St Hilliers Property‚Äö?Ñ?¥s design for a proposed commercial development at 127 Argyle Street, Parramatta will make a significant contribution to the public domain by its architectural design excellence and environmentally sustainable initiatives that aim to achieve a 5 Green Star rating.

The building design was chosen following an architectural design competition conducted under the statutory framework of Parramatta City Council‚Äö?Ñ?¥s local Environment Plan.  The Council aims to promote innovative design solutions that achieve high quality buildings and spaces within the city centre.

Three firms, SJB Architects, Fitzpatrick+Partners and Hassell, were invited to participate in the design competition with the Competition Jury announcing Hassell‚Äö?Ñ?¥s submission the winning design.

St Hilliers Property Chief Executive Officer, Tim Casey, in congratulating Hassell said the location of the 2,579 square metre site opposite the new Parramatta Transport Interchange and in close proximity to Parramatta‚Äö?Ñ?¥s Civic Place redevelopment, provided an outstanding opportunity to design a landmark building.

He said St Hilliers was impressed with the Hassell design as it responded imaginatively to the site‚Äö?Ñ?¥s context and constraints. 

‚Äö?Ñ??Hassell has provided a distinctive building reflecting the vitality of Parramatta as a dynamic business and cultural centre,‚Äö?Ñ?? Mr Casey said.

The Lord Mayor of Parramatta City Council, Cr Paul Barber, stated:  "As a city that is actively rejuvenating its urban environment, Parramatta City Council believes that it is vital that excellence in architectural design be a central platform for the development of the city.‚Äö?Ñ??

"The St Hilliers and Hassell development in Argyle Street is the perfect example of that commitment and is the result of an architectural design competition run by Parramatta City Council. This is the third development that has resulted from a competitive process attracting superior design in building excellence for the city," he said.

St Hilliers will lodge a Development Application for the $100 million, 13 storey building, which will include a bonus 10% FSR.  The bonus FSR was a recommendation following from the design competition.  

The building design features a smooth horizontal glass office tower raised above a solid masonry base so that it appears to float freely above the ground.  Important elements required of the design included successfully maintaining a view corridor along Wentworth Street to Parramatta‚Äö?Ñ?¥s heritage railway station and the provision of a through-site access from Argyle Street to Fitzwilliam Street and beyond.   St Hilliers believes these elements and the maximisation of direct sunlight penetration onto Valentine Square will improve the amenity of this vicinity for people working and living in Parramatta. 

The typical office floor plan has been designed to be both highly efficient and flexible.  The 18 metres width of the building and the floor to ceiling glazing provides maximum natural daylight reducing energy consumption through a reduced requirement for artificial lighting.  Extensive external fixed louvres will reduce glare and heat gain by permanently shading the fa??üade.

Approximately 100 car spaces along with motorcycle and cycle spaces are proposed on three basement levels as well as associated shower and change room facilities,

Construction of the building is expected to commence in May 2009 and will take
20 months to be completed.

The Argyle Street development is a seed asset of St Hilliers Fund No.4, a development to core fund that closed in June this year raising $200 million of equity.