Sydney’s first high-rise, 33 Alfred Street, has peeled back its covers to reveal its iconic golden façade. The 26-storey tower is in the final stage of its transformation into a Premium Grade office tower at the steps of Circular Quay due for completion in mid-2025.

33 Alfred Street is staying true to its rich history, proudly showcasing its distinctive design features, including the golden façade. The new façade, consisting of 5,000 individual panels, maintains its distinctive east and west elevation design, delivering increased natural light, reduced glare and enhanced views of Sydney Harbour.

Dexus General Manager Office Development, Nicholas Wilkinson said: “We are excited to be giving 33 Alfred Street a new lease of life that will transform it into a modern, sustainable workplace where teams can collaborate, innovate and build culture, while retaining its unique heritage.

“33 Alfred Street has been a Sydney icon for over 60 years and this transformation will ensure the building remains a Sydney landmark into the future.”

Each floor consists of around 200 façade panels measuring 3.8m high and 1.2m wide that are being lifted into position by a small crane operating from the level above. The modern panels were carefully designed by architects Johnson Pilton Walker (JPW).

JPW Director, Matthew Morel said: “At the heart of the renewal of 33 Alfred Street is the sensitive and innovative upgrade of the façade to meet contemporary workplace standards while retaining its distinctive gold and aluminium character. The return of the lustrous tiled end walls completes the reinstatement of 33 Alfred Street as one of Circular Quay’s Premium addresses. We are proud to have worked alongside the owners and the City of Sydney to renew this cornerstone of Sydney’s Modernist heritage.”

The intricate installation is managed by construction partner Built and is nearing completion after nearly six months of careful installation.

33 Alfred Street has incorporated market leading sustainability practices, preserving its original structure to prolong the building’s lifespan and reduce material waste. The high-performance façade glass will enhance thermal efficiency and increase the building’s sustainability credentials. 33 Alfred Street is targeting a 5.5 star NABERS Energy rating for the base building and a 6-Star Green Star – Office As Built v3 rating.

The circa 31,000 square metre building will be the final element of Quay Quarter Sydney, with customers benefiting from the amenity at the award-winning Quay Quarter Tower and Quay Quarter Lanes.

Images: Sydney Archive, JPW, Doug and Wolf. 

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