THE Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Lorraine Wearne, last week announced the launch of Parramatta Square, a new development in the heart of the Parramatta CBD, along with the proposed first two stages of construction.

Speaking at the State of the City Address, Cr Wearne said Parramatta Square builds on the previous Civic Place vision and will create a vibrant, central Western Sydney hub on three-hectares of land for 13,000 workers when complete.

"The decision to rename Civic Place as Parramatta Square is the right one, as it emphasises the important role of Parramatta in providing for the business, cultural, entertainment and tourism needs for the fastest growing region in the country," Cr Wearne said.

According to the Council, Parramatta Square will provide public space, along with corporate centres, retail and dining options, new Council facilities and strong connections to the Parramatta transport interchange.

Cr Wearne also announced the winners of the Parramatta Square Design Excellence Competitions, with Architectus and Grimshaw to now be engaged by Council to produce a Development Application for the construction of Parramatta Square's first two buildings.

Architectus' proposal for the corner of Smith and Macquarie Street includes 27,000 square metres of commercial office space and is expected to set new environmental and quality standards in Parramatta.

Grimshaw's winning design is for the development of a 65-storey, mixed-use tower on the corner of Smith and Darcy Streets, which would make it one of the tallest residential buildings in the state. It would also incorporate landscaped sky gardens every six floors, shared by smaller communities. 

Architectus and Grimshaw will work with Council to submit a DA within the next few months. Upon approval, Council will then seek development and finance partners from Australia and around the world to deliver the projects.