Developer Lodges Alexandria Office Block Plans

Private developer Leading Group has lodged plans for a stage two development application in the Green Square urban renewal zone in inner-city Sydney after a design competition.

Leading Group, established in 2017 and headed by directors Yiquin Long and Yue Wei, has put forward plans for a $44-million commercial project spanning 10,000sq m of floor space across 10 storeys.

The project, at 326-328 Botany Road in Alexandria, already has stage one development approval but will now move forward with a new concept designed by Cox Architects. It will features ground floor retail and upper level offices as well as a rooftop bar.

The 2600sq m site, opposite the Green Square Library and Plaza, is made up of four consolidated land parcels and currently contains a single-storey warehouse with a 40-metre frontage to Botany Road.

The design team said the building would reference the industrial heritage of Alexandria and Mascot, with a brick gradient facade made from recycled bricks at the base and bronze pressed bricks at the top.

“The southern facade is a restrained response to the future affordable housing development located south of the site,” Cox Architects said in its design statement.

“Whereas, the western facade is an internal facade which is set back from O’Riordan Street.”

“We have also worked with facade engineers Tilt to propose an efficient operable facade system that keeps the western sun out in the afternoon while maintaining daylight access through our splayed aluminium blade design.”

Once a predominatly industrial suburb, Alexandria has recently exploded into a residential and commercial suburb with bars, restaurants, and nightlife, all bolstered by the new $13-billion Green Square township nearby.

The Green Square renewal project covers 278ha, including the suburbs of Waterloo, Zetland, Beaconsfield, Rosebury and Alexandria and has attracted developers such as Mirvac, Crown Group and Meriton.

The majority of future residential and office developments are proposed to the east of Leading Group’s proposed development, along Botany Road and Paul Street, with heights ranging between eight and 24 storeys.

A-grade office buildings in Alexandria, Mascot and Rosebery now average over $750 per square metre, compared with $1100 per square metre in Surry Hills and up to $2000 per square metre in the CBD.

Sydney-based investment group Markham has plans for a 20,000sq m campus-style office precinct at 22 O’Riordan Street, a site it purchased in 2019.

Similarly, Markham submitted a stage two development application, designed by Hassell, to the City of Sydney in late-May, with a budget of just over $71 million.

Property developer Theo Onisforou, a veteran developer and former financial adviser to the late billionaire Kerry Packer, also has plans for a stage two development application at 290-294 Botany Road, designed by Chenchow Little Architects.

Onisforou’s proposed A-grade, campus-styled office building will span 10,000sq m and features floor plates of up to 1750 square metres.

The proliferation of more commercial developers in the area outlines the shifting trends in this inner south area of Sydney, once an apartment development mecca.

Mirvac and John Holland are also in the works to deliver Waterloo Metro Quarter, the commercial station precinct that would include the new Waterloo station.