Skip to main content
Start of main content

Sandstone Buildings

Innovative services design facilitates grand hotel in Sydney’s heritage district

  • $300M

    Project Value

  • 2

    Heritage Blocks

  • 1800s

    Heritage

  • Sydney, New South Wales

    Sydney, New South Wales

Facilitating the complex services demanded of luxury hotels whilst preserving and celebrating Sydney’s architectural heritage

When Pontiac Land Group wanted to transform two heritage buildings into a hotel, they called on our team and our integrated and sympathetic design approach to revitalise these beautiful buildings in central Sydney. Our challenge? To meet the complex hotel requirements whilst minimising impact on the architecture and facade of the two structures—which extend over two blocks and are linked by an underground tunnel.

Limiting construction impact and excavation allowed for many of the heritage features to remain intact both internally and externally. Also, we negotiated with the authority for the power supply to be provided from adjacent buildings and investigated to determine where existing water, sewer, stormwater, and gas connections could be reused.

Our mechanical design connects to a centralised system through the services tunnel, and the fire protection system is serviced via a single, shared water and boosting source. The acoustic treatment of services was tailored around the architecture to achieve performance and comfort targets, and our lighting scheme celebrates the beautiful features in circulation areas. Our teams also contributed electrical, hydraulics, environmental, social, and governance (ESG), and fire engineering services.

The newest redevelopment and addition to Sydney’s CBD, Capella Sydney, boasts luxury amenities including a pool, spa, ground floor bar, ballroom, restaurants, and guest accommodation. The historic Education building is the first of the two buildings to be completed within the precinct, and the second—the Lands Building—is estimated to be completed by January 2026.

At a Glance

Client
  • Pontiac Land Group
Architect
Make Architects and Ridley Architects

We're better together

  • Become a client

    Partner with us today to change how tomorrow looks. You’re exactly what’s needed to help us make it happen in your community.

    Contact Us
  • Design your career

    Work with passionate people who are experts in their field. Our teams love what they do and are driven by how their work makes an impact on the communities they serve.

    Join the Team
End of main content
To top