Unanimously chosen by the jury of industry experts, the twin towers design by Sydney architecture firm Johnson Pilton Walker have taken out the Parramatta City Council’s latest international design competition.

Featuring a unique floating ‘public space in the sky’, the towers are set to transform Parramatta’s skyline as part of the development Stages five and six.

Last month four shortlisted designs were selected from 73 international submissions from leading architecture firms. They included designs from Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp, Bates Smart, Mario Cucinella Architects and the winning design by Johnson Pilton Walker.

Lord Mayor John Chedid says, “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.

“Council is delighted with the outcome and Johnson Pilton Walker’s design solutions. We’re confident their proposal for two beautifully linked buildings will complement all aspects of Parramatta Square, and be of premier appeal to national and international tenants.”

The commercial towers will add up to 140,000sqm of office space to the CBC and function as two of the key centrepieces of the three hectare Parramatta Square site.

Key features of the 53-storey buildings 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; an edge-defining retail podium along the southern edge of the future Square; and a clear, accessible and active link between the Parramatta transport interchange and Parramatta Square.

The jury were impressed with the four shortlisted projects, which tackled the site in different ways, with each assessed in terms of its innovation, design, urban design, feasibility and sustainability.

On the Johnson Pilton Walker design, the jury says, “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.”

These twin towers join other landmark buildings already designed by internationally recognised architecture firms for the Parramatta Square precinct.

Stage 1 is a commercial building by Architectus, Stage 2 is the Aspire residential tower by Grimshaw Architects and Stage 3 is the community/Council facilities and commercial space awarded to Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp.

Lisa Rapley

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