Parramatta Council has lodged a development application for the $89.5-million redesign of Parramatta Town Hall.
Draft designs have been released by a consortium of architects from France and Australia, comprising Manuelle Gautrand Architecture, DesignInc, and Lacoste + Stevenson. The most recent plans – which have been tweaked several times to comply with planning regulations and local height restrictions – reveal an opaque, stepped glass design that spans six storeys. If approved, the new build would connect with and extend over the existing town hall.
The anticipated cost of $89.5 million is only a projection at this stage. The local council says that the final outcome will be subject to the interior fit-out, which is currently being finalised. These designs will undergo further community consultation before a separate development application is lodged.
Current designs for the civic building’s exterior were unanimously chosen by a competition jury in March 2016. In a statement released at the time, the City of Parramatta council called the concept an “eye-catching design”; a “cutting-edge glass construction featuring a wave-shaped façade of crystalline blocks”. The resplendent façade of the building will additionally incorporate a large-scale LED screen that will accommodate public art projections.
“The jury was tasked with selecting an iconic design and they have certainly fulfilled that brief,” said Parramatta’s lord mayor, Paul Garrard.
“The architects have produced a contemporary and thought-provoking design that is sure to become a must-see destination for visitors to Parramatta.
“This design truly cements 5 Parramatta Square as the civic heart of our city. The transparency of the glass façade makes the building inviting and open for the community to explore the library of the future, public roof garden, customer contact centre, visitor experience centre, community meeting rooms and technology hub.
“All this is within a building that is designed to achieve at least a 5-star Green Star rating.”
Plans for 5 Parramatta Square are on public exhibition until 4 October 2017.
