Warada on Walker aspires to be a major contributor to the evolving vibrant and highly connected city of Sydney, creating a new benchmark commercial offering within the North Sydney CBD.
Warada on Walker is a striking 22-level commercial tower planned for North Sydney enveloped in a sculpted red metal façade designed to echo the tones and shades of the Waratah flower, endemic to the area.
Warada, the Indigenous name for what is now known as the Waratah, means ‘beautiful’ or ‘seen from afar’ in the local Eora Aboriginal dialect –two of the primary design goals.
Talk to Jason Fraser about Workplace Architecture
The Waratah is also known as an extremely resilient plant, blooming after even the most severe bushfires.
This is a characteristic Woods Bagot designers embraced as they developed a sustainable, aesthetic design in the early days of COVID-19 following some of the worst bushfires Australia has ever seen.
Their design evolved as the pandemic roiled on and it became increasingly obvious that workplace disruption was not a short-term distraction but a long-term trend.
To both the designers and developer Third.i it was clear the building had to offer something special to attract workers and stand out from the competition in North Sydney, a hotbed of commercial development.
The result is a distinctive tower with extraordinary views across Sydney Harbour to the CBD and the city’s eastern suburbs.
It is anchored by a soaring five-level podium wrapped around a spacious central courtyard that directly connects with the urban laneway network, inviting exploration, reflection and relaxation.
When complete the courtyard will offer a vibrant array of restaurants, bars and hospitality venues, creating a communal hub for Warada workers and other North Sydney denizens.
Vertical access is via lifts positioned at the rear building boundary, enabling the construction of generous contiguous floorplates averaging 1150sqm and total net lettable area of 27,000 square metres.
Top-to-bottom building activation was a major design priority. This has been achieved by transforming the rooftop into a spectacular gathering space, complementing the podium.
Crowned by a stunning, arced steel and glass arbour, the rooftop is open to all, not just building occupants. It features gardens, seating areas, views and fresh air – connecting visitors to the elements and each other.
An all-electric building, Warada on Walker will have a six-star Green Star rating, 73 car spaces, 156 bike spaces, 12 retail spaces and state-of-the-art end of trip facilities for commuters.
North Sydney Council has granted the project development approval and tenants are now being sought.
Beijing, China
Melbourne, Australia