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Waterloo Station is part of the new Sydney Metro. The station's design reflects inner-city Waterloo's rich natural, Indigenous, social and industrial history. Indigenous advisor Yerrabingin's phrase ‘the past is in the earth and the future is in the sky’ became the conceptual framework. At precinct level, scale and materials respect existing industrial and residential streetscapes. Internally, the station's three levels create a layered journey through time and space, rising from ancient on platform level to modern at street level, unified by a palette of locally informed colours and textures. Indigenous artist Nicole Monks' embedded artworks celebrate living Aboriginal culture and heritage, while a focus on creating a sense of light and air makes public transport enjoyable and uplifting.
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Waterloo Station sensitively integrates into its urban and cultural context and is a catalyst for urban regeneration. Occupying an entire city block and opening onto a future public square, it anchors a new, mixed-use precinct, the Waterloo Metro Quarter. At precinct level, scale, forms and materials respect the existing residential and industrial streetscapes, visually breaking down large-scale infrastructure to a human scale that mediates between the street and the integrated development evolving above. Perforated panels on the southern station head are an abstracted image of pre-existing marshlands, reflecting the site's natural heritage. The station establishes a strong civic presence that builds on local character and identity, respecting what exists and anticipating the future.
The design of Waterloo Station embeds environmental, social and economic sustainability. A line-wide bespoke Green Star rating tool enabled a 6-star Green Star rating through water and energy efficiency and 100 per cent operational electricity carbon offsets. Passive cooling strategies and sustainable materials further reduce Waterloo's environmental footprint. A skylight delivers natural light deep into the concourse to reduce energy use, whilst durable materials such as aluminium and glass-reinforced concrete support longevity and minimal maintenance for long-term benefit. As part of Sydney Metro City & Southwest, the project won two prestigious awards - the NSW Architecture Medallion and the Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design - at the 2025 NSW Architecture Awards.
Waterloo Station is innovative for its seamless integration of architecture, engineering and art. Underpinned by the narrative ‘the past is in the earth, the future is in the sky’, the design reflects Waterloo's layers of ecological, cultural and social heritage. The station's strong civic presence builds on local character whilst providing the foundation for a town square and mixed-use precinct that will become the suburb's new heart. Integration with buildings and the public realm supports easy movement into and around the site and legible transport connections. Spaces for new businesses and services support economic and community uplift. Inside the station, suspended panels above the entrance escalators open sightlines and provide the canvas for Indigenous artist Nicole Monks' sparkling footprint artwork - one of three collectively titled 'Footprints on Gadigal Nura'. They include the 9.7 metre image of Roscoe, a young Indigenous dancer, smiling over the concourse as the station's landmark feature. The art connects station users with First Nations living culture and grounds the station in deep history. Rationalising services optimised the generous volume of the concourse. Light panels and a skylight contribute to an overarching sense of space, light and air. Asymmetrical positioning of lifts and escalators aids wayfinding, supported by clear sightlines between all levels. Safe, accessible and enjoyable to use, the station signals a bright future for the Waterloo community.
Waterloo Station sets a new benchmark for public transport infrastructure. The design team has delivered a station that is not only highly functional and efficient but also deeply respectful of Country and community. It reflects our commitment to sustainability, cultural inclusion, and creating places that serve and inspire future generations.
John McAslan + Partners is a leading international architecture and design practice with studios in London, Edinburgh, Sydney and New York. The firm’s global portfolio spans sectors including transport infrastructure, culture, education, commercial, residential, mixed-use, heritage and landscape. With a focus on the public good, social impact projects include restoring Haiti’s Iron Market and supporting the British Housing Initiative. The practice has received over 200 awards for design excellence, including 30 RIBA awards, multiple Architectural Practice and World Architect of the Year titles, and three Europa Nostra Awards for heritage conservation. It has twice won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade. Most recently, it received the Art Fund Museum of the Year and the RIAS Doolan Award for The Burrell Collection. In Australia, two stations designed by the practice are part of the Sydney Metro City Line awarded the prestigious 2025 NSW Architecture Medallion.
