Independent Theatre, North Sydney

Development Management and Project Management for restoration of the Independent Theatre, North Sydney, together with redevelopment of the adjacent squash court site to provide a 102-room 5-star Hotel and headquarters for the Billy Blue School of Hotel Management. Successfully achieved re-zoning and new LEP; however Development Group was unable to secure funding. The squash court site was ultimately redeveloped as home units, separate from the theatre.

Architect Tim Schwager's original design was for a modern hotel complex, linked to the theatre but maintaining the theatre's independent identity in the streetscape. Council required him to extend the treatment of the existing theatre facade, resulting in the following design:

Tim's original design for the hotel and theatre integration was as follows: