Barangaroo Cutaway fitout to begin

Construction will soon be underway on the fit out of the Cutaway at Barangaroo in central Sydney.

The project, designed by FJC Studio, will create a new cultural facility over three levels and a new facade adjacent to Nawi Cove.

The Cutaway is located at the south end of Barangaroo Reserve, and has been a large concrete shell, partially open to the elements, since it first opened in 2015.

It had always been intended that it would be fit out to improve function, operations and visitor experience and reduce the noise impacts on neighbours.

In August 2022, FJMT (now FJC Studio) was appointed project architect for the fit out.

The project will enclose the open ceiling void with sound-proof glass skylights, create new event and gallery spaces, a dedicated First Nations education centre, an improved entry, as well as offices, on site amenities and back-of-house facilities, including a commercial kitchen.

FJC's design is inspired by the concept of wound and healing - the wound being the damaging cut made in the headland to create a dock for container ships on the site in the 1970s, which has since been transformed into Barangaroo. The architects worked with a number of Aboriginal designers, including Dharawal Knowledge Keeper Shannon Foster; Bangawarra head of design Jake Nash, master of architecture graduate Matte McConnell (Wiradjuri), and Juliette Guadalupe-Foster (Guanani, Dharawal, Dharug, Gadi, Eora, Worimi), who participated in conversations with the Elders.