HOTEL SEEKS NEW HEIGHTS
M&L Hospitality has been given development approval for the $160 million upgrade of the Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Darling Harbour (see artist's impression, above). It is already the largest hotel in Australia by number of rooms and this will add a third tower and 230 rooms, easing the hotel room shortage in Sydney's CBD. Led by Cox Richardson Architects, the design will stretch over the Western Distributor and should be done within two years of building starting in early 2014. The new development includes 4810 square metres of pillar-less convention, exhibition and function space and a seven-storey A-grade boutique office component as part of the project's 5000-square-metre commercial development.
PERSON OF THE YEAR
Steve McCann, the chief executive and managing director of Lend Lease, has been named Property Person of the Year for 2013 by the Urban Taskforce Australia. This is the annual award's 11th year. Previous winners included last year's Ross McDiven of Brookfield Multiplex and Harry Triguboff, Lang Walker, Bill Moss and Gary Rothwell.