Wollongong And Liverpool Win Development Excellence Awards

The regional cities of Wollongong and Liverpool are amongst the winners of the 2015 Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards.

Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson said, "Our 2015 Development Excellence Awards have acknowledged the Solis Apartment Towers at Liverpool and the Wollongong Central Expansion of the retail centre.

"The apartment market is picking up in Liverpool with impressive developments like Solis setting new standards for development.

"Solis was developed by Coronation Property and it won the 'Metro Apartments Development Award."The jury was impressed with the strong use of colour offset by the strong pattern of balconies. Being located at a gateway site to Liverpool it was important that something special was built on the site and this has clearly occurred."Jury Chair NSW Government Architect Peter Poulet said, "Solis is evidence that Liverpool has come of age as a city centre. The project has been a financial success and is a good design solution. The jury was keen to acknowledge the growing confidence in quality development in the centre of Liverpool.""The redevelopment of GPT’s Wollongong Central retail complex that won the ‘Retail Development Award’ has re- energised the centre of Wollongong,” Mr Johnson said.

"The dramatic central atrium with its glass roof fills the centre with natural light. Architects Rice Daubney have used timber internally to give a warm character while locally made steel provides dramatic patterns externally."Jury Chair Peter Poulet said, "Wollongong is starting to hum with the upgrade of GPTs Wollongong Central retail complex along with the rejuvenation of the adjacent mall. The retail development at a cost of $200 million demonstrates a strong commitment to Wollongong’s economic future."