Building Profile

The MLC Centre is much more than an office tower or retail centre. It conceptualises the notion of a city within a city and offers an extensive range of facilities and services to those who work in the MLC Centre or nearby. It offers everything - a prestige office environment, quality shopping for a range of international and domestic goods - The Theatre Royal as well as generous outdoor spaces for coffee, lunching or dining al fresco.

The MLC Centre was way ahead of its time in its design, being the only prime building in the Sydney CBD to foresee the need for, and provide, large expanses of open space in the heart of the city. The entire site of the MLC Centre covers a total area of 9,130 square metres (0.9 hectares), of which only a third has been designated to the Tower itself. The remaining space has been made available for use by its tenants, visitors and shoppers as open space to enjoy in the confines of the Sydney CBD environment.

  

The Architect - THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SEIDLER

"Architecture is not like ladies hats - in one week and out the next. Good architecture is there for a long, long time, and it will survive all the moods of fashion that are about."

"A building must speak a poetic language with a minimal vocabulary. To do the most with the least. Architecture must go beyond fashion."

So said Australia's most acclaimed and controversial architect, Mr Harry Seidler. Mr Seidler's firm, Harry Seidler & Associates, is responsible for the design of some of Australia's most recognised buildings including the MLC Centre.

In addition to "going beyond fashion", Mr Seidler considers two other ingredients essential to ensure commercial buildings maintain their value longer than others. "They must answer practical problems without compromise … easily and quickly constructed in a fabric that is virtually everlasting".

"The usefulness of a building has to be such to predict change. You formulate a building to know that in 20, 30, 50 years from now it will remain valid".

"The part that isn't changeable, the concrete frame, the open span and of course, the site, provide the kind of spaces that people need, enabling the building to retain its commercial viability for a long, long time indeed".

  

This was the criteria used for the design of the MLC Centre, still one of Sydney's most impressive buildings, and winner of the coveted Sir John Sulman medal.

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Fact Sheet - MLC Centre Statistics

The MLC Centre comprises:

  • Prime commercial office accommodation for 5,000 people

  • Prestige shopping/open plaza areas (the Piazza)

  • Restaurants and cafes

  • The Theatre Royal

  • Parking for 300 cars

  • Medical and Dental Services

  • Tenant Liaison Service offering 5-star service to tenants.

  • The MLC Centre has 67 levels and is 244 metres (800 feet) high.

  • The MLC Centre is home to approximately 5,000 people during the working week.

  • The total rentable office area is 70,000 square metres.

  • The average floor size is 1,220 square metres.

  • The total site space is 0.9 hectares (2.5 acres).

  • The Owners of the MLC Centre are :

    • GPT Management Limited (50%) and

    • Queensland Investment Corporation (50%).

  • The MLC Centre is managed by Jones Lang LaSalle.

  • Retail area is 7,500 square metres.

  • The Theatre Royal has a capacity of 1186 patrons.

Key Attributes

  • Landmark status.

  • Prime Central Business District location - Sector 1.

  • Strategically located on prestige business and retail streets - Martin Place and Castlereagh Street.

  • Close proximity to Law Courts, public transport, Pitt Street Mall, General Post Office, Parliament House and Macquarie Street.

  • Unique combination of commercial office space, prestige retail, international theatre, fine arts cinema, gymnasium and sunny outdoor public spaces.

  • Commanding, panoramic views, unobstructed from high rise.

  • Distinctive design by internationally renowned architect, Harry Seidler. Awarded the Sir John Sulman medal by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.

  • Column free office space enabling efficient and flexible office design and layout.

  • 24 hour access and security.

  • 300 parking spaces.

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