The winners of the global Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction showcase the cutting edge of approaches to sustainable design, green architecture, and materials innovation. In the 6th cycle of the world’s most significant competition for sustainable design, offering prize money totaling USD 2 million, most of the global prizewinning projects came from the Asia Pacific and Middle East Africa regions; one top prize each also went to Colombia and Switzerland. The prizes were presented at a handover ceremony at the International Architecture Biennale in Venice, Italy.

Project description by regional jury

The design for the Atlassian Central building in Sydney, positions the project as a game-changer for buildings that pursue low-energy and high-comfort performance. Located adjacent to Central Station and supporting 4,000 jobs, the 39-storey tower will be a fitting gateway to the Sydney Innovation & Technology Precinct and is sensitively inserted into the historic fabric of the city. The project targets a 50% carbon reduction compared to typical contemporary constructions, through the combination of a low-embodied energy structure and a highly efficient environmental performance during the operation of the building. The design gravitates around a structural system and spatial organization that is highly noteworthy due to its degree of integration.

As a Main category prize winner in the regional Holcim Awards 2020, High-Performance Tower in Australia automatically qualified as a finalist in the Global Holcim Awards 2021.

View Global Holcim Awards Entry – High-Performance Tower in Australia

The built environment has a significant role to play in addressing climate change and enabling the transition to a net zero and more inclusive future. The Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction global winners showcase the cutting edge of approaches to sustainable design, green architecture and materials innovation. In the 6th cycle, a Global Holcim Awards Bronze and two Global Commendations went to projects in the Asia Pacific region. The global prizes were presented at a handover ceremony at the International Architecture Biennale in Venice, Italy. The regional Holcim Awards Main category winners for Asia Pacific were recognized at the same event.

Atlassian Tower - Sustainability aspirations

The new high-rise building of Atlassian is going beyond star rating systems and claims to be a game-changer for low-carbon construction, high comfort and low energy consumption throughout the whole life cycle. Innovative comfort- and building-approaches and a focus on human well-being in a strong connection to natural spaces and outdoors lead to an exemplary low energy demand and uniquely stimulating environments.

Atlassian has a strong commitment to be a role model company in sustainability and forms part of the RE100 program, which commits companies to accelerate change towards zero carbon and 100% renewable energy.

The project commitments to reduce carbon include: 50% less embodied carbon with a hybrid steel/timber/concrete high-rise building structure, 50% less energy demand compared to a new conventionally operated building and a maximized on-site production of minimum 500 MWh/y with PV panels in the vertical facades. From the beginning of building operation in 2024, the building will be supplied with 100% recently added low carbon renewable electricity.