In 1997 JCDecaux sought the assistance of local architects in preparing their bid to design a series of street furniture for the Sydney Council and a number of councils from the Sydney region. Philip Cox was delighted to be part of this team and traveled to Paris to meet representatives of JCDecaux and to investigate street furniture design in France and England. The high standard of the JCDecaux-designed street furniture confirmed Philip Cox's admiration for the company and his enthusiasm for the Sydney City project. That the bid was ultimately successful was due in no small measure to JCDecaux's understanding of the need to incorporate into the design, the essential qualities of life in Sydney, its openness, light and spontaneity. The project continues with a completion date in the year 2000.