- North Sydney's to-be tallest tower is now open for lease
- The 50-level building is to be built above the heritage-listed Firehouse Hotel
- Construction should be completed at the end of 2022
Developer Billbergia has announced the leasing campaign for what will be North Sydney’s tallest office tower at 88 Walker Street.
Once completed in the third quarter of 2022, the tower will be the first new commercial office development to be constructed since last year. The developers expect the project to cash in on post-COVID leasing trends such as prioritising quality, exclusivity, and the desire to reduce commuting times.
They also anticipate the building should alleviate built-up market demand.
The tower will transform the site of 86 Walker Street, the former North Sydney Fire Station now operating as the Firehouse Hotel. The floorspace will reach 24,000sqm – a dramatic increase from the hotel’s current 4000sqm.
Construction will also convert 88 Walker Street, where an ageing nine-level building once stood.
“Progressing through the COVID period, we are proud that this project has risen through technical ingenuity and is destined to provide enviable and well-connected corporate homes to businesses far into the future.”
John Kinsella AM, Managing Director, Billbergia Group
Mr Kinsella hoped that 88 Walker St will be a testament to Billbergia’s efforts to contribute to the quality of growth across Sydney.
“I am a firm believer that it’s a priority for Australian property groups to deliver well-serviced business and residential communities, and here it is demonstrated not only by the depth of the immediate corporate environment but also by the location, form and mix of the building,” he said.
The 179-metre high building will deliver 23 levels of commercial office above 21 levels of hotel space.
The construction will comprise of an impressive eight levels of facilities, including a ground-floor cafe, a restaurant, executive lounge, hotel gym, and three levels of end-of-trip tenant amenities.
The upper levels will boast stunning views of Sydney’s CBD and the Harbour Bridge.
Architects from Partner at Fitzpatrick + Partners are behind the slender design which they say will become a landmark on the North Sydney skyline.
“88 Walker Street has been designed as a pair of served and servant curved forms, with one hovering above the heritage building in a cantilevered form while the other lands to ground the tower.”
Paul Reidy, Partner, Fitzpatrick + Partners
“88 Walker Street tells a story of North Sydney’s transformation into a key commercial component of the global city Sydney has become. The slender, cantilevered design of the tower delivers a more boutique offering than some of the large floor plate, super-towers in North Sydney’s CBD and enables smaller users to achieve a whole-floor corporate presence,” said Paul Reidy, Partner at Fitzpatrick + Partners.
According to exclusive marketing agents Colliers International who are the leasing agents for the tower, it will deliver a unique product to the top end of the market.
“In the post-COVID environment, many corporates are migrating to North Sydney in a ‘flight to quality’ seeking flexible, collaborative workspaces. For many, lower rents compared to the Sydney CBD and easier accessibility for North Shore-based executives are also big drawcards.”
Michael Lochtenberg, Director – Leasing & Development at Colliers International.
Mr. Lochtenburg also noted that the opening of the new Metro in 2024 will provide even greater accessibility to the Sydney CBD, and North Sydney will soon be recognised as ‘Sydney North’.
Asking rentals for the skyscraper have not been released yet.
