ICC Sydney wins Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design at New South Wales AIA Awards

Joint venture partners HASSELL + Populous are proud to announce that International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has won the Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design at the New South Wales Architecture Awards night held on 6 July 2018 in Sydney.

Featuring a striking contemporary design, leading technology and multipurpose spaces, ICC Sydney is a state-of-the-art meeting and events facility presenting Australia’s first ever multi-story exhibition space and Sydney’s largest theatre equipped with 8,000 seats or a total capacity of 9,000 persons with a general admission standing area.

ICC Sydney was shortlisted for multiple awards on the night with the Convention Centre, Exhibition Centre and Theatre buildings all being nominated separately in the Public Architecture category.

CEO of ICC Sydney, Geoff Donaghy said the Institute of Architecture Award is a great recognition for the venue and all partners involved in delivering the $1.5 billion Public Private Partnership with the NSW Government.

“ICC Sydney is Australia’s only integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment centre, designed to connect with the city around it. Whether it’s the laneways that run west to east through the venue, the venue-front dining along the pedestrian boulevard leading to the water’s edge, the smart, stacked design of the exhibition centre, the purpose built spaces and spectacular views from the convention centre or the ultramodern theatre with floor to ceiling glass providing sweeping views on all three levels, we believe ICC Sydney is one of the world’s best designs.”

“This accolade belongs to the venue’s architects HASSELL + Populous and all of our partners for designing and delivering what is Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue,” Donaghy said.

Spread over 250,000 square metres in the heart of Sydney, ICC Sydney is a global benchmark in exhibition and convention venues and an important city-shaping project that has transformed Sydney’s Darling Harbour.

HASSELL and Populous jointly designed the three world class venues to create a cohesive, integrated precinct, while at the same time giving each building its own unique architectural character.

“While the design creates a cohesive whole, there was a conscious decision to design three distinctive buildings, each with their own identity. This aspiration has been affirmed by all three buildings making the shortlist but even more so by the precinct’s win,” commented HASSELL Principal Glenn Scott.

“Sydney was very much our driver for this project: the natural beauty, the built beauty, but also the people and culture of Sydney. It is fantastic to see this vision recognised and celebrated by the AIA,” said Populous Senior Principal Richard Breslin.

Since opening, ICC Sydney has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the US Green Building Council, recognising its all-encompassing approach to sustainability. ICC Sydney has also been named Australia’s Best Conference Venue at the 2017 Qantas Business Travel Awards and has been well ranked in the illustrious Pollstar Theatre Worldwide Ticket Sales report.

HASSELL + Populous who worked together to design the convention, exhibition and entertainment venues for Sydney were joined by representatives from Lendlease and ICC Sydney on the night. HASSELL Principal Glenn Scott and Populous Senior Principal Richard Breslin accepted the award on behalf of their respective firms.