“This project envisions itself as the ‘Gateway to Sydney,’ seamlessly integrating this century-old landmark with contemporary public life and a modern transportation network, creating a multimodal transport hub that combines culture, functionality, and aesthetics,” says Judge Haobo Wei.

At the heart of the transformation is the insertion of a new Metro line beneath a live station that currently serves 270,000 passengers per day, set to rise to 450,000. 

“The expansive Northern Concourse significantly improves circulation and legibility, while Central Walk serves as an arterial connection that integrates accessibility with intuitive navigation to orchestrate pedestrian flow and enhanced customer experience,” says John Prentice, Woods Bagot Principal and Global Transport Lead.

Natural light was maximised in subterranean areas to help with orientation, making wayfinding intuitive through subtle visual cues. 

“The result is a station that feels brighter, more connected, and easier to navigate,” Prentice says. “Central Station has become a destination in its own right – a place that people don’t just pass through, but to.”

Balancing historic preservation with the needs of a future-proof transport hub posed one of the project’s greatest challenges. “Our challenge was creating a design that would endure for the next 150 years, expanding capacity while honouring Walter Vernon’s architectural legacy,” says Prentice. 

“Iconic elements such as the Clock Tower and the vaulted Grand Concourse remain central to the station’s identity, while new additions pay homage to Sydney’s rich history.”

One design feature singled out by the award jury is the “Clock Wall”—a tribute to the historic timekeeping function of the station. 

“The introduction of the new metro allows passengers to function without timetables—once integral to train travel—while preserving the spirit of the station’s Clock Tower, historically known as ‘the workman’s watch’,” Prentice says. 

“The design challenge was integrating heritage in a way that supports station operations without putting the heritage in a subservient position.”

The new platform canopy was specifically adjusted to open up sightlines to the Clock Tower, enhancing orientation while preserving the landmark’s civic prominence. “The cleaned and refurbished [Electric] building is now the fourth wall of the new civic space of the Northern Concourse,” Prentice says.

The redevelopment also includes the ‘Artefact Wall’—an interactive display that features china, glass, a key, and other items unearthed during archaeological excavation. 

“Passengers can engage with a map showing discovery locations and learn about the site’s rich history,” says Prentice, underscoring the emphasis placed on storytelling and public engagement throughout the design.
The redesign not only celebrates Sydney’s past but also strengthens its future urban connections. 

“Central Walk, a new underground pedestrian concourse, eases congestion and improves connectivity,” says Prentice. “The carefully positioned eastern entrance at Chalmers Street forges a critical link to Surry Hills and the Sydney Light Rail, effectively bridging previously disconnected neighbourhoods.”

Further integration with the surrounding city is facilitated by reinforced connections at the Eddy Avenue plaza and provision for future links to George Street, Elizabeth Street, and the Western Forecourt. 

“The strong north-south and east-west orientation in the new concourses rationalises underground circulation and restores connections to the surrounding public domain,” says Prentice.

The station’s new role as a cultural and economic driver is pivotal to the government’s vision for the broader precinct, known as ‘Tech Central’. 

“Investment in infrastructure provides a catalyst for urban regeneration,” says Prentice. “Central Station becomes both an infrastructural backbone and an economic engine—a place where increased pedestrian flow naturally cultivates commercial engagement, cultural exchange, and urban regeneration at Sydney’s geographic heart.”

Public art enriches the site’s character, including works by Rose Nolan and Aboriginal heritage interpretation through Bronwyn Bancroft’s installations. 

“We decided to tell our architectural narrative to the public,” Prentice says, referring fondly to the Clock Wall. 

“The shapes were originally conceptualised from an interest in the history of network timekeeping, and the innovations in metro to provide a fast, reliable service without timetables.”

Material choices also reflect a deep engagement with history and sustainability. 

“The profile of the wall panels were inspired by the rustic and smooth sandstone blocks found in the existing building,” Prentice says. 

“In the design process, the panels evolved to rhomboids to reflect the predominant movement patterns. And we used GRC [Glass Reinforced Concrete] to engineer a solution rather than use a sandstone which is a depleted resource.”

Whether for international travellers arriving via the airport line or suburban commuters, Central Station now delivers a unique sense of arrival. 

“As customers arrive underground, the scale of the space and the materiality helps distinguish the station from the other stations along the network,” says Prentice. “We also used the architecture as a device for intuitive wayfinding throughout.”

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Adrien Moffatt
Content and Communications Specialist (Australia)