Darby Plaza is a seven-storey A-Grade commercial development delivered by GWH to bring a disused section of the former Newcastle rail corridor back to life as a connected workplace and lifestyle destination.
Located between Darby Street and the Newcastle Foreshore, the development was purposefully designed to support a modern workforce while contributing high-quality public amenity.
Five levels of premium office accommodation totalling approximately 8,000 square metres are complemented by ground-floor retail, an external kiosk café and a generous public plaza that re-establishes a strong pedestrian connection between the city and the harbour. Flexible floorplates, harbour views, informal meeting areas and end-of-trip facilities were integrated to support wellbeing, collaboration and long-term tenant appeal.
Darby Plaza now accommodates a mix of local, national and international tenants and has achieved a 5 Star NABERS energy rating, reflecting GWH’s commitment to sustainable, performance-driven commercial development.
- Project
- Darby Plaza
- Address
- 352 Hunter Street, Newcastle NSW, Australia
- Status
- Completed
Construction was delivered by GWH, and delivered over a 23-month period from July 2020 to June 2022, progressing through a global pandemic while maintaining programme certainty and build quality. The structure is supported by continuous flight auger piles extending up to 14 metres to bedrock, with a precast concrete and post-tensioned suspended slab system forming the primary structure. Precast structural walls, columns and architectural façade panels were supplied by Hunter Precast, while Hunter Windows delivered a custom-engineered strip window system incorporating Low-E glazing to exceed energy-efficiency requirements. The building incorporates a water-cooled VRV air-conditioning system, integrated smart building management systems and rooftop solar generation, collectively targeting reduced operational energy use and emissions. Delivery also required the relocation of major in-ground services, stormwater culverts and electrical infrastructure, demanding disciplined coordination across design and construction to deliver a refined A-Grade commercial asset.
