Midtown MacPark

Transforming an existing estate into a vibrant community

The redevelopment of the Ivanhoe Estate in Macquarie Park is the NSW Government’s pioneer Communities Plus project. It will deliver a mixed-use community with more than 3,500 dwellings in an equitable, tenure-blind plan, offering substantial social housing adjacent to new market dwellings.

Bates Smart was appointed as the lead masterplan architect to redevelop the estate. When complete, Midtown MacPark will consist of 24 new buildings that range between 14 and 24 storeys in height and integrate a complex mix of 3,500 market, social and affordable housing dwellings.

A new school, retail precinct, and aged care facility will support the housing. The community’s substantial public domain will total 34,000 sqm and contain all new road infrastructure, new cycle routes, a new village green, a landscape that frames Shrimptons Creek, and conservation of existing remnant bushland.

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We were responsible for leading the architectural and public domain team to address the complex project brief, develop and manage the masterplan framework and built form strategy, and design three landmark buildings for the precinct. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with Hassell, Cox, Turner and Candelapas Associates.

Project Challenges:

Introduce a large residential community in commercial Macquarie Park
Increase access to affordable housing
Support the community with needed amenity
Navigate a complex state government and private enterprise stakeholder group

Project Solutions:

Mixed market, social and affordable dwellings will create a diverse community that’s financially balanced and provides much needed housing
The mix of amenity will support the community to create a nice place to live

A complex social brief, short timeframe and tight commercial requirements have combined to make this an exciting and significant project. We believe Midtown MacPark will establish the benchmark for the way in which future public housing is delivered in NSW.