Atlassian, a company established in Sydney occupied with several projects including project management and software development, plans to construct the tallest hybrid timber building worldwide as part of the firm's new headquarters.
A Hybrid timber building utilizes both timbers as structural or non-structural components and conventional construction methods. It is a technique that presents important advantages such as better building aesthetics, less demand for concrete and steel and higher flexibility in comparison to full timber buildings.
The tower, scheduled to be completed by 2025, will have around 40 floors and will be naturally ventilated. The building will feature an existing facade of a hostel facility.
The structure will be realized using glass, steel and timber. The design is handled by SHoP Architects, BVN design studio and Eckersley O’Callaghan engineers.
In particular, the designers will utilize a construction method known as Mass Timber Construction while a steel frame system will externally support the rest of the structure. "Cross-laminated timber is an incredibly green material, and it helps us avoid massive amounts of concrete and steel. We are pushing the limits already beyond anything that we know with that material," Scott Hazard, Atlassian's head of global workplace experience, said.
The height of the building is expected to reach 180 meters. Construction works will probably begin within next year.
The new building will feature a much smaller carbon footprint (about 50%) in comparison to a conventional structure. Moreover, once it is accomplished, it will run completely on renewable energy utilizing installed solar panels. As a result, it will consume 50% less power than a current building of the same size.
Although employees are getting used to the idea of working from home, due to the COVID-19 spread, Atlassian believes that creating an attractive and innovative building to host its workforce is essential. "Buildings have to be a place where they attract your employees to come in and do their best work. It's a billboard to future employees," Scott Farquhar, co-founder of the firm, stated.
A small part of the building will be occupied by other technology or start-up companies. The total cost of the endeavor has not been issued yet.
The project is part of Sydney's attempt to re-develop a vast area near the city's Central Station. Through this urban regeneration, the government aims at providing job opportunities for about 25,000 people.
Click the video below to watch the stunning design of the new structure.
