Perspectives
25 July 2024
At the heart of Sydney's CBD, rising into the city’s expanding skyline and encapsulating the revitalisation of its civic, cultural and financial district, is the new Sydney Metro Martin Place precinct.
The culmination of more than 10 million hours of work by 10,000 people over six years, the multi-billion-dollar, mixed-use development integrates a key interchange station on the new world-class Sydney Metro network with two state-of-the-art office towers – Macquarie’s new global headquarters at 1 Elizabeth Street (‘1 Elizabeth’) and the 28-storey 39 Martin Place – and a vibrant new quarter of shops, restaurants and public amenities.
Catalysed by the New South Wales (NSW) Government’s announcement of the Sydney Metro project in 2015, Macquarie identified an opportunity to connect capital with community need to make a significant impact on the reinvigoration of Martin Place, which has been its home for more than 25 years, by developing the new Metro station and surrounding precinct.
Applying expertise across complex urban, multi-sector developments, in partnership with the NSW Government, Macquarie has created a modern, future-focused redevelopment that honours both the heritage and character of the location while meeting the future needs and changing expectations for the public domain.
The new precinct is the culmination of 10 million hours of work by 10,000 people over six years
Macquarie Group has been headquartered in Martin Place since 1999
Artworks throughout the precinct, including 3 heritage restorations and 9 new commissions
1 Elizabeth has achieved a 6 Star Green Star Design Review rating from the Green Building Council of Australia
1 Elizabeth has been integrated with the heritage-listed 50 Martin Place building to create a new global headquarters for Macquarie
Integrating 1 Elizabeth with its existing heritage-listed 50 Martin Place building, Macquarie has created a new workplace that brings together its Sydney teams – previously based across four offices in the city – in one campus for the first time in more than 25 years, better supporting the Group’s future growth, evolution and globally connected culture.
As with the adjoining 50 Martin Place and its central atrium and orange staircase, the 1 Elizabeth atrium features an iconic staircase in ‘Sydney Blue’, taking inspiration from the city’s water and sky. Outdoor terraces, collaboration areas and workspaces have been designed to foster connections, enhance wellbeing and promote a sense of belonging. A focus on shared public and private common spaces, amenities and services allows people to come together and enhance connectivity across Macquarie’s businesses.
Integrated workplace technology includes next-generation audio visual and video conferencing systems that digitally connect within the building and Macquarie’s global offices, and one of Australia’s first fully integrated 5G wireless networks.
Accessible and purposeful spaces that have a positive impact through inclusive and welcoming gathering places have been designed to maximise the use of natural light and feature native landscaping and public art
The precinct has been designed to provide accessible and purposeful spaces that have a positive impact through inclusive and welcoming gathering places that serve to integrate and amplify the stories of the communities it serves.
Focuses include promoting what’s on nearby providing tours, talks, and the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate occasions through lighting features, events and information screens, abundant public seating and facilities, and retail and dining outlets over three floors.
The spaces have been designed to maximise the use of natural light and feature native landscaping and public art, incorporate First Nations cultural design principles and are digitally enabled.
ILUMINA – a large, hi-tech and flexible learning and event venue in 1 Elizabeth – is available to the broader Sydney community, while a 65-metre public underground pedestrian tunnel complete with light and sound installations connects Martin Place to Hunter Street.
New art commissions include ‘Continuum’ by Mikala Dwyer, which was selected by public competition and comprises ‘Möbius’, a large suspended, highly polished stainless steel sculpture, and a ceramic mural and series of suspended stainless steel and brass objects
The public art on display in the precinct is a leading example of cultural integration within transport hubs and privately-owned public spaces and tells the story of the site’s past, present and future.
Visitors to 1 Elizabeth’s ground floor will experience a three-part artwork by Gamilaraay/Wonnarua/Boonwurrung – Yorta Yorta/Palawa artist Debra Beale. The artwork, titled Ngalga Dyi, Duba, Nura & Garrigarrang, meaning, Look Here, Ground, Country and Sea is integrated into wayfinding totems, an acknowledgement of Country flooring design and public seating, giving prominence to the story of Saltwater Country and Gadigal culture’s connection to the site.
Recognising the heritage of the area, public art across the precinct includes the reinstatement of three historical artworks commissioned by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) in the 1960s, which were salvaged following a commitment made at the beginning of the project and have also been carefully restored and integrated into the final design.
The Art Space, a new publicly accessible gallery in 1 Elizabeth, features a curated collection of works from the Macquarie Group Collection that reflect the diversity of the Australian landscape around its longstanding theme The Land and its Psyche.
The precinct has achieved the highest possible sustainability credentials: a 6 Star Green Star Design Review rating from the Green Building Council of Australia
Indoor environment quality, maximising natural light and access to green spaces have all been prioritised. Integrating the station and office towers vertically, the northern end of the station features a large central atrium filled with natural light.
The precinct has been designed with sustainability in mind and achieved the highest possible sustainability credentials: a 6 Star Green Star Design Review rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. Features include the capture and re-use of rainwater, landscaping and greening, enabling full electrification in normal operations, and implementing smart technology.
In 1 Elizabeth, automated systems control lighting, temperature and ventilation based on occupancy and environmental conditions. Advanced sensors monitor energy usage, occupancy patterns, and air quality, enabling efficient resource management and responsive maintenance.
A 65-metre public underground pedestrian tunnel complete with light and sound installations, connecting Martin Place to Hunter Street, runs under the precinct
The development of the precinct was underpinned by four guiding principles which informed how users would engage with the space, as well as how it gives back to the city: Community; Sustainability; Connection to Country; and Wellbeing.
From the inception of the project, Macquarie consulted with the communities that surround Martin Place - from daily commuters to small business owners - to create a place that brings people together and provides shared value to all. Located at the heart of Sydney’s civic, cultural and financial district, 1 Elizabeth and the broader precinct were created with life in mind – to bring people together and be a place for everyone.
Macquarie’s purpose of ‘empowering people to innovate and invest for a better future’, meanwhile, has been particularly relevant to how the precinct and 1 Elizabeth have unfolded. As a forward-looking organisation, Macquarie approached the development to inspire innovation and connectivity, not only for its future users and for Macquarie staff, but for their broader communities as well.
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