates can be tracked here.
#7 THE STAR CASINO TOWER + RITZ CARLTON HOTEL, PYRMONT (228M)
A joint venture between development groups The Star, Chow Tai Fook (Hong Kong-based) and Far East Consortium will bring a new 61-storey 6-star hotel to Sydney’s Darling Harbour. The Marriott International branded hotel will contain 220 suites, with 200 residential apartments on the lower levels, a rooftop terrace, a public restaurant, a wellness centre and two gyms. Architecture firm FMJT has been tasked with designing the tower which has an estimated $500 million construction budget.
Currently under construction with Multiplex at the helm, the 49-storey Quay Quarter has been designed by Danish-based architects 3XN in collaboration with local architects BVN. A key feature of the design is the re-purposing of 66% of the structure of the existing AMP Centre, adding to the tower's sustainability credentials. Located at 50 Bridge Street, the existing building was in need of a significant upgrade to respond to current market demands for office space.
In addition to incorporating the majority of the existing structure, adding four new elevator shafts to the core and a further 45,000 sqm of new floorspace. Instead of one large volume or 49 separate floors, the design comprises five shifting glass volumes stacked on top of each other, each connected by a large atrium.
Overall Quay Quarter tower will feature 90,000 sqm of premium-grade office space and forms the centerpiece of the wider Quay Quarter Sydney precinct, which is set to revitalise Sydney’s Circular Quay.
"When built it will be a tower that doesn’t feel like a high-rise, but a vertical village that catalyses life and community feeling. With its design the new high-rise project looks at the ‘high rise’ in an entirely new way, every architectural solution aiming at creating added value for people - both the users inside the building and for the people around it."
- 3XN
Quay Quarter Tower will also feature the latest in commercial office technology and is targeting 6-star Green Star and 5.5 Star NABERS ratings.
#9 4-6 BLIGH STREET, (PROPOSED) (205M)
First covered on Urban.com.au last month, Woods Bagot's winning design for 4-6 Bligh Street rounds out the top 9. The 55-storey tower has been designed to sit comfortably in the streetscape an complement its surrounding heritage neighbours and will also introduce a new luxury city hotel for the central Sydney site owned by Singapore-based investment company SC Capital Partners Group.
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