Nova Employment has been based in St Mary's for many years. After success and growth with an expanding team of employees, the brief was to create an innovative, functional and lively new headquarters.

The Queen St Development Plan has been an ongoing planning project by Penrith City Council, so this job provided an opportunity to lead the way and act as a precedent for future development in the area. The generous footpath space is activated with the outdoor seating of the proposed retail tenancy. Above; two large, bright, open plan office spaces will be for Nova Employment.

The site is long and narrow, so we believed it was crucial to introduce a central light well to maximise sunlight and reduce dependence on artificial lighting.

There is no certainty of when the neighbouring properties will be developed, so to liven up and address the North & South Elevation, a feature blockwork pattern has been suggested. The East and West elevations are framed with colourful cladded, vertical elements. As people move around the building, the facade is ever changing. Perhaps the most exciting feature of the development, the open rooftop garden provides a unique offering to use for entertaining guests, enjoying a lunchtime snack or to simply watch the sunset over the Blue Mountains. 

PROJECT DETAILS //
1317m² GFA / 13 Car spaces / Retail on ground level / Commercial offices on levels 1 & 2 / Communal rooftop space

STATUS //
Development Application

CLIENT //
Nova Employment

INVOLVEMENT //
Project Leader

PROJECT LEADERS //
Elliot Oxley / Ruben Hernandez / Peter Morson