A new hotel has opened in Sydney’s monumental Department of Education Building

It’s been seven years in the making, but Capella Sydney has finally opened its doors to unveil interiors that make the most of the grand, baroque building the hotel inhabits.

The heritage-listed Department of Education Building was designed in the 1900s by architect George McRae – who also designed Sydney Town Hall – and occupies an entire block in the city. It’s now transformed into a 192-room hotel, which spans eight levels and includes three restaurants, event spaces, and a spa.

Make Architects were responsible for the building’s refurb, working to restore heritage details such as the sandstone facade and the marble-clad vestibules. A four-storey extension uses fluted fins and curved glass corners to harmonise with the historic exterior.

No attention has been spared on the interiors either, with the ground floor of the hotel filled with plant life and artworks that emphasise the scale of the space – including a kinetic lighting installation by Dutch design duo DRIFT, located in the building’s courtyard-turned-lounge. Suites adopt a more minimal aesthetic, focusing on dark wood and muted tones.

Rooms start at A$830 per night.