The Sydney Metro Northwest involved the construction of new stations and the redevelopment of several existing stations.
HASSELL designed each of the new stations and their surroundings landscapes, which include Rouse Hill, Cherrybrook, Castle Hill, Showground, Norwest, Bella Vista, Kellyville and Cudgegong Road.
As part of the design, most of the stations feature a distinctive canopy design, which was inspired by the Australian blue gum leaf. A palette of local timber and white concrete was used throughout the new stations, creating a sense of unity.
HASSELL also developed designs for improvements to the complexes that feature at the station entrances, including a train maintenance facility at Tallawong, multi-level carparks, and maintenance and utility buildings. A four-kilometre parkland was designed beneath an elevated section of the railway between Bella Vista and Rouse Hill stations. 
“It’s rare to be able to work on projects of this scale and importance,” said HASSELL principal and design director, Ross de la Motte. “We have had team members of all levels being able to develop their experience and grow within their profession, some who started their career with us when we first commenced work on the project six years ago.
“This is a world-class project delivered by Australian designers for the people of northwest Sydney. I really hope they get great pleasure from using the stations and the Metro. It will change the way people travel and the way they live.
“To be involved in and have an influence on that is really quite special.”
An extensive public art project called Light Line Social Square was also included in the project as part of a collaboration between HASSELL and artists Michaelie Crawford, director of Studio TCS, and Peter McGregor, director of McGregor Westlake Architecture. The artwork is “integrated into the architecture, landscape and engineering” across all of the new stations and aimed to produce a “feeling rather than a product, integrated and not separate to the station infrastructure”.
The second phase of the project will see the metro extended beneath Sydney Harbour, through the CBD and to Bankstown. Six of the stations will be designed by Foster + Partners and Architecture. The Central Station upgrade will be designed by Wood Bagot John McAslan & Partners. 
Images by Cath Bowen