Renowned UK architect Lord Richard Rogers was in Sydney last night to attend the opening of 8 Chifley, his first completed building in Australian.
The striking new 20,000 square metre tower on Elizabeth Street was developed by Mirvac Group and investment partner Keppel REIT.
Mirvac Group CEO and Managing Director, Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, hosted Lord Rogers and the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Cr Clover Moore to an indigenous opening ceremony in the building's 6-storey ground floor atrium followed by a glittering party in the 25th floor vertical village.
Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz told guests the collaboration between Mirvac, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSH) and Australian architects Lippmann Partnership had delivered in every aspect of this project to provide Sydney with an internationally significant asset.
“8 Chifley embodies the evolution of modern workplace design by creating collaborative, connected communities of a type not seen before in Australia. The delivery of this landmark building by Mirvac clearly demonstrates the power of our integrated delivery model,” added Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz.
The 34-storey office tower embraces Rogers’ famous design philosophy, with its distinctive red braces and other exterior elements revealing the structural function of the building whilst creating dramatic design features.
The building is hugely efficient both environmentally and in functional space, made up of two stacked modules creating connected ‘village’ floor plates with outdoor terraces half way up and on top of the building.
8 Chifley has been designed to make the most of its prominent, north-facing site, bounded by Elizabeth, Hunter and Phillip Streets.
Its highly transparent façade, high ceilings and legible structure ensure the building enjoys open and unobstructed views out over the city and a sense of space and light within.
Legal firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth has committed to 8,000 square metres of office space and joins QBE Insurance and Quantium as major tenants in the building.
