World’s first adaptive reuse skyscraper by BVN and 3XN named best tall building worldwide

Quay Quarter Tower: A Global Adaptive Re-Use Model

The Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney, designed by 3XN and developed in partnership with BVN, stands as a global example of an adaptive reuse project. This 206-meter-high skyscraper highlights the potential of repurposing existing buildings to increase their longevity and reduce the environmental impact of construction. During the CTBUH’s annual international conference with the theme Humanizing High Density, held in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) recognized the Tower as the Best Tall Building Worldwide for 2023. ‘The global construction industry confronts an emerging dilemma: should we build new structures, or should we renew existing ones to accommodate the anticipated growth in urban density?’ explained CTBUH CEO Javier Quintana de Uña. Instead of constructing a new building, the Quay Quarter Tower repurposed the 1976 AMP Center, preserving a significant portion of its original structural elements, including beams, columns, and slabs, as well as over 95% of its original core. 

A Model of Sustainable Urban Renewal and Global Impact

CTBUH‘s award acknowledges the Quay Quarter Tower’s commitment to creating a more sustainable urban environment, not only in Sydney but globally. Conceptualized by 3XN (see more here) and BVN (see more here), The Tower, which is owned by Dexus Wholesale Property Fund (DWPF), Mirvac Wholesale Office Fund (MWOF), and Rest Super, stands out for its approach to sustainable urban renewal, which aims to mitigate climate change and promote environmental, economic, and social sustainability. This approach resulted in a carbon savings of 12,000 metric tons. The building also features a self-shading façade that reduces solar radiation and strategically positioned atria that allow natural daylight to permeate the floor plates, enhancing energy efficiency. Another highlight is its innovative removable floor system in the atria, which provides flexibility for adapting the space as business needs change, extending the building’s life cycle and reducing its carbon footprint. Thanks to these sustainable features, the Quay Quarter Tower has achieved a 6-Star Green Star rating and meets operational performance standards. 

The building also focuses on community and connectivity, with its vertical village concept promoting interaction among occupants, and it has received the IWBI WELL Platinum certification. By extending the internal market hall to external terraces and featuring a rooftop park and café on the podium, the Tower provides an urban destination with green spaces. The building’s façade gradually tilts eastward as it rises, providing views of the harbor, including the Sydney Opera House. This design choice helps ensure that the building does not create additional shadows on the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens or the public museum space to the south. Quay Quarter Sydney, located in the northeastern central business district of the city, is also a pioneer in urban planning and placemaking innovations. The project’s heritage laneway development, Quay Quarter Lanes, received the CTBUH’s Urban Habitat Award for its creative urban design, which contributes to social sustainability and city life.

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