Central Station, Sydney

With 96 percent of Sydney’s train services concentrated through Central Station, this historic hub forms the backbone of the metropolitan rail network. Enhancing the city's transit system in relation to its urban fabric, this project provides a catalyst for cultural and economic activity. The upgrade to the historic Walter Vernon-designed station marks a significant phase in modernising the city's transport system, with the ability to service 450,000 passengers per day.

The new metro and concourse insertions are designed to be purposeful, functional, and sculpturally rich to complement the historic qualities of the original station. The Clock Tower, the original vaulted Grand Concourse, and the general architectural gravitas remain iconic, with new contemporary interventions that elevate the station’s unique historic status. The elemental and material choices for Central are anchored by a deep nostalgia for Sydney’s history, establishing the new insertions into their local context and adding to the civic quality with the new station works. The project comprises four key areas: An upgrade of the Northern Concourse including a new feature roof; A new metro station beneath Central Station with a new north-south concourse and new canopies to reinstated Intercity platforms 12–14; The landmark Central Walk – a new underground pedestrian concourse to ease passenger congestion; a new Eastern entrance at Chalmers Street connecting to the new Sydney Light Rail at Surry Hills. The design places the user experience at the centre of transformation of Central Station's transformation. More open spaces, such as the new Northern Concourse, significantly improve circulation and station legibility, with enhanced accessibility, permeability, and connectivity across the station's precinct. Natural light, particularly in subterranean elements, is maximised to enhance the user experience, assisting orientation and intuitive wayfinding around the station.