32 Smith Street

32 Smith Street, Parramatta is a commercial office tower, which draws its design inspiration from the nearby Parramatta River.
The Fender Katsalidis design was chosen as the winning scheme by the Parramatta City Council Design Competition Jury.
Location
Sydney, Australia
CLIENT
GPT Group
COST
$230 Million
GFA
30,700sqm
COMPLETION
2020
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS
Dharug people
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INDE Awards, Finalist - The Building, 2022
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The Urban Developer Awards, Finalist - Development of the Year - Commercial, 2021
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Australian Institute of Architects NSW Awards, Finalist - Commercial Architecture, 2021
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Sydney Design Awards, Silver Award for Architecture - Proposed - Large Site, 2019

The design approach for 32 Smith St can be distilled down to several key elements. These elements strive to deliver a compelling urban response to the surrounding context, recognising the sites gateway responsibilities, connecting the City to the River and uniting the existing street wall into one cohesive, dynamic public realm and commercial environment.
The lower podium consists of two pebble forms which are highly activated and warm in materiality extending into the laneways. The pebbles extend out from the tower to reduce down draft effect at the ground plane.


The lower podium consists of two pebble forms which are highly activated and warm in materiality extending into the laneways. The pebbles extend out from the tower to reduce down draft effect at the ground plane.
The upper podium adopts the same form as the tower, but is broken to respond to the street wall.


The ventilated car park facade also acts as a wind dampener.
The tower is simple in form and has been shaped as a “building in the round” and its curved pebble form reduces glare and wind creating a friendly sculptural tower.