MLC Building, North Sydney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids MLC Building
Top of the MLC Building, with the weather beacon on top and the MLC symbol bas relief by Andor Mészáros
Alternative names	Campus MLC
General information
Type	Office Building
Architectural style	Post-war International
Address	105-153 Miller Street
Town or city	North Sydney, New South Wales
Country	Australia
Coordinates	33°50′18″S 151°12′27″E / 33.8383253°S 151.2075512°E / -33.8383253; 151.2075512
Construction started	June 1955
Completed	1957
Opening	22 August 1957
Renovated	2000–2002
Owner	MLC Limited
Height
Roof	59 m (194 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	16
Design and construction
Architect	Sir Walter Osborne McCutcheon
Architecture firm	Bates, Smart & McCutcheon
Renovating team
Architect	Bates Smart Bligh Voller Nield

The MLC Building is a famous skyscraper in North Sydney, Australia. It stands tall in the main business area, surrounded by Miller Street, Denison Street, and Mount Street. This building was planned in 1954 and finished in 1957.

It was designed in a style called Post-war International by architects Bates, Smart & McCutcheon. The MLC Building was the first tall office building in North Sydney. It was also the first in Australia to use a special design called a curtain wall. The building was built for the Mutual Life & Citizens Assurance Company Limited and is still mostly used by them today.

History of the MLC Building

By the early 1950s, the Mutual Life & Citizens Assurance Company Limited (MLC) needed more office space. Their main office in Martin Place was getting too crowded. So, in 1954, MLC decided to build a new office in North Sydney.

Why North Sydney Was Chosen

The General Manager of MLC, Milton Cromwell Alder, explained the reason for the new building. He said that traffic in the city was becoming a big problem. Also, the company needed more room for its growing staff. The new building in North Sydney would become the main office. It would hold most of the clerks and handle administrative work. The old building would be used for executives and meeting the public.

Design and Construction

MLC chose their favorite architects, Bates, Smart & McCutcheon, to design the new building. This firm had also designed MLC's earlier head office. They worked together on many new MLC buildings across Australia. The North Sydney MLC Building was designed as a 59-meter-tall tower. It was built in the Post-war International style. The design was inspired by famous buildings like the Lever House in New York.

A Landmark for North Sydney

The MLC Building was very important for North Sydney. Its height and design showed that North Sydney was becoming a major business center. The Mayor of North Sydney, William Henry Brothers, even said that the northern side of the harbor would become Sydney's commercial heart. The building was special because it was the first in Australia to use a curtain wall design. It also used modular units for the first time in Australia. It was the first tall building in Australia to have a public plaza. A weather beacon was put on the roof by Standard Telephones and Cables. This showed its status as the tallest building in North Sydney.

Opening Day

The MLC Building cost about A£4.5 million to build. It was officially opened on August 22, 1957. The Prime Minister at the time, Robert Menzies, opened the building. He was very impressed by the view from the top floor.

Modern Updates

In 2000, the outside of the building was carefully restored. This work was done by Bates Smart, the same firm that designed it. The inside of the building also got a big makeover. This project was called "Campus MLC" and was led by Bligh Voller Nield.

Features of the MLC Building

The MLC Building is a modernist office block with fourteen floors. Two of these floors are underground. It has a total of 42,000 square meters of office space. The building is built with a strong steel frame. It uses curtain walls made of glass and aluminum. Other materials like terracotta, marble, granite, and mosaic tiles were also used. When it was finished, the MLC Building was the largest office building in Australia. It was also the biggest steel structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

Protecting the MLC Building

The MLC Building is recognized as an important historical site. It is listed on the North Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2013. This listing highlights that it was the first high-rise office block in North Sydney. It was also the largest for many years after it was built. The building's design and construction methods were new for Australia. It influenced how other tall buildings were designed in Sydney. The MLC Building is also on the Australian Institute of Architects' register of important 20th-Century Architecture. It is also listed on the heritage register of the National Trust of Australia (NSW).

Images for kids

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  Top of the MLC Building, with the weather beacon on top and the MLC symbol bas relief by Andor Mészáros