50 Smith Street
For the Three Towers Group, we designed a proposal for the new commercial and retail building, which rearticulates the corner of Derby and Smith Street, Collingwood.
Project Summary:
XO Projects has reimagined 50 Smith Street as a sustainable, mixed-use development that seamlessly integrates heritage restoration with modern, flexible commercial space. The design delivers activated ground-level retail and food & beverage tenancies, basement amenity, and upper-level commercial offices—optimised for long-term leasing value and operational performance.
The project retains and carefully restores the character-rich corner building at 48–52 Smith Street, while introducing a complementary new structure at 46 Smith Street. This new addition houses all essential vertical services, ensuring future adaptability and minimal impact on the heritage fabric.
Key Design Moves:
Heritage Reinstatement – The corner building’s street presence is revived through retail frontage, reinstated openings, and material restoration.
Urban Activation – Four ground-level entries and new hospitality tenancies ensure continuous engagement along Smith and Derby Streets. A widened rear laneway, enhanced with an F&B terrace, creates a shared pedestrian/cyclist corridor and outdoor dining opportunity.
Contemporary Expression – A lightweight, clearly delineated upper extension sits above the restored base. This maintains a respectful dialogue between old and new, while meeting contemporary spatial demands.
Contextual Corner Articulation – Inspired by Collingwood’s rich history of expressive street corners, the project anchors its identity at the Smith–Derby intersection through sculpted form and strong podium alignment.
Value Delivered:
Maximised net lettable area while retaining key heritage components.
Enhanced pedestrian connectivity and public realm contribution.
Market appeal through character-led architecture with high design credibility.
