Poly Australia appoints Grimshaw to design 26-storey George Street tower
Poly Australia has appointed Grimshaw to design the developer’s first Australian commercial tower at 210-220 George Street in Sydney.
Grimshaw’s design that will create 16,000 square metres of office space and 1,000sqm of George Street-facing retail, won over entries in a competition that also included Hassell, a joint-venture SOM and PTW bid, Fitzpatrick + Partners, BVN and Durbach Block Jaggers.
The local arm of the Chinese developer was granted stage one approval for the grade-A office building in early May and subject to City of Sydney’s further approval, construction of the $90 million tower is due to begin in early 2019 and completion is expected in 2022.
The site for the 26-storey tower adjoins the Alfred, Pitt, Daley and George Streets precinct that is undergoing a massive transformation – part of a total $3.7 billion-worth of development by 2025 – and because it is on a small site and will be surrounded by taller buildings, seeks to differentiate itself with split-level twin floorplates that create workplace communities of between 90 and 120 people.
“We see the opportunity to create a leading-edge workplace that inspires the day-to-day working lives of its occupants, enlivens the public realm and adds vibrancy to city life,” Grimshaw Managing Partner Andrew Cortese said.
The podium level of the building connects to George Street through external terraces that integrate the workplace to the streetscape, Poly said.
“Grimshaw offered a unique approach to the design of a commercial building and we hope to see this concept set a benchmark for Sydney,” said Poly Australia Sales and Marketing Director Jay Carter. “Grimshaw has shown a disciplined respect for the streetscape and surrounding heritage buildings through their design.”
Up the road, the firm also designed Charter Hall’s 333 George Street office tower completed earlier this year.
“With the addition of the Light Rail extending from Circular Quay along the George Street civic spine as well as the planned developments at Circular Quay, there exists within the northern CBD the opportunity to make a financial and creative hub of global significance for Sydney,” Mr Cortese said.
