Charter Hall Group, Western Sydney University, and the University of New South Wales have celebrated the topping out of their $300 million world-class 'Engineering Innovation Hub' development at 6 Hassall Street in Parramatta.
A ceremony was hosted on site by Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Barney Glover AO, Charter Hall Office CEO, Carmel Hourigan; and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at UNSW, Professor Maurice Pagnucco.
Special guests to mark the significant construction milestone included the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes, and Richard Crookes Constructions' General Manager Sydney & Major Projects, Grant D'Arcy.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, The Hon. Rob Stokes MP, said the event marked a significant milestone in the transformation of Parramatta.
"This is an incredible investment in Western Sydney's future that will attract jobs and provide a world class education to the thousands of students that will walk through its doors over many years," Minister Stokes said.
Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Barney Glover AO, said the Engineering Innovation Hub will house a collaborative Bachelor of Engineering Advanced (Honours) program, developed and delivered in partnership with UNSW, in addition to course offerings in Architecture, Industrial Design and Entrepreneurship.
"This strategic partnership leverages each university's unique strengths to better serve the communities of Greater Western Sydney and develop the nation's next generation of engineers, architects and entrepreneurial leaders," said Professor Glover.
"Importantly, the world-class Engineering Innovation Hub is embedded in the civic heart of Parramatta city, providing exceptional opportunities to collaborate and engage with business and industry. It will also complement the University's integrated research programs including Innovative Cities and Urban Transformation, and our LaunchPad tech startup incubator, which is fostering a vibrant startup community in western Sydney and helping drive an innovation ecosystem for the region."
Located in the heart of Parramatta, the Engineering Innovation Hub at 6 Hassall Street will be a world-leading innovation precinct that will enhance the burgeoning Western Sydney region's capacity to drive academic excellence and economic growth.
Focused on innovation in the engineering sector, the precinct is designed to create unique opportunities for cross-collaboration and creative inspiration between students, educators, industry professionals and researchers.
Charter Hall's Office CEO, Carmel Hourigan said 6 Hassall Street will be a new home for engineering innovation and excellence.
"It's exciting to see the building move one step closer to welcoming students, academics and professionals through the doors," said Ms Hourigan.
"Dynamic partnerships like this between Charter Hall, Western Sydney University and the University of New South Wales are vital to creating future-ready and resilient precincts where commerce and learning can collide to create new innovation and the next generation of industry leaders."
The A-grade building has been designed by joint venture architects Blight Rayner and Tzannes, with Richard Crookes Constructions as the construction partner.
It will feature state-of-the-art commercial and education facilities within a flexible and smart building design. Comprising 29,000 square meters of net lettable area across 18 floors, 6 Hassall Street is built around a tech-infused digital spine with fully optimised flexible floorplates.
It will be a true smart building, enabled for future technology innovations and changing tenant customer needs – and is set to include smartphone lift call capability; touchless smart bathroom amenities for a healthier work and learning environment; cyber security integration; and electric vehicle charging stations.
The Engineering Innovation Hub is part of Western Sydney University's Western Growth strategy – an ambitious program that is reshaping the University's campus network and co-creating cities and transformative educational infrastructure across Western Sydney, in partnership with industry and government.
The project joins the Innovation Quarter (iQ) project at Westmead also developed in partnership with Charter Hall, which is currently under construction, and the high-rise Parramatta City campus, the Peter Shergold Building, at One Parramatta Square (1PSQ) in Parramatta, officially opened in 2017.
Practical completion of 6 Hassall Street is scheduled for Q3 2021.
