Complexity, connectivity, and commercial vision
As cities grow more complex and connected, so too must the infrastructure that supports them. Sydney Metro Martin Place Integrated Station Precinct is a landmark example of how visionary design, advanced technology and cross-sector collaboration can reshape the urban fabric for future generations.
Delivering Australia’s first fully integrated transport and commercial precinct wasn’t just a construction achievement – it was a redefinition of what’s possible at the intersection of infrastructure, sustainability and commercial design. For RLB, the project represents not only a major milestone but also a case study in how our practice is helping clients build the future.
Redefining the role of the quantity surveyor
Engaged from the earliest phases of the unsolicited proposal, RLB worked side-by-side with Macquarie Group, Grimshaw Architects, JPW, Tzannes and delivery partner Lendlease to bring this AU$1.5 billion precinct to life. As the scope evolved, so too did our role – advising on cost, risk and value across a complex matrix of mixed-use construction, integrated transport systems and public domain upgrades.
“Supporting this vision from concept to completion has been both challenging and rewarding,” says Oliver Nichols, Director at RLB NSW. “For our team, it was a career highlight. For the industry, this project is a beacon of how integrated, technology-led construction can serve long-term city-making goals.”
Engineering tomorrow’s cities today
Martin Place’s North and South Towers are more than skyscrapers – they’re digitally enabled, fully electrified and powered by sustainable technologies. Known as 1 Elizabeth and 39 Martin Place respectively, these towers boast the Green Building Council of Australia’s coveted 6 Star Green Star rating and represent the future of workplace design: energy efficient, tech-integrated, and connected to both transport and community.
With tunnel air exhausted onto level six and structural columns shared between commercial and transport infrastructure, the integration of building and station services was unprecedented. This kind of vertical urbanism demands high-performance modelling, real-time forecasting and rigorous cost intelligence – all capabilities RLB brought to bear through advanced digital tools and cross-disciplinary teams.
Creating cultural and civic value
Technology may underpin the precinct, but it’s people and culture that give it soul. Martin Place has long been a meeting point and the new precinct honours that heritage. Working with the local Gadigal people, the design embeds Indigenous storytelling through public art and placemaking, supported by RLB’s cost planning services, which ensured heritage elements and art installations could be preserved and celebrated.
RLB’s scope also included safeguarding heritage buildings, such as the neighbouring 50 Martin Place, from construction vibration and risk. From modelling gargoyle-safe scaffolding to budgetary allowances for conservation, our team understood that innovation doesn’t just mean new: it also means respect for what’s already here.
Layer by layer, precinct by precinct
What does this precinct say about the future of construction? That integration is no longer optional – it’s essential. That sustainability must be embedded from the outset. And that the best results emerge when cost managers are not just service providers, but strategic partners in delivering long-term value.
In a landscape increasingly shaped by data centres, artificial intelligence, modular delivery and adaptive reuse, projects like Sydney Metro Martin Place show what’s possible when old boundaries are redrawn. Offices are no longer just workplaces – they’re vertical ecosystems. Transport hubs aren’t just conduits for movement – they’re anchors of civic life.
We are proud that the Sydney Metro Martin Place Integrated Station Precinct has received more than 30 awards since opening a year ago. These include the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Award for Commercial Architecture, the Urban Development Institute of Australia Award for Excellence in Urban Renewal, the Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Award for Development of the Year, and multiple accolades at The Urban Developer Industry Excellence Awards, including Development of the Year (Mixed Use) and Excellence in Community Engagement.
These honours are a testament to the many individuals who brought this bold vision to life – and to the lasting benefit this vibrant, accessible and sustainable precinct brings to the community.
Our value lies not just in measuring cost, but in shaping opportunity. This project is a powerful example of how we’re building that future – layer by layer, detail by detail, precinct by precinct.
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