Grocon celebrates topping out at 161 Castlereagh Street

One of Australia's largest private development and construction companies,

Grocon has celebrated the topping out of a landmark commercial office development in Sydney's CBD.

Set to grace the skylines of Sydney in April 2013,

161 Castlereagh Street is will offer a premium-grade office and retail precinct on completion.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell joined Grocon CEO Daniel Grollo to mark the highest floor above ground level at level 45, making the tower the sixth highest in Sydney and the highest to be built in the CBD for more than a decade.

Boasting stunning harbour and city views, the

FJMT-designed development will consist of a 50 storey office tower, 2,750 square metres of retail space, a separate 3 storey office building as well as a heritage refurbishment of the carbon neutral Legion House building.

Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director of FJMT, says the project’s many different architectural features melt into the surrounding environment.

“As with the office building, the retail complex offers sunlit, public open spaces around the new plaza and pedestrian lane connecting Castlereagh Street and Pitt Street,” Mr Francis-Jones said.

“These landscaped spaces ringed with café, restaurant and bar opportunities create an extension of the life and energy of the city into the very heart of the development”.

The dedicated retail space will be located on both street frontages of the development, ensuring that it is close to public transport and Sydney’s central business district.

161 Castlereagh will also include a new bar and dining area and a public plaza, which will serve as a bustling meeting place beneath the commercial office building.

The project’s current major corporate tenants include ANZ Bank and legal firm Freehills.

Grocon’s commitment to sustainability and environmental protection at all stages of production is echoed in its plans to transform the Legion House building into Australia’s second ‘zero energy’ building.

According to the developer, 161 Castlereagh Street’s unique split-core design will ensure views from the majority of workstations and meeting rooms, and will also grant natural light penetration that will result in optimal employee productivity.

The owners of the building, 

GPT, 

ISPT and 

La Salle Investments were presented with a plaque to mark the occasion.