Barangaroo Cutaway Cultural Centre

Location Barangaroo, NSW
End Client Infrastructure NSW on behalf of NSW Government
Contractor FDC Construction and Fitout
Services
- Sustainability
Sectors
- Public Domain & Community
Year 2025
Value $103 Million

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The Cutaway is one of Sydney’s most extraordinary civic spaces – a monumental, below-ground cultural venue carved beneath Barangaroo Reserve and defined by its towering sandstone cliff wall and open-air void. Originally delivered as a raw concrete shell, the space has undergone a transformation led by Infrastructure NSW (on behalf of the NSW Government) with fjc studio, Bangawarra and Jake Nash, and contractors FDC Construction and Fitout Pty Ltd, to create a flexible, iconic venue for exhibitions, festivals, installations and major events.
Northrop was engaged as Sustainability Consultants to deliver Section J Code Compliance and lead the delivery of the 6 Star Green Star Buildings pathway. This marks one of the most complex Green Star applications in Australia and will be the third 6 Star Green Star Building delivered under this rating tool.

THE CHALLENGE

Unlike a conventional commercial office, the typical target of Green Star Buildings, the Cutaway is a highly bespoke cultural facility with atypical environmental conditions. Challenges included:
• An existing underground venue, not a new build.
• A partially open-air environment, exposed to natural elements.
• Significant acoustic sensitivities, including proximity to residential areas.
• A large-volume space, with complex ventilation and comfort requirements.
Applying Green Star to this context required reinterpreting the rating tool for an entirely different building typology – one unlikely to be replicated anywhere else.

UNDERSTANDING THE CLIENT

Placemaking NSW’s broader strategy was to curate a network of uniquely “Sydney” waterfront venues that operate as an integrated offering, while reinforcing Barangaroo’s Development Pillars of Design Excellence, Art and Culture, Collaboration and Sustainability. For the Cutaway, the vision extended beyond achieving a Green Star-rated building, with the venue intended to become one of Sydney’s most valued cultural spaces and a benchmark for world-class public infrastructure. Understanding this vision early allowed us to tailor sustainability solutions that not only supported operational efficiency across the wider Barangaroo precinct but also aligned with the project’s long-term cultural and environmental aspirations.

OUR APPROACH

FDC is one of Northrop’s most valued long-term partners, often relying on our sustainability team for clarity, value management and problem-solving on complex projects.
Key aspects of our work included:
• Re-thinking Green Star for an existing cultural venue – We carefully mapped the intent of every credit against the realities of the Cutaway, validating alternative pathways through detailed discussions with GBCA.
• Mechanically assisted natural ventilation – Given the open-air environment and challenging temperature/humidity profiles, we helped develop a mechanically assisted natural ventilation system. Working with the mechanical team, we rationalised the design to improve energy performance while retaining flexibility and architectural intent.
• Sustainability-led design management – A major part of our role was coordinating sustainability integration across all disciplines, ensuring the Green Star strategy was buildable, logical and grounded in real-world operation.

IMPACT

The project is on track to achieve a 6 Star Green Star Buildings rating, positioning the Cutaway as a globally leading example of sustainable cultural infrastructure. For the community, the new Cutaway will unlock a space that finally lives up to its potential – a place to gather, celebrate and experience culture against one of Sydney’s most dramatic natural backdrops.

“Northrop has remained responsive and flexible throughout the project lifecycle, consistently providing valuable support in achieving not only the project’s specific sustainability targets, but also its broader environmental and performance objectives.”
Peter Colak
Senior Project Manager • FDC Construction and Fitout Pty Ltd.