5 Martin Place 'Money Box' earns winning interest from architects

The building, an extension of the original 1916 Commonwealth Bank of Australia “Money Box” building, one of the most modern banking buildings in the world at the time of construction, was completed last year, and is a collaboration between architecture firms Johnson Pilton Walker and Tanner Kibble Denton (TKD).

Inside 5 Martin Place. Photo: Brett Boardman

It picked up the Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design, and the Greenaway Award for Heritage, and was awarded in the Commercial Architecture category.

JPW associate Peter Blome said that the wins were testament to the projects unique attributes, and the “truly collaborative” approach the two firms took to maintaining the historical value of 5 Martin Place.

The view to Sydney’s CBD from 5 Martin Place. Photo: Brett Boardman

“There’s a lot of aspects of the project that are unique,” Mr Blome said.

“It pays respect for one of most important heritage buildings, it was the retention of that building and recognition of that building that formed the focus of the project.”

Key stakeholders discuss the challenges of construction in this video from project builder, Grocon. 

The building was first extended in 1933, with further development in 1968.

“A rational commercial floor plate meant that the new building had to extend out over the heritage building, we couldn’t put any additional load on the existing building, so we had to build a cantileveler over the existing building instead, and as a result of that we could reinstate the old light wells,” Mr Blome said.

“These floor plates are made up of the 1930s building with the 1916 building and the 2016 building – the whole lot is integrated into a very successful building.”

The building’s five-star energy rating, which can be upgraded to a six-star rating with alterations, and the re-invigoration of the streetscape below, including a strong public art strategy, are also testament to the project’s success, according to Mr Blome.

Let there be light! Looking up toward the original roof. Photo: Brett Boardman

“It demonstrates pretty clearly that a heritage building can be reinvigorated to become a premium office building with a floor plate which has got strong sustainability credentials,” he said.

5 Martin Place features in Colliers International’s Building Icons series. 

Retailers including luxury luggage manufacturer Rimowa and clothing giant H&M’s premium chain COS had filled tenancies on the ground level of the project, bringing life to long neglected laneways.

“The integration of the groundplane into a network with Sydney’s public spaces, the reactivation of the retail aspects on Rowe Street and Lees Circuit, is a great achievement,” Mr Blome said.

Colliers International is currently marketing a limited number of office suites for lease in 5 Martin Place, which is anchored by international law firm Ashurst and investment management firm Challenger and includes tenants such as Dropbox and WeWork.

Colliers draws attention to the building’s extensive end of trip facilities, which includes over 200 lockers and bike racks, more than 20 showers, fresh towels and even bicycle repairs.