Written by
12/04/2023
On public exhibition is a high-rise private school to be operated by the fast-growing Inspired Education.
Built, as landowner, has applied for concept and stage 1 approval, which envisages the adaptive reuse of an existing heritage building at 41 McLaren Street in North Sydney into a co-educational K-12 school with capacity for 1560 students.
Stage 1 will see the adaptive reuse of the existing basement, ground and levels 1 and 2 for a school accommodating 500 students, as well as reconfiguration and extension of the basement to include a multi-purpose sporting facility, drama and dance classrooms and an on-site pick up and drop off zone.
Earmarked as a significant piece of social infrastructure, the project will deliver a new state-of-the-art school that will ensure a better and higher use of the site.
In addition, the project is consistent with the local strategic planning framework in that it will assist in achieving the estimated student capacity of an additional 21,900 students in both government and non-government schools in the North District by 2036.
Aerial image of the site showing the site’s proximity to the future Victoria Cross Metro Station
Located at 41 McLaren Street within the Ward Street Precinct, the site is 90 metres southeast of the future Victoria Cross Metro Station entry and 800 metres north of North Sydney Station.
Existing on the site is a 7-8-storey commercial office building designed in 1971 by prominent Sydney architect – Harry Seidler. It is identified as a local heritage item under the North Sydney Local Environmental Plan and is known as Simsmetal House.
The locality is undergoing urban renewal, which is expected to transform the CBD and surrounds into a world class commercial destination, supported by a range of retail, residential, community and educational uses.
Within Australia, Inspired Education has an established network of four private schools, including Reddam ELS Woollahra, Reddam ELS Lindfield, Reddam ELS St Leonards and Reddam House Sydney. The operator has identified a strong demand for co-educational and non-denomination school and is actively seeking to expand its network.
Internationally, Inspired Education has over 80 premium schools across 23 countries.
The first stage of occupation is programmed for the first quarter of 2024.
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