Towers have 'unique' public space

Striking twin towers featuring a unique floating ‘public space in the sky’ are set to transform Parramatta’s skyline after winning Parramatta City Council’s latest international design excellence competition.

Announcing the Parramatta Square Stages 5 & 6 competition winner, Lord Mayor, John Chedid, said the inspiring design by Sydney firm Johnson Pilton Walker had been unanimously chosen by a jury of industry experts.

The design for twin commercial towers was chosen from four shortlisted designs selected last month from an international field of 73 submissions from leading architects worldwide.

When constructed, the commercial towers will add up to 140,000 square metres of office space to the Parramatta CBD and function as two of the key centrepieces of the vital three hectare Parramatta Square site in the heart of the CBD.

Among the 53-storey buildings’ key features are: a cantilevering double-height sky terrace on the 25^th floor; a double-height sky lobby on the 27^th floor accommodating public and semi-public spaces; an edge-defining retail podium along the southern edge of the future Square; and a clear, accessible and active link between Parramatta transport interchange and Parramatta Square.

Roby Hobbs takes up top job

Ms Robyn Hobbs OAM, formerly manager, executive support at Parramatta City Council, has been appointed as the new NSW Small Business Commissioner, for a five-year term beginning in the role on February 25, 2014.

Ms Hobbs founded Carols in the Domain in 1983 and previously worked with the Sydney Opera House and the City of Sydney.

Following the passage of legislation through the NSW Parliament last year, the role was established as an independent statutory officer and the NSW Government began a competitive process to select a Small Business Commissioner.

Ms Hobbs said she is thrilled to have been appointed to the role.

“This is a wonderful opportunity and I am excited to contribute to the growth of small businesses in NSW,” Ms Hobbs said.

“The review of the Retail Leases Act will be one of my immediate challenges, but I look forward to working hard to identify and advise the NSW Government on ways it can reduce the regulatory burden on small business”