A new town centre for Green Square is one step closer after the City of Sydney signed a contract with engineering and infrastructure firm John Holland for construction of the Green Square Library and Plaza.
The $47 million project includes a modern civic plaza with lawn and waterplay area for children and an underground library with open-air garden and amphitheatre. When complete, Green Square will be home to up to 61,000 residents and provide around 21,000 jobs. The new library and plaza will enhance liveability for the local community and entice visitors to Green Square. Director of City Projects and Property, Amit Chanan, said the library and plaza would provide a vibrant open space for local residents and workers.
“Influenced by the piazzas of Europe, the Green Square Library and Plaza will provide a space for residents and visitors to interact, learn, play, exercise and relax,” Mr Chanan said.
“Rising above the plaza, a seven-storey glass tower will house a multi-purpose community room, reading room, music recital room and technology suite. “The plaza will be home to a range of community events and festivals, including Chinese New Year, outdoor film screenings and markets featuring local goods and produce.”
The plaza will feature multiple walkable round skylights across the granite paving, providing natural light in the library during the day and a colour backlit feature at night time. Two recently commissioned public artworks will be permanently installed on site, bringing creativity to the library and plaza.
Through sustainable design and construction, the project will target a 5-star design and operational rating under the Green Building Council of Australia’s public buildings category. More than 160 architects from around the world submitted designs for the library and plaza in a 2012 design competition.
The winning design was created by Stewart Hollenstein in association with Colin Stewart Architects. Early works have been completed by Ford Civil Contracting, including excavation works and laying of the foundations, preparing the site for construction. The site has now been handed over to John Holland, with main works slated for completion in 2018.
