Quay Quarter Tower | 3XN Architects

September 25, 2014 -- AMP Capital has named 3XN as the architect for the 49-story, 102,000SM (~1.1M SF) 50 Bridge Street tower and master plan for the Quay Quarter Sydney (QQS) precinct. 3XN was selected via a multi-stage international competition, the fourth it has won this year, which included two Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning firms. Construction on this important new addition to the Sydney skyline is slated to begin in 2018.

The 50 Bridge Street "Quay Quarter Tower" represents the first major project designed by a Danish architect in Sydney since Jørn Utzon designed the landmark Opera House in 1973.

3XN’s innovative design, already well-received by the community, will revitalise AMP Capital’s site, located close to the Opera House, into a vibrant destination for international and local businesses. The bold new tower will engage in an open dialogue with the skyline while also integrating itself into community life at the street level.

Louise Mason, AMP Capital Managing Director Office & Industrial, said: "AMP has been in the Circular Quay precinct for over 50 years and has a deep respect for the heritage of the area and importantly, an exciting vision for the future. This project will feature landmark architecture and leading-edge urban design that will revitalise Sydney’s northern CBD."

"This project looks at the ‘high rise’ in an entirely new way, from both the inside out and outside in," said Kim Herforth Nielsen, MAA/RIBA, Founding Partner and Creative Director of 3XN. "Its dynamic, shifted massing maximises views for all of the building’s users while also creating expansive open spaces that encourage the possibility for interaction, knowledge sharing and vertical connectivity."

The 200-meter-high (656 feet) tower comprises a series of shifting glass volumes stacked upon each other. By dividing the building into five separate volumes and placing atria throughout each volume, the spaces become smaller, more intimate social environments, encouraging building occupants to connect and interact. Rather than face directly into the adjacent building at 33 Alfred Street, the lower levels of the tower are angled west to capture the energy and movement from the surrounding neighbourhood. As the building rises, the northern façade shifts to the east. This rotation not only enhances views over the Opera House and Harbour, but helps self-shade the northern façade from harsh afternoon sun, creating a passive sustainability feature.

Rotating the tower also creates a collection of exterior terraces that are directly linked to the multi-level interior atria, which will contain shared amenity spaces for tenants in each block. These common amenity spaces provide stunning views both vertically and horizontally and bring daylight deep into workspaces while promoting collaboration and interaction.

Arup has provided a full multidisciplinary engineering service for the development and will continue to provide all engineering consulting services through to completion.