The Sydney skyline is set to be transformed with the development of the new $500 million Ritz-Carlton hotel, including apartments and an updated restaurant strip at Pyrmont, as part of the Star Entertainment group's renovation of the city's main casino as it prepares to take on James Packer's Crown resort at Barangaroo.
The proposed "six star" 220-room hotel and 150 residences will be built on the corner of Pirrama and Jones Bay roads and are in addition to the $500 million works already under way at the Star, including the refurbishment of rooms at the Astral Tower and Residences, the opening of the Harvest Buffet restaurant, work on the arrivals area, and an upgrade of internal spaces, including VIP facilities.
Architects FJMT have been selected to design the proposed hotel and residential tower at The Star which will herald the return of The Ritz-Carlton to the Harbour City.
A design excellence competition, overseen by a panel of industry experts, featured submissions from three major architectural firms with FJMT confirmed as the winner after detailed analysis and consideration of community and stakeholder feedback.
The Star Entertainment Group and its partners in the proposed development, Chow Tai Fook and Far East Consortium, will now work with FJMT on finalising a design for lodgement with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
The local community will continue to be engaged on the project as the design progresses.
The Department of Planning and Environment will be inviting public submissions on the final design when it is submitted for consideration and approval under the usual planning processes.
Star Entertainment group's Managing Director Matt Bekier said they expect to submit the final design to the Department mid-2017.
"We're delighted this process has us on the path to delivering Sydney another world-class luxury hotel, and enhancing the city's appeal to domestic and international tourists," Mr Bekier said.
"The tower and the associated developments will see the return to Sydney of The Ritz-Carlton, our room inventory at The Star increase to around 1000, and more than 20 food and beverage venues across a broad range of price points added to existing offerings."
It comes as the group is undertaking a $345 million upgrade of its Jupiters Hotel and Casino at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast as the city prepares to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The plans also coincide with the opening, on December 10, of the new International Convention Centre (ICC) at nearby Darling Harbour.
FJMT design director Richard Francis-Jones said the firm was "delighted to emerge as the preferred architect".
"This is a very significant project for Sydney and Pyrmont that will figure the Harbour skyline and enhance the local streets and public domain," Mr Francis-Jones said.
"Our vision is for a beautifully sculpted architecture, that will seem to grow from the great sandstone of Pyrmont.
"It will be a unique tower, shaped organically in relation to the local environment and character. The form and profile adjusts progressively to preserve sun access into public space, mitigate wind effects, and to share views and amenity with neighbours.