en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 23rd, The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in New South Wales, Australia, has recently recommended approval for a $354 million proposal to convert the heritage-listed MLC building in North Sydney into a vertical university campus. This school construction project, submitted by Investa, plans to partially retain this landmark building constructed in 1957 and reimagine it as a 21-storey higher education facility with retail spaces at the ground level. Widely regarded as Australia's first high-rise office building of the post-war era, the Miller Street wing of the building will be preserved, while most of the Denison Street wing will be demolished to make way for a modern addition.

This school construction project is estimated to have a development cost of $354.2 million, creating 307 construction jobs during the build phase and providing approximately 870 ongoing positions once operational. The state government assessment found that the project aligns with strategic frameworks such as the Greater Sydney Region Plan and the North District Plan, playing a positive role in providing social infrastructure and supporting employment growth within the North Sydney CBD. Heritage assessment was a core consideration for this school construction project, with the site listed on the State Heritage Register for its pioneering curtain wall design. The state government concluded that the redevelopment achieves an acceptable balance between preservation and viability, ensuring the building can meet contemporary standards while retaining its most prominent architectural elements.

This school construction project will also address flood constraints at the site, planning to raise the ground floor and introduce mitigation measures to enhance safety. The final decision will be made by the Planning Minister's delegate, but the recommendation indicates planning support for this significant adaptive reuse project in North Sydney. The specific higher education institution that will occupy this school construction project has not yet been announced.