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Aspire Parramatta
File:New Aspire Parramatta design.png
The 2016 design of Aspire Parramatta
Map
General information
StatusProposed
Location160-182 Church Street, Parramatta, Australia
Australia
Estimated completion2020
Cost~AUD$700 million
Height
RoofPhase 1: 243 m (797 ft)
Phase 2: 300 m (984 ft)
Technical details
Floor countPhase 1: 70
Phase 2: 90
Design and construction
Architect(s)Bates Smart
DeveloperWalker Corporation
References
Aspire Tower
Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat

Aspire Parramatta (also referred to as Aspire Tower or simply Aspire) is a proposed skyscraper located in Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, a centrepiece of the Parramatta Square development. The building proposal is for a residential and hotel skyscraper; and to comprise 700 residential apartments and 150 hotel rooms. If approved, construction would commence on Aspire in 2016, with an overall completion year set for 2020.

Development

Former proposals

2012

The first incarnation of Aspire Parramatta on 160-182 Church Street in Parramatta, was conceived in July 2012, when plans were released for a 215 metres (705 ft) tall skyscraper of 65 storeys. This project would form one of the key developments of Parramatta Square, formerly known as Civic Place.[2] The residential skyscraper, designed by Grimshaw Architects, would have become the tallest building in Parramatta, and the 9th tallest building in New South Wales when skyscrapers in Sydney are factored in.[3]

2013–15

In early 2013, a development plan application was lodged, which would see the skyscraper significantly altered in terms of height and amenities. The new proposal would include a 336 metres (1,102 ft) tall skyscraper with 88 storeys, comprising 700 residential apartments, a 150-room hotel and retail space.[1][4] Dubbed "Aspire Parramatta", the skyscraper would have also included an observation deck (second tallest in the country, behind Melbourne's Eureka Tower). If constructed, the building would have surpassed the Gold Coast's Q1 as the tallest building in Australia, and with a roof height of 306 metres, it would have also supplanted the Eureka Tower for the title of the tallest building in Australia to roof.[5][6]

By late August 2014, the supertall building proposal was questioned after issues regarding height restrictions emerged with aviation authorities, such as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.[7] These reports came only a few months after it was confirmed that Melbourne's Australia 108 initial supertall proposal would be shelved following concerns by CASA, despite the approval of State Government planning for the building.[8]

Soon after, new recommendations proposed for a building no more than 243 metres tall.[9] In October 2014, Parramatta council submit a proposal to the City Centre Planning Framework Review to remove the existing building height limit.[10] In May 2015, the Government of New South Wales scrapped the existing building height restrictions in Parramatta, which would allow for a 306 m (1,004 ft) high building to be constructed. In order for the latter to eventuate, the project had to receive final approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.[11] In addition to the progress on height restrictions, Parramatta City Council also approved development applications to demolish its Darcy Street Council offices and the Civic Place Library building in preparation for the Parramatta Square development - the city's new commercial office space and the Aspire Tower.[12]

By August 2015, the Walker Corporation was appointed developer of the Aspire project. In conjunction with the announcement of Walker's appointment, it was revealed the tower would have to be reduced to 68 storeys, and a height of 230 m (755 ft), in order to abide by aviation guidelines.[13]

Current proposals

2016–present

In early 2016, the Walker Corporation launched a design competition for the Aspire Tower. The initial design for the building won in 2012 by Grimshaw Architects, was shelved, hence allowing Walker to pursue a new direction. Competing for the design of the tower were submissions from 10 local and international architectural practices; of those, four were shortlisted — Fender Katsalidis, DBI Design, PTW Architects and Bates Smart.[14] The latter, Bates Smart, was selected by a jury of four Parramatta individuals in March.[15] The A$700 million skyscraper project will be devised into two phases:

  • Phase 1 will see an application lodged by June 2016 for a 70-storey skyscraper, with a height of approximately 243 m (797 ft). Should the Walker Corporation and CASA reach a successful agreement pertaining to lifting the height limit on the project, a second application – Phase 2 – will be lodged.[16]
  • Phase 2 will see an application lodged for a 90-storey skyscraper, with a height of approximately 300 m (984 ft). Should this proposal eventuate, it would allow for Aspire to become the 3rd-tallest building in Australia behind Q1 and Australia 108 (which is currently under construction).[16]

Notwithstanding which phase goes ahead, the residential, hotel and observation aspect of the skyscraper will be retained in the design. The Walker Corporation anticipates a 2020 completion date for Aspire.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Campion, Vikki. (4 April 2013). "Aspire Tower - the high life rises in Parramatta". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2016
  2. ^ McKenny, Leesha. (19 July 2012). "Square to fill Civic void and Parramatta's skyline". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 March 2016
  3. ^ Campion, Vikki. (19 July 2012). "Parramatta goes sky high as the state's tallest residential buildings will rise". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 March 2016
  4. ^ McKenny, Leesha. (31 March 2013). "Tall order: investors targeted for state's biggest skyscraper". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 March 2013
  5. ^ AAP. (4 April 2013). "90-storey tower set for Parramatta". Herald Sun. Retrieved 19 March 2016
  6. ^ Taylor-Kabbaz, Amy. (4 April 2013). "90 storey tower for Parramatta CBD". ABC News. Retrieved 19 March 2016
  7. ^ "Western Sydney’s marquee Parramatta Square inches forward". The Australian. 27 August 2014
  8. ^ Masanauskas, John. (29 April 2014). "Southbank tower’s level lopped due to air safety regulations". Herald Sun. Retrieved 19 March 2016
  9. ^ "Parramatta Square's Aspire tower proves too high for aviation authorities". smh.com.au. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  10. ^ "Skyscrapers are bound for Parramatta as buildings height limits scrapped". dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  11. ^ Wood, Alicia. (25 May 2015). "Building height limits in Parramatta have been overturned to allow a 306m skyscraper to be built". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 May 2015
  12. ^ "Parramatta City Council clears the way for CBD development". parracity.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  13. ^ Kembrey, Melanie. (13 August 2015). "Designs reveal $2b plans for Parramatta Square redevelopment". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 October 2015
  14. ^ (5 February 2016). "New design competition for $500m Aspire Tower". ArchitectureAU. Retrieved 19 March 2016
  15. ^ Bleby, Michael. (9 March 2016). "Sky high: Walker Corp selects Bates Smart design for Parramatta tower". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 19 March 2016
  16. ^ a b c Kembrey, Melanie. (10 March 2016). "Aviation concerns could still thwart 300m Aspire apartment tower in Parramatta". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 March 2016
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