The building is leading edge in its application of Mass Timber Construction (MTC). MTC is one of the most hopeful technologies in moving the construction industry toward real solutions to the global climate crisis. The novel hybrid timber structure is significantly lower in embodied carbon and offers a substantial reduction in the building’s carbon footprint. This is assisting Atlassian’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. In addition, the timber provides a warm and inviting environment for Atlassians and visitors. Measuring at approx. 180 meters / 590 feet high – this will be the tallest commercial hybrid timber building in the world.

Expressing her support for this groundbreaking project, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: “Atlassian is a great Australian success story and it’s very fitting for them to have their headquarters here in Sydney. Tech Central will rival Silicon Valley as the place to be. This means more jobs and opportunities for all of our citizens.”

With development applications set to be lodged in coming months and plans to begin construction next year, William Sharples, Founding Principal, SHoP, commented: “Our collective work around the world focuses on elevating the experience of the public realm in urban environments, so we really welcome this opportunity to work with such wonderful partners to create a high-performance landmark for Sydney’s new tech district, at ground level and in the skyline.”

SHoP/BVN found an elegant way to tie a structural element of the building to one of the building’s most aesthetic attributes – the façade. The tower includes a steel exoskeleton that supports the mega floors between neighborhoods. The current design also incorporates an electricity-generating facade system with self-shade capabilities to reduce direct heat gain internally. Combined with the use of mass timber, the innovative facade enables the project to leverage Sydney’s temperate climate to help reduce carbon emissions and generate on site energy.

“Atlassian has their eyes set firmly on the future, this project will achieve a number of ‘firsts’ globally and in Australia. It will make what was once best practice seem inadequate and hopefully lift the ambition of the built environment across Australia,” said Ninotschka Titchkosky, Co-CEO, BVN. “The building is designed in four storey ‘habitats’, each habitat has a park that is fully naturally ventilated, the innovative ventilation strategy for the building also permeates the floorplates.”

To achieve the reduction in embodied carbon, the building will be constructed with a combination of mass timber, concrete and steel. “For a lower height building you can build totally in timber, at 40 storeys we need to hybridize the structural system,” Titchkosky said. “We have worked with some of the world’s best structural engineers Eckersley O’Callaghan and TTW to develop the structural solution. This will be the tallest hybrid timber structure in the world.”

The design aims to pursue Atlassian’s sustainability aspirations through innovative climate concepts, construction and building operations. As such, park spaces have been integral in the design of this workplace, creating a staggered outdoor garden in a Sydney high rise tower. Level 1 communal activities are located at the first of the elevated parks of the tower, providing protected outdoor spaces that will be comfortable all year round. Combined with the novel use of mass timber, the innovative facade enables the project to leverage Sydney’s temperate climate to reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent over a ten-year period.

According to Atlassian’s Head of Global Workplace Experience, Scott Hazard, sustainability was a key focus for the tower, which would be built to last 100 years. “Cross-laminated timber is an incredibly green material, and it helps us avoid massive amounts of concrete and steel,” he said. “We are pushing the limits already beyond anything that we know with that material.”

“We have developed an innovative new approach to designing tall towers using a hybrid structure where the volumetric mass is timber. This approach significantly reduces the embodied carbon of the tower by up to 50 percent when compared to traditional tall building construction, setting a new sustainability standard for tower construction in the future,” added James O’Callaghan, Eckersley O’Callaghan Founding Director.

The lower floors of the tower will entail approximately 480 beds of Railway Square YHA accommodation, which offers more than just a place to stay, but a like-minded community of people within the building and the precinct. The Jury noted that the SHoP/BVN concept design demonstrated the strongest approach to the YHA through an integration with Atlassian, while still maintaining its own identity. The Parcels Shed (the current YHA building) once coordinated the delivery and dispatch of parcels from Central Station from 1912 to the early 1980s. The current design intent is to reflect upon our past and create a new future by having the Parcels Shed integrate into the development and act as an inviting public space.

“Shop and BVN are a 50/50 design collaboration based on shared values and attitudes to architecture. We are both strong advocates for sustainable design, smarter construction and human centered environments. Our shared experiences make for a rich collaboration. This project is not just about being green, it’s a whole systems approach to design, construction and habitation. It will demonstrate that change is possible and has many advantages for the planet, our cities and business. We can’t keep doing things the way we have been for the past 50 years and expect different outcomes. We need the development and construction community to see the potential in new ways of doing things and get on board if we are to make the impact we need,” concluded Titchkosky.