Grocon and Markham Corporation lodge development application for Darling Harbour's The Ribbon

A new office, retail and entertainment complex known as The Ribbon could grace Darling Harbour if Grocon and Markham Corporation’s development application is approved.

The industry giants lodged a development application with the NSW Planning and Infrastructure for the redevelopment of the Sydney IMAX retail and entertainment complex.

The Ribbon, with a Darling Harbour frontage, will include 41,470 square metres of net lettable area of office space with large floor plates up to 3,500 square metres.

The Ribbon will also boast 7,300 square metres of retail, function and entertainment areas over 20 floors featuring an IMAX cinema, restaurants, cafes, a gym and a function centre.

Architecturally designed by Hassell Architects, the building is named The Ribbon due to its form and the way the building is wrapped from the east to the west like a ribbon.

“Sydney deserves a distinctive design like this,” says Chris Carolan, NSW general manager of the Grocon Group.

“The Ribbon personifies the liveliness and sophistication of modern Sydney in a way that speaks directly to contemporary landmarks like Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and The Shard in London,” says Carolan.

“We wanted a building that would transform this unique gateway site,” says James Markham, managing director of Markham Corporation.

“This is a challenging but important site in Darling Harbour and it demanded a brave and inspiring design,” says Markham.

After a successful year, the current owners of the IMAX cinema have bought two new state-of-the-art digital projectors to be included in the new IMAX cinema at The Ribbon.