Sydney, NSW, Australia

Johnson Pilton Walker together with Macquarie’ Group envisions a high-volume transport interchange combined with premium grade commercial space; a diverse retail offering and a new urban civic space will reinforce Sydney’s credentials as a global city in the 21st-Century.

The North Tower – a premium grade 40 story tower and an addition to the architects’ award-winning 50 Martin Place – creates a world-class workplace within the core of the city that will enable the organization to consolidate its workforce into a city campus.

Designed and developed integrally with the new below-ground Martin Place Metro Station, the North Tower will create a new city destination bringing together transport, office, retail, conference, public art and landscape within a vibrant, active, and open multi-level podium.

North Tower will create a “next-generation” workplace and Macquarie Group’s global headquarters.

Fundamental initiatives include large stepping floor plates with central open atria that are day-lit through a full-height glazed side lift core, vertical and horizontal integration via open voids, atria and glass lifts, access to natural light and ventilation, integration of heritage and civic spaces and the creation of diverse floor plates which promote new forms of working and business community.

While fundamentally driven by world-class environmental design and an innovative workplace the tower responds to its context and environment in its functionality, form and façade.

A carefully scaled and considered relationship to 50 Martin Place, an aerodynamic silver form responds to sun access controls, improves the wind environment at street level and reflects 50 Martin Place’s glazed dome.

The ground plane merges public and private space through a convergence of transport, retail and commercial spaces within a shared street-level volume.

The permeable ground plane and Metro Plaza seamlessly connect Metro entrances, commercial addresses and 50 Martin Place with through-site and mid-block connections naturally lit and ventilated, activated with retail, public art and landscape.

The architects utilize the latest Digital Twin technology in design and documentation of the project.

All consultant and subcontractor input is combined in a Common Data Environment and Building Information Model.

The Digital Twin provides efficient and accurate construction documentation and a basis for future building management.

“As a long-time resident of Martin Place, we are deeply conscious of its civic, commercial and cultural significance,” said Michael Silman, Macquarie Group Metro Martin Place Precinct Project Director.

“For well over a century, people have come to Martin Place to commemorate, celebrate and congregate. Our vision for the precinct is to create a place for everyone in the heart of Martin Place.”

“This vision underpins the design of the precinct and when construction is completed in 2024, people can expect accessible public spaces that are sustainable, maximize the use of natural light, feature native plants and public art, pay respect to the land’s traditional owners, and are digitally-enabled. Our goal is that this precinct will contribute to the reinvigoration of Martin Place that has been taking place over the past several years.”

Project: Martin Place Metro North Tower
Architects: Johnson Pilton Walker Pty. Ltd.
Client: Macquarie Group