Development approval has been granted for a commercial development designed by Fender Katsalidis in Glebe’s bustling and eclectic Broadway precinct.
Designed by award-winning architecture firm Fender Katsalidis for Sonar Holdings, 257-259 Broadway will feature 2,500 square metres of open plan office accommodation over seven levels, along with retail space to service commercial tenants.
According to the architects, the development’s design aims to respond to Glebe’s contextual cues in considering functional design, heritage assets and contemporary geometry.
The building’s proposed sandstone facade will reinvigorate the heritage identity of the precinct, further reflecting the street’s vertical divisions in its tripartite design.
Fender Katsalidis director, Rob Mirams, notes the significance of 257-259 Broadway in offering a refreshing contemporary aesthetic for the street, which will serve to further enrich the area.
“The project seeks to positively contribute to innovative design outcomes across the Broadway precinct and reinvigorate the gateway to the CBD. It offers a compelling contemporary aesthetic for the site, while continuing to honour the street’s solid heritage masonry presence,” Mr Mirams shared.
Situated in close proximity to Central Station and the University of Sydney, the building features large interlocking square and rectangular windows offering maximum aspect to natural light and views of picturesque Victoria Park.
Internally, the building will cater for a range of commercial tenant requirements, with an interconnecting stair linking a ground-level retail space to two additional retail levels below.
A basement level will also contain end-of-trip facilities and a convenient loading bay for vehicles with direct rear access to Grose Street.
The building has been designed with sustainability in mind, with part of its roof space to be allocated for a solar PV system and batteries to reduce overall energy consumption levels.
A rainwater harvesting system for toilet flushing and irrigation will also be installed as an additional recycling measure.
Fender Katsalidis and Sonar Holdings are aiming to achieve a 5.5-star NABERS energy rating at 257-259 Broadway.
Fender Katsalidis principal, Joshua Farkash, said: “Broadway is a street of ‘discoveries’, with a unique mix of shops and cafes, convenient access to transport, and many other hidden gems. 257-259 Broadway offers commercial and retail tenants the opportunity to be the heart of this vibrant atmosphere of regeneration.”
Sonar Holdings has owned these buildings for many years and is a proud constituent of the inner city.
Director Andrew Evans said that council’s far-sighted change to the Local Environment Plan (LEP) between Glebe Point Road and Bay Street had made it feasible to redevelop and enhance its vision of this area becoming the western gateway to the city.
“Understanding the area’s needs has focused the design team to provide the most requested requests of tenants; comfort, affordability, environmentally-friendly and long lease. The combination of Fender Katsalidis and Levine Vokaberg has produced a unique boutique styled building with a timeless elegance,” he said.
257-259 Broadway is expected to commence construction in 2021, with completion scheduled for 2023.