Quay Quarter Tower

Designed and constructed to have a net-positive or at least a net-zero impact on the environment, rather than being demolished, the existing commercial skyscraper was upcycled, retaining more than 60 % of its existing structure and extending the assets design life by 50 years. In 2022, the project won the World Building of the Year award at the World Architecture Festival in Lisbon.

The project has been certified by WELL, Green Star Office Design v3 (6 Star rated), Green Star Interiors (6 Star rated) and NABERS Office Energy Rating, Base Building (5.5 Star rated).

It was developed in a collaboration between Architects 3XN (Danish), BVN (Australian), Structural Engineers BG&E and ADG, MEP/Façade Engineers, Arup, and Multiplex Construction.

Key challenges: 

• to integrate the old structure with the new structure; 
• to understand the original structure and to retain it; 
• to integrating the new structure with the old structure and; 
• to verify the complex design of the new model, the first of its kind in the world.
• 66% of the building’s existing columns, beams and slabs and 95% of its internal walls were retained

Circularity outcomes

• 50% of the building’s resources were reused from the existing building
• The reuse of materials resulted in a total carbon saving of over 7,500 tonnes
• The reuse of materials resulted in an estimated economic savings of $130 million.
• The reuse of materials resulted in an estimated construction time saving of 12 months
• A 4D structural model (digital twin in ETABS) was developed and calibrated during the construction to study the current and future structural behaviour
• A comprehensive structural testing program was implemented to determine the strength of the existing structure
• The health of the structure was monitored during the construction by the installation of various instruments and sensors to demonstrate the structural sufficiency of existing structure
• The latest rejuvenation and sustainability techniques, improving solutions that could extend the buildings life by another 50 or 60 years