Not for release or distribution in the US

AMP Capital has named Tom Dixon's internationally-renowned, London-based design firm Design Research Studio as the winner of its interior design competition for the lobby and connected facilities of Quay Quarter Tower at 50 Bridge Street, Sydney.

Following approval of the Stage 2 Development Application (DA) last year and 3XN being appointed lead design architects for the 49-floor tower, AMP Capital and 3XN held a separate design competition for the building's lobby, reception, meeting and conference facilities.

According to AMP Capital Chief Operating Officer Real Estate, Louise Mason, "We used this competition to specifically seek out globally pre-eminent designers of lifestyle spaces such as hotels, clubs, restaurants, bars and co-working spaces, who can bring a completely different perspective to how we would normally view, and therefore design, a commercial lobby."

Out of the four internationally-renowned design firms who were invited to participate in the two-month long competition, Design Research Studio stood out for their global reputation, unique design aesthetic and aspirational concepts.

Tom Dixon's recent work includes the interiors for Mondrian London Hotel, Shoreditch House, Bronte Restaurant on the historic Strand in London's West End and McCann Worldwide Headquarters in New York. The firm is also known for their design of the lighting installations for Bennelong restaurant at Circular Quay, Sydney.

Importantly, Tom and his team demonstrated through the competition their unique perspective on what a lobby for the future of work looks like.

Ms Mason said: "The QQT lobby will be both the statement address for the tower and the nexus between the activated streetscape of Quay Quarter, the retail marketplace offering and the tower above. We are excited to partner with Design Research Studio to create a unique lobby that breaks the mould and will provide diverse settings for people to work, meet and socialise.

"This will set QQT apart from other commercial buildings around the world, as the gateway to the workplace of the future."

According to Ms Mason, "Together the lobby, retail podium and tower will provide a series of connected spaces that meet a range of user needs. Quay Quarter Tower will be an attractor of key talent into the future and provide a vibrant marketplace of experiences where people will have more opportunities to choose how and where they work and interact with their colleagues and customers."

Spanning two inner city blocks and a site area of circa 11,000 square metres, the Quay Quarter Sydney precinct will create the city's newest urban neighbourhood including a diverse mix of commercial, retail and luxury residential uses including specialty shopping, cafes, restaurants and bars, with a focus onniche retailers and one-off experiences.

Subject to final investor approvals, construction is expected to commence in 2018 and will take approximately three years to complete. 50 Bridge Street is jointly owned by investors in the AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund (ADPF) and the AMP Capital Wholesale Office Fund (AWOF).

About Quay Quarter Sydney
AMP Capital's Quay Quarter Sydney (QQS) project is a new mixed use precinct in Circular Quay, spanning two inner city blocks and circa 11,000 square metres. Creating Sydney's newest urban neighbourhood, the development includes the new Quay Quarter Tower (50 Bridge Street), designed by Danish architects 3XN, to suit forward-thinking global businesses. The Young and Loftus streets site will be a boutique style development with smaller scale buildings to house retail and dining, boutique commercial office accommodation and luxury residential apartments. The precinct also includes Hinchcliff House, one of the oldest wool stores in Sydney. Loftus Lane, which runs down the spine of the Young and Loftus site, will be pedestrianised with an activated outdoor dining precinct.