39 Martin Place

39 Martin Place enhances Martin Place’s urban character as the city’s grand civic, ceremonial, and commercial precinct. The architecture reinforces the role of Martin Place as Sydney’s commercial ‘heart’, evidenced by its new tenant – the Australian Stock Exchange. The project optimises density and connectivity with place-based architecture. The architecture aims to create an enduring, memorable and appropriate place to complement Sydney’s growing reputation as an important global city. The monumental podium reflects the character of Martin Place. It is shaped by deep structural blades that frame curved glass openings, maximising retail and lobby connectivity and activating the public-domain. The podium seamlessly integrates pedestrian circulation, linking to the Sydney Metro public transport infrastructure beneath to connect varied street levels. Above ground, the podium and tower accommodate metro services without disrupting the public realm. The tower core enables an efficient floor plate, optimised for outlook and amenity. The podium’s architectural language extends to embrace the tower, unifying the development into a distinctive and coherent composition. The ceramic clad podium, tower spine and crown (shaped by solar access to Hyde Park), frame a conservatory-like glass element to minimise the visual impact of the tower on Martin Place. The historic 50 Martin Place guided the form and material selections. The scale, articulation and materiality of the two buildings, each with distinctive attributes that define their eras – about 100 years apart – creates a distinctive ‘urban room’ on Martin Place, anchoring the commercial identity of the precinct. The architecture also enhances the experience of the adjacent MLC development. The podium ‘socialises’ the MLC Commercial Travellers architecture, providing an expressive counterpoint and defining street wall to enhance containment of the circular form. Above the podium, the zero-setback tower enhances the experience and proportion of the MLC tower by establishing a contained aerial space as a new setting. From Elizabeth Street the vista to Castlereagh Street terminates at the MLC landscaped plaza. The integration of art, engineering and construction disciplines was central to the outcome. The public art has been thoughtfully curated to create a site of cultural engagement. Through the addition of new public art and the incorporation of First Nations design, the art featured throughout 39 MP tells the story of the site’s past, present and future. The building seeks the highest sustainability ratings: 6-Star Green Star|5.5-Star NABERS-Energy|3.5-Star NABERS-Water. This is supported by thoughtful material selection, passive shading, a Climate Change and Resilience Plan, Full Electrification in normal operations and a Building Management and Control System to provide Water and Energy Use reporting. This place-led integrated over-station development is an exemplar of sustainable urbanism by optimising density, reducing wind and shade impacts and creating a special urban place. The maximisation of the envelope and place-specific design minimises the risk of demolition and reconstruction. The architecture is designed to last 100 years, minimum. The design contributes to a regenerative future for Sydney by enhancing the public domain, reducing environmental impact, optimising the use of land and, enhancing health and wellbeing in the workplace environment.