From its rooftop at 165 metres above sea level, there are sweeping views of the Hunter coast and across Lake Macquarie to Mount Sugarloaf.
Lake Macquarie's tallest building, GWH's Highpoint development in Charlestown, is only a couple of months away from opening.
As the scaffolding comes down from the upper floors, the building's scale and character is being revealed.
The 16-storey building stands prominently in the area's skyline and can be seen from kilometres away when other nearby buildings can't.
Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser said the building was a gateway to Charlestown's commercial area.
"We regarded this site as being quite iconic," she said. "We called it an iconic site so we wanted a landmark-type building here."
Highpoint features 68 apartments and ground-level commercial space. Many of the units sold have been bought by locals down-sizing from larger family homes.
GWH director Hilton Grugeon said the development was the start of a transition from "medium-rise" to "high-rise" buildings in Charlestown.
He described Highpoint as "lovely but lonely", in reference to a yet-to-be-approved 15-storey development the company is planning next door.
"This is the beginning of this type of development," he said.
"Charlestown I've always thought of as the Chatswood of the Hunter Valley, and it's starting to look like it.
"So we'll get the one next door for next and keep going as we get more of this type of living, and office space, into this part of town."
Cr Fraser said it was encouraging to hear of down-sizing buyers in light of the council's housing strategy released last year which outlined the need for greater housing diversity.
"We've realised we need to change the housing mix," she said.
"Gone are the days when you've got a house on a one-acre block.
"You can still do that in certain areas of our city, but we know closer to our economic centres we need to have that density.
"We need to be able to provide that type of accommodation people are asking for. They've sold most of the units here already, so we know that residents are looking for something a bit different.
"Not everyone wants a backyard, not everyone wants to mow their lawn, but a lot of people want to be living close to the economic centre.
"They want to be able to walk to the shopping centre and walk to cafes and restaurants, and I think that is what this offers. So I think we'll see more of this.
"Obviously the market is calling out for it."
Charlestown I've always thought of as the Chatswood of the Hunter Valley, and it's starting to look like it.
Hilton Grugeon
