Unlocking Value in Complex Existing Assets

Strategic insights for client owners and operators
— Shannon Cloete

The Star Sydney Residential & Hotel

by Marriott Ritz Carlton

Group Senior Design Manager GM | The Star Sydney
Masterplanning & Strategic Design Leadership – Sydney Pyrmont Luxury Residential & Hotel Strategy

At The Star Sydney, I led the comprehensive masterplanning and strategic design management for the site’s highest-value asset – the Sydney Pyrmont precinct. Tasked with unlocking exceptional residential and hotel potential, I spearheaded an integrated luxury residential strategy that maximised land value through visionary, complex planning aligned with the Group’s long-term growth objectives.

My role encompassed:

  • Group-wide design management leadership across multidisciplinary projects, ensuring alignment with corporate strategic growth ambitions.

  • Developing and executing a compelling masterplan that balanced luxury residential and premium hotel uses, optimising the site’s unique urban context and market potential.

  • Translating complex planning frameworks and regulatory considerations into a clear, actionable design vision that unlocked latent value and created competitive advantage.

  • Leading the design team alongside Hotel Operators and executive management to deliver cohesive design solutions reflecting world-class gaming, hospitality, and F&B aspirations within a multicultural international environment.

  • Preparing and delivering strategic presentations for the Board and CEO, articulating feasibility analyses and visionary design concepts to secure stakeholder confidence and investment.

  • Repurposing assets through innovative investigations to enhance land efficiency and shareholder value, positioning the Sydney Pyrmont site as a flagship of urban luxury and operational excellence.

Through this role, I demonstrated a unique blend of architectural expertise, project development acumen, and strategic design leadership, delivering high-impact outcomes that reinforced The Star’s market dominance and asset value in a highly competitive landscape.

Experience the Design

See the Design experience and flythrough for proposals from The Star Sydney, unlocking the value of our Assets positioning and expansion.

A modern multi-story building with a futuristic design featuring two large, curved white structures extending outward, surrounded by trees and pedestrian walkways.
Aerial view of a futuristic building with curved, white rooftop structures surrounding a pool, a skyscraper with a solar panel oval-shaped roof on top near a body of water, and the Ritz-Carlton hotel with its rounded facade and trees in front.
A collage of three images: city skyline with skyscrapers at sunset, the Ritz-Carlton hotel exterior, and a modern hotel lobby with seating and large windows.
Luxury hotel lobby with modern furniture, large glass windows offering city and water views, and decorative plants.
Luxurious hotel lobby with modern design, gold vertical accents, and checkered black and white flooring. Guests check in at reception desks and converse with staff, with some standing on a teal carpet around a circular pillar.
Interior of a luxurious hotel lobby with black and white marble flooring, golden Decor, and an escalator leading to the upper floor.
Interior view of a modern, upscale shopping mall with a large digital art display on an arch-shaped wall, featuring swirling abstract patterns in green, purple, and black. The mall has sleek black tile flooring with white geometric patterns, escalato
A person standing in front of a large curved digital water fountain display with vibrant, flowing multicolored lights.
Modern indoor space with escalator, city skyline mural, and contemporary lighting design.
Exterior of The Ritz-Carlton hotel with palm trees, modern architecture, and a curved entrance
Interior of a high-rise restaurant or lounge with large glass windows and a panoramic view of a city skyline and river, with three people standing near the windows.
Exterior view of The Ritz-Carlton hotel with modern architecture, a curved facade, palm trees, and a few pedestrians on a sunny day.
Sky pool on a rooftop with cityscape view, lounge chairs along the edge, and a glass barrier.
Modern building with rounded architectural design, glass windows, and a sleek silver car parked outside under a cloudy sky.
Elegant restaurant booth seating with beige upholstery, round tables set with silverware, glasses, and napkins, separated by vertical dark wood slats, in a sophisticated, modern dining space with soft lighting.
Elegant hotel lobby with a black and white geometric patterned floor, gold circular wall accents, a spiraling cylindrical art installation, and a reception desk with staff.
Luxury casino with gambling tables, casino monitors, and a luxury car on display in a lobby with large windows and gold accents.
Modern rooftop bar with city skyline view, circular bar area, and comfortable seating
A modern, luxurious lobby or lounge area with a large abstract glass sculpture hanging from the ceiling, wood-paneled walls, and several seating areas with chairs and computer stations.
Luxurious hotel lobby with modern decor, a chandelier, seating area, flat-screen monitors, and decorative wooden divider panels.
Aerial view of a modern high-rise building with solar panels on the rooftop, located in an urban waterfront area with water and other buildings visible in the background.

Strategic Future Expansion

As a Senior Client-Side Design and Development Manager, I bring strategic leadership that aligns architectural vision with business objectives, unlocking significant value across the project lifecycle. By partnering closely with C-suite executives—such as the CEO and Group CFO—and fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, I drive integrated solutions that optimise design feasibility and development outcomes.

My approach emphasises early-stage strategic planning, enabling vertical expansion and securing planning approvals that maximise site development yield and enhance amenity offerings. This results in higher asset value, improved stakeholder alignment, and streamlined delivery, as evidenced during my tenure at The Star Entertainment Group. Through in-house leadership, I ensure design integrity, risk mitigation, and commercial viability, positioning projects for long-term success.

Experience the Strategic Projects from Shannon Cloete

Group Senior Design Manager (GM) Property Development

Queens Wharf Brisbane

Queens Wharf Brisbane - Interiors

Queens Wharf - Masterplan

The Star Sydney - Grand Lobby Refurbishment Digital

The Star Sydney Lobby - Refurbishment

The Star Sydney - Ritz-Carlton Tower & Masterplan