Tech giant Atlassian’s plan for a 40-storey timber skyscraper next to Sydney’s Central Railway has been approved by NSW government, and the 180-metre tower will be the tallest commercial hybrid timber building in the world, with construction to start next year. The ground-breaking visionary project will be a program highlight at the Timber Offsite Construction conference in June.
The tower design concept was created by New York-based architects SHoP, with Australian practice BVN as the design team, and engineering by TTW.
The benchmark design timber core will be wrapped in a glass and steel facade and include a mix of outdoor and indoor spaces using an energy-efficient approach that features natural ventilation and large planted terraces giving access to nature.
The new 40,000m2 world-first commercial tower is a global first, and Atlassian says the building will operate on 100% renewable energy and include solar panels built into the facade.
Atlassian co-founder and co-CEO Scott Farquhar said the building is more than a new office space.
“It represents our vision to create the biggest tech precinct of its kind in Australia. When complete, Tech Central will become home to thousands of new jobs and help create hundreds of Aussie-grown tech companies,” he said.
“This is an exciting place to be. We look forward to continuing to work closely with industry and government leaders to see this world-class precinct take shape“
The skyscraper will be part of Sydney’s new Innovation and Technology precinct adjacent to Central Station. Atlassian is the project’s anchor tenant, with two more towers planned for the site.
The Atlassian tower will sit above the station’s former Parcels Shed, which is currently a YHA hostel and has been rezoned for the development. The shed has been integrated into the project and will become a public space. The Railway Square YHA will return as a 480 bed hostel in the lower floors.
Construction is expected to create 2500 additional jobs and generate $1 billion dollars in revenue annually. 4000 Atlassian staff will use the tower and when the tech precinct is completed, cater for around 25,000 people.
NSW minister for jobs and investment Stuart Ayres said Tech Central was set to become a global technology hub. “With Atlassian HQ set for construction and the Western Gateway sub-precinct rezoned, the planning controls are now in place to transform this tired transport hub into something to rival Silicon Valley,” he said.
“Tech Central will be home to 25,000 jobs over 24 hectares once fully developed. Atlassian’s headquarters alone will accommodate 5,000 operational jobs in the world’s tallest hybrid timber tower.”
– Courtesy Startup Daily
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