A Section 75W Modification development application for a commercial tower in North Sydney could finally bring the long-awaited project to life.

Development at 1 Denison Street, North Sydney has been on the cards for nearly a decade, but has been stalled thanks to owner receivership, failure to obtain pre-commitment from a tenant, and a number of ownership changes.

Now, seven years on since the original HDR-designed commercial and hotel building received planning approval, a new owner has come to the table with a modified development designed by Bates Smart and the security of an anchor tenant.

The two obvious differences between the original and new towers are its size and form. Seven storeys (32.65m) have been added, taking its height to over 210 metres, and the GFA has increased thanks to its new height and enlarged floorplates which now edge closer to the site boundary. The original’s stepped form and rectangular floorplates have been replaced with a gradually tapering northern façade and rounded plates.

Top: HDR’s original DA approved tower and Bates Smart’s new iteration.
Above: massing model

Other modifications reflect the evolution design thinking, building materials and technology have undergone in the past decade. The podium will be constructed of timber, using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) for column, beams and floor slabs, and feature exposed curving timber spandrels with vegetated edges.

The tower will use a unitized curtain wall technology that will incorporate a linear ceramic fritt pattern that provides a combination of privacy, glare control and solar control depending on orientation. A linear sunshade follows the fritt pattern and provides solar control.

The office spaces are typically open planned and designed to be adaptable to the needs of future tenants. The structural system developed affords this flexibility and consists of a post-tensioned concrete floor structure with limited columns on the floor plate, developed to allow an efficient floor framing system. It’s lateral system consists of a reinforced concrete core structure that diminishes in size through the height of the building as it tapers.

The activated public domain

A linear sunshade follows the fritt pattern of the tower, providing solar control. The sunshade will be a 375mm long aluminium extrusion with curved ends. It will be mounted with brackets and held 125mm off the glass

Other modifications include a refinement of the ground plane to include additional retail and a through site-link; an introduction of landscape and public domain designed by Aspect Studios; the pedestrianising of through-site link and laneways and; the deletion of the public car park and inclusion of 44 additional tenant spaces and 10 car share spaces.

ABOUT TIME FOR NORTH SYDNEY

On the way: 100 Mount Street by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP and Architectus (left) and 177 Pacific Highway by Bates Smart (right). Images: Architectus and Bates Smart

1 Denison will join a number of new projects on-the-go in North Sydney, some which have faced a similar drawn-out development process but all of which contribute to the CBD’s bright future.

100 Mount Street by Chicago architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP and local firm Architectus finally broke ground recently after a number of ownership changes and failed anchor tenant bids, and will bring with it Australia’s second iteration of closed-cavity façade technology.

Development is also nearing completion at 177 Pacific Highway, a new commercial building also by Bates Smart, and the Koicha Takada Architects-designed ‘Sky by Crown’ apartments at 211-223 Pacific Highway.

New towers are also in the making for 229-231 Miller St, 144 Pacific Highway and 168 Walker St.

A recent proposal to knock down the iconic Bayer building by Ezzy Architects across the Warringah Freeway was rejected.

Images: Bates Smart (unless stated)

Nathan Johnson

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