*artist's impression of underground pedestrian link
The Expressions of Interest: light and sound installations submission period has closed as of 5pm AEST, Monday 17th July.
Thank you for your consideration.
Macquarie Group is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from experienced individuals/teams to develop public artworks for the new Pedestrian Link at Sydney Metro Martin Place, as well as two installation opportunities within the new 1 Elizabeth office tower.
Each opportunity is open to one or a combination of:
It is preferred that an artist be included within the team, however all entries will be considered.
In 2018, Macquarie Group entered into an agreement with the NSW Government to design and deliver an integrated station development in Martin Place. The development includes the new underground Martin Place metro station integrated with a retail and recreation precinct, two new office towers, and the existing Martin Place station.
The architectural team appointed by Macquarie includes Tzannes (South Tower), Johnson Pilton Walker (North Tower), and Grimshaw (Station and Urban Realm).
Macquarie Group is seeking artists and designers with experience in delivering site-specific and immersive soundscapes/light installations, or a demonstrated capacity to do so, to create two public artworks for the new high-rise office tower at 1 Elizabeth, as well as the Pedestrian Link, an underground tunnel that will link the northern and southern precincts of the new Metro station.
Sydney Metro will significantly improve the efficiency of the public transport system across Greater Sydney. Of the 31 stations being built or upgraded to accommodate the new Metro trains, seven are in Sydney’s CBD. The Sydney Metro Martin Place station is sited between the new Barangaroo station to the north and new Pitt Street station to the south. At the new Martin Place station, travellers will be able to change between the new Metro service and existing Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line currently serviced by Martin Place Station. Sydney Metro has commissioned public artworks for both the north and south entrances.
In addition to the Metro station and accompanying retail and recreation areas, the precinct will serve as the entry to Macquarie Group’s global headquarters. Macquarie has recently commissioned public art for the new Martin Place development which will complement the public art commissioned by Sydney Metro, creating an engaging and cohesive visual environment. In working with Sydney Metro on the integration of public art into the new Martin Place station precinct, Macquarie Group’s vision aligns with Metro’s aim to elevate Sydney’s place as a global city and deliver a cultural legacy to the people of NSW.
Public art and design in this new Martin Place precinct development has the capacity to positively influence the experience of commuters, workers, shoppers and tourists. It is anticipated that the public art, including the new commissions, will elevate the precinct into a destination in its own right: the new soundscape for the Pedestrian Link and the new installations within 1 Elizabeth will enhance people’s experience of the precinct, providing wonder and an opportunity for cultural engagement.
The locations and opportunities may be summarised as follows. Teams and individuals may choose to respond to one or more of these opportunities if selected for the shortlist.
a 65 metre long underground tunnel in the public domain, with integrated audio capability as well as in-built programmable lighting. A minimum of three (3) soundscapes are sought as well as a number of ‘default’ modes for the programmable lighting and/or audio.
a nine-storey lightwell largely visible from a new learning and event centre within 1 Elizabeth. A lighting-based work is anticipated for this space although other media will be considered (i.e. treatment to the glass / walls).
infrastructure has been integrated to enable projections onto the ceiling of three (3) atria in the mid-rise of the 1 Elizabeth building, within Macquarie’s workplace. A number of different designs are sought for these spaces to create a dynamic display.
These new opportunities join a broader public art program that is already well underway in the new 1 Elizabeth / Martin Place Metro precinct. These include major sculptural commissions from leading contemporary Australian artists and the re-instatement of three heritage artworks originally created for the site’s former iteration in the 1960s.
There will be a three-stage process to select artists and designers for new light and sound commissions at Martin Place station.
Call for applicants to submit through a public EOI to establish their eligibility. The EOI is open from 15 June 2023 and closes at 5pm (AEST) on 17 July 2023, after which time the selection panel will create a shortlist of artists/teams for Stage 2.
Teams and individuals who would like to be considered for inclusion on the long list are invited to submit the following material:
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to develop a detailed proposal for the installations (for between one and three of the opportunities). Applicants will be provided with a Brief including architectural and building plans, contractual information, and a site visit and meetings with Macquarie Group representatives as required. A maximum fee of $5,000 will be paid to each short-listed artist who undertakes to develop a detailed proposal(s).
Shortlisted applicants will present their proposal(s) to a selection panel, expected to occur on 25 September 2023. The final selection of applicant(s) is anticipated to occur on 17 November 2023. The criteria for final selection of the successful applicant(s) will include:
View the terms and conditions here.
Please contact martinplacemetro@macquarie.com if you have any questions.
