Unlike anything ever seen before in Macquarie Park, Frasers Property Australia and Winten Property Group have officially launched Australia’s first ‘Community Business District’ – the $750 million Macquarie Exchange.
Located at the entrance to Macquarie Park’s new Metro station, Macquarie Exchange will convert a 15,620 square metre site into an 83,368 square metre site (gross lettable area) across four state-of-the-art buildings that seamlessly integrate with laneways and collaboration spaces.
The largest building, MQX 1, will be 16 storeys, while the remaining three buildings will be 8 storeys high.
Macquarie Exchange will comprise 74,093 sqm of commercial (net lettable area), 5,693 sqm of retail including a proposed childcare centre and gym and a central park with over 2,200 sqm of green space.
Once complete, it is estimated that over 7,000 employees will work in the urban hub designed by renowned architects, Bates Smart.
According to Reini Otter, Executive General Manager Commercial and Industrial for Frasers Property Australia, place making is at the core of the concept.
“At the heart of every great place is people. Macquarie Exchange will be a dynamic activated urban commercial community that prioritises social interaction and collaboration – unlike anything that has existed in Macquarie Park before.”
Mr Otter said the project aims to activate the Metro precinct, setting a new precedent for work environments outside the CBD.
“With its scale, location and diversity, Macquarie Exchange has the ability to create a bustling mixed-use community, offering a network of spaces with a variety of experiences and activity for local businesses and the community,” he added.
Macquarie Park was ideal for the hub’s location as it has become one of Sydney’s iconic metropolitan hubs and is undergoing major gentrification and infrastructure upgrades to improve connectivity and amenity in the area.
Stuart Vaughan, Development Director at Winten Property Group said it made commercial sense to position Macquarie Exchange at the entrance to the Metro station, which is also the gateway to Macquarie Park’s commercial precincts.
“The area is already a driver of economic growth and employment in New South Wales and state infrastructure such as the Metro upgrade,” he said.
The urban hub will target a WELL Silver and Core rating, a 5 Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia and a minimum 5 Star NABERS rating.
Development approval is expected to occur in August 2019 and the development is expected to be completed in early 2022.