A 1970s commercial tower in Chatswood, known as the Panorama Building, is facing demolition under a proposal to replace it with a significantly taller high-rise development.
Redevelopment Proposal And Scale
Plans lodged for the Chatswood site seek approval to demolish the existing building and construct a 61-storey tower rising about 263 metres. The proposal includes 506 apartments and would become the tallest structure in the suburb.
The existing building has experienced extended periods of low occupancy, a factor cited in support of redevelopment. The site’s location along the Pacific Highway provides access to transport, retail centres and nearby employment areas.
A 1970s Landmark In Chatswood
The Panorama Building, originally known as the BMA Tower, is located at 815 Pacific Highway. Designed by Hungarian-born modernist architect Hugo Stossel, the building was officially opened on October 16, 1972, following a construction period of about 14 months.
Standing 14 storeys and approximately 54 metres high, the building was the tallest in Chatswood at the time of its completion. Its curved façade and external glass lift became defining features, along with a rooftop restaurant that drew visitors throughout the 1970s and later decades.
Architectural Background And Design Context
Stossel trained in Europe before arriving in Australia in 1939. His later work in Sydney included modernist houses, apartment buildings and commercial projects, many of which reflected design approaches developed in Europe during the interwar period.
While the Panorama Building is frequently described as visually distinctive, architectural assessments have generally placed it outside Stossel’s strongest body of work. Other residential designs attributed to his practice have attracted closer attention in recent years.
Heritage Status And Comparative Assessments
The Panorama Building is not heritage listed and is not subject to a heritage protection order. Despite renewed attention, no formal heritage process has been initiated for the Chatswood site.
By contrast, several post-war residential buildings designed by Stossel in other Sydney suburbs have been identified through targeted heritage studies. Some of those buildings have been recommended for local heritage listing due to their architectural, historical and social significance.
Community Response And Social Value
Public discussion around the Panorama Building has intensified following renewed attention on social media. Many former visitors have shared memories associated with the rooftop restaurant, the external lift ride and early dining experiences during the 1970s and 1980s.
Heritage specialists have noted that such responses highlight the social value of post-war buildings, even where architectural merit alone may not justify retention.
What Happens Next
Expert commentary has raised practical barriers to adaptive reuse, with the building described as difficult and costly to repurpose. The redevelopment proposal remains under consideration, with demolition widely viewed as likely if approval is granted.
If the project proceeds, the Panorama Building will be removed from Chatswood’s skyline, closing a chapter on one of the suburb’s most distinctive post-war commercial structures.
Published 6-Feb-2026
