Title: Westpac Place – The KENS Building

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Publication: CIA

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Date: 2/13/2011

Abstract:
Westpac Place (The KENS Building) was the last whole city block available for development in the western portal of Sydney’s CBD. Westpac Place is also the second largest single commercial office building in Sydney housing 5300 Westpac staff from 10 major offices over 74,000m2 of office space. The overall project cost an estimated $680 million and was completed within 36 months of commencement. Project works include construction of the two linked commercial towers, six levels of basement car park, the creation of a new urban park at ground level, the refurbishment of heritage listed terraces on Erskine Street and also partial demolition of the undercarriage of the adjacent Western Distributor highway. This paper will outline some of the more prominent features of the building, many of which are considered unique such as the inter-tenancy stair case across 28 floors of office, the structural steel trusses hung from the lift core and the two storey high concrete transfer trusses. The paper will also demonstrate how many challenges that were raised during the design and construction process were treated with simple and elegant solutions that fit seamlessly into the overall design intent of the building.