Newcastle council's former administration headquarters could be placed on the State Heritage Register.
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The Heritage Council of NSW has notified that it intends to consider the former City Administration Centre, also known as the "roundhouse", for the status.
"The City Administration Centre ... is likely to be of state significance as an outstanding representation of late 20th century international modernist style of brutalist design," Heritage NSW acting manager of regional heritage operations Steven Meredith wrote in a recent notification letter.
"The Brutalist design and construction methods exhibit representative use of materials such as sculptural shapes and robust textures of precast concrete.
"The building is an iconic landmark in the civic precinct for the people of the Hunter Region and is on the Australian Institute of Architects [state] Register of Significant NSW Buildings."
The building, opened in 1977, was designed by Australian architects Romberg and Boyd in association with Wilson and Suters.
"It is likely to be of state heritage significance for its association with these architects," Mr Meredith wrote.
Newcastle council sold the building in 2018 to Syrian billionaire Ghassan Aboud, whose Crystalbrook Collection hotel business is converting it into a soon-to-be-opened five-star hotel.
The nearby Fred Ash Building, which council also used, is on the state register.
Public submissions about the proposed nomination should be lodged to the Heritage Council of NSW before Sunday, May 9.
These can be made by post to Heritage Council of NSW at Locked Bag 5020 PARRAMATTA NSW 2124 or via email to heritagemailbox@environment.nsw.gov.au
Special Minister of State Don Harwin would ultimately decide whether or not to list the building.
Newcastle state MP Tim Crakanthorp said the roundhouse was "a wonderful example of brutalist architecture" and the soon-to-be-opened Kingsley Hotel was a "fantastic example of adaptive reuse".
"Love it or loathe it, it's certainly an iconic building in our civic precinct," he said.
"There's a lot of different views about the roundhouse in Newcastle but you can't deny it's a unique building, and has an extra local connection through the involvement of Novocastrian Brian Suters in its design."
