33 Alfred Street stands as one of Sydney's most iconic assets. Located by the harbour at Circular Quay, it offers expansive, never-to-be-built-out views and a commanding presence in the city skyline. Originally opened in 1962 by Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies, it was celebrated as Australia’s tallest building at the time and is often dubbed Sydney’s first skyscraper. Its opening marked a bold new chapter in post-war architectural innovation, as it became renowned for its gold glass tartan façade, and public artworks such as the Tom Bass sculpture and Michael Santy mosaics. Today, it’s a symbol of ambition and progress as part of the wider, transformative Quay Quarter Sydney precinct, and the building itself has undergone a meticulous renewal.

Heritage icon meets workplace of the future

The redevelopment of 33 Alfred Street was driven by a clear ambition: to reimagine a landmark for the future of work while preserving its architectural legacy. This vision demanded a nuanced approach - one that honoured the building’s historical significance while embracing the evolving needs of contemporary tenants. The result is a workplace that seamlessly integrates heritage charm with premium flexibility, sustainability and technology. It is a place where the past and future coexist, offering a compelling proposition for discerning occupiers.

The transformation of 33 Alfred Street was the culmination of more than a decade of planning and a thorough three-year refurbishment program. Working with Urbis as the heritage consultant, the redevelopment was guided by a rigorous framework of heritage approvals and conservation planning. As a listed local heritage item (I1662) under the Sydney Local Environmental Plan (SLEP) 2012 and newly added to the NSW State Heritage Register during its refurbishment, the building’s renewal was subject to the Heritage Act 1977 (NSW), requiring approval from the NSW Heritage Council for integrated development applications. A Heritage Impact Statement (HIS) and Conservation Management Plan (CMP) were submitted and endorsed by the City of Sydney Council, ensuring that all interventions were sensitive to the building’s historical significance.

The redevelopment process was both intricate and ambitious. It began with the careful soft and hard demolition of existing fit outs, finishes, façade and services, all carried out under a protective scaffolding structure supported by structural steel and back propping. This enabled the preservation of key heritage elements while allowing for the installation of over 5,000 specially designed façade panels. These panels were custom-engineered to retain the building’s iconic gold and aluminium curtain wall aesthetic while improving thermal performance, increasing natural light, reducing glare and enhancing views of Sydney Harbour. The building’s distinctive dual crescent shape and golden glass tartan façade were retained and enhanced in order to celebrate its Modernist origin and reinforcing its identity as a cultural and architectural icon. By retaining the existing structure, the project reduced embodied carbon significantly, minimised landfill and extended the building’s lifecycle.

Over 75,000 tiles were sourced from Koninklijke Tichelaar B.V. in the Netherlands to reflect the original iridescent sheen of the façade to maintain its material authenticity. The restoration extended to the building’s artistic features, including the Michael Santy mosaics and the Amicus sculpture on the western façade, as well as the Tom Bass sculpture, all of which were preserved and restored as part of the conservation effort.

Internally, the ground floor was transformed into a refined, modernist-inspired lobby, while Level 1 is a secondary lobby, housing public art and connected to the ground floor by escalators. These enhancements were designed to improve the building’s interface with the public realm while integrating new amenities in a way that respected and enhanced its character.

Sustainability and technology were also central to the redevelopment. The building is targeting a 5.5-star NABERS Energy rating, a 4.5-star NABERS Water rating, a 6 Star Green Star – Office As Built v3 rating and a Premium-grade classification. Additional initiatives include a 80kW rooftop solar PV system, rainwater harvesting for onsite reuse, a high-performance façade to maximise energy efficiency, and an Integrated Building Platform that consolidates all monitoring and control systems through smart metering.

The power of precinct: The final piece of Quay Quarter Sydney

In a market where ‘sameness’ no longer cuts it; well-designed precincts offer a clear edge: they’re places people want to be. For investors, they deliver stronger long-term returns and attract resilient tenants who are seeking to align their brand with that of a premium grade building with character. For developers, thoughtful placemaking and genuine community engagement can fast-track approvals, reduce risk, and unlock capital by proving the value of the vision early. And for occupiers, precincts rich in amenity, culture and connection turn the workplace into a drawcard - boosting talent attraction, brand impact and employee wellbeing.

As the final piece of the Quay Quarter Sydney precinct, 33 Alfred Street plays a pivotal role in completing a vision that spans two city blocks. Its renewal enhances the precinct’s vibrancy, connectivity and activation, linking seamlessly with the award-winning Quay Quarter Tower and the laneway retail experience of Quay Quarter Lanes. Quay Quarter Lanes was the first stage of the precinct to come to life with three new residential and retail buildings, along with two beautiful historic wool stores - Hinchcliff House and the Gallipoli Memorial Club - that have been completely refurbished. Simultaneously, place activation and customer service strategies are focused on delivering on the development vision for the precinct to become a new neighbourhood and cultural destination in Sydney. This includes a comprehensive heritage interpretation and public art strategy reflecting the site’s Indigenous and Colonial history and future including five works by Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi artist Jonathan Jones and a significant sculpture by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson located in the podium.

The surrounding Circular Quay area previously offered little in terms of public amenity for office workers. The vision of the wider project was therefore to inject life into the precinct and create a livelier and more engaging public realm. This aligned with Transport for NSW's major Circular Quay Renewal project to revitalise Circular Quay’s transport interchange and surrounding public spaces. The wider Circular Quay project has received financial backing from both the Federal and State Governments in a bid to enhance accessibility, enrich the visitor and commuter experience, and create a vibrant, sustainable public domain that reflects the area’s national and international significance.

Together, these assets offer a dynamic mix of workplace architecture, curated retail, and lifestyle amenities. With more than 35 cafes, bars, restaurants and wellness outlets, the precinct has become a destination and one that reflects the evolving expectations of city workers and visitors.