Mirvac Releases Plans For St Leonards Square

Mirvac has unveiled plans for its much anticipated redevelopment of a landmark site at St Leonard's in Sydney's north. The company acquired the high profile site for $121 million last year.

The project, dubbed St Leonard's Square, will be completely reinvented from a largely commercial area to a mixed-use destination, including Friedlander Place which will be a new landscaped community space. A network of cycleways and green spaces is also proposed, connecting St Leonards Square to St Leonards train station, the proposed new bus interchange and future Crows Nest Metro station to be located approximately 150 metres away.

Mirvac’s transformational plans see the existing commercial buildings replaced by two triangular towers of 28 and 36 storeys that open up the ground plane and provide apartments featuring sweeping Sydney CBD, harbour and district views.

Tower 1 includes ground level retail and a three level office podium with residential apartments above. On a highly elevated site, the views begin early and a wide variety of apartment types and plan layouts are featured, including four penthouses on the 28th floor.

Mirvac’s Head of Residential, John Carfi, said St Leonards Square will offer buyers an opportunity to gain a foothold in an area undergoing significant growth and renewal.

The current population of St Leonards is around 4500 living in 2500 dwellings. By 2031 an additional 2000 dwellings are forecast for the Crows Nest-St Leonards area. The billion dollar expansion of the North Shore Medical Precinct is likely to create further demand for quality housing in the locality.

“Our experience in areas undergoing this level of urban renewal is that they just keep getting better with time,” said Mr Carfi. “There is local government, developer and business support to create a neighbourhood that is better designed for 21st century living, where time is in short supply and convenience and comfort are priorities.

“This project will be an incredible opportunity for professional people to own a home that is only 5km from the city and connected by existing rail to the Sydney CBD and North Sydney. The site will also be a major beneficiary of the new Crows Nest Metro station to be located approximately 150m away.

“Families will also appreciate the location of St Leonards Square, which is close to some of the leading independent schools in Sydney and open green parkland areas of the North Shore.”

In addition to the local amenity, residents of St Leonards Square will enjoy exclusive club-like facilities on Level 14 of Tower 1, which will offer panoramic views to the Sydney CBD and harbour, including a pool, spa, gymnasium, outdoor BBQ terrace, and sauna and steam room. Other exclusive resident facilities will include outdoor landscaped and BBQ areas, function spaces including a kitchen and dining room, meeting rooms, a cinema room and a music room.

The project has been designed by Sissons Architects in collaboration with Mirvac Design. Sissons is one of Sydney’s new generation of design practices who base their design approach upon a unique response to place, incorporating sustainability and technology. The collaboration between Sissons and Mirvac Design creates a formidable innovative partnership drawing on Mirvac’s extensive history in apartment design.

“We are delighted to be involved with Mirvac’s landmark project at St Leonards Square. We believe this is an exciting opportunity to transform this site into a vibrant and active mixed-use precinct, befitting its prime location within Sydney’s lower north shore,” said Nick Sissons, Design Principal and Partner at Sissons Architects.

“This project will create a vibrant public domain with its climate driven masterplan incorporating a significant new north facing urban space, with active retail, resident facilities, offices, and high amenity residential apartments. Our aim has been to create a new urban model for St Leonards, inspired by the local history and natural landscape of the Lane Cove River.”