The redevelopment has repositioned the hotel as a flagship luxury destination, enhanced the guest experience, and safeguarded a significant heritage asset.
InterContinental Sydney Redevelopment
Client
Mulpha International
The project included extensive building services infrastructure upgrades, full refurbishment of 509 guest rooms, revitalisation of lobby and public areas, new bars and restaurants, wellness facilities, club lounge and rooftop bar, façade upgrades and heritage restoration works to the historic Treasury Building. All works were delivered while maintaining hotel operations and guest services.
The refurbishment was driven by the requirement to satisfy IHG’s Property Improvement Plan while preserving the hotel’s 171-year heritage fabric and prime harbourfront setting. Mulpha International sought a delivery strategy that offered flexibility in scope, cost control and value management while retaining full design oversight. A construction management procurement model was adopted to enable open-book trade engagement, progressive value engineering and staged delivery aligned with hotel operations and revenue requirements.
Challenges and Constraints
The project was delivered within one of Sydney’s most constrained hospitality environments, requiring careful staging to minimise disruption to guests, staff and surrounding precincts. Works were undertaken within a fully operational five-star hotel accommodating VIP guests and major events.
Significant challenges included critical shutdowns for replacement of major services, COVID-19-related shutdowns and supply chain disruptions, workforce constraints, and the technical complexity of replacing 587 tower windows without compromising safety, privacy or guest amenity.
Programming
RCP implemented a detailed programme that staged works across 85 individual trade packages and five separable portions, allowing early service upgrades and guest room refurbishments to proceed while public areas continued in design development. During pandemic-related closures, the programme was resequenced to accelerate high-impact works.
The RCP team was successful in coordinating the broader project team to accomplish the end result, redefining this contemporary hotel, setting a new benchmark for luxury, while restoring one of Sydney’s landmark heritage buildings.
