World's tallest timber tower tops out in Sydney

The Atlassian Central skyscraper in Sydney, Australia, has reached its peak height, marking a significant milestone in modern construction. Designed by SHoP Architects and BVN Architecture, this 180-meter tower is the new global leader for hybrid timber high-rises. It features a structure that combines mass timber with steel and concrete to achieve structural efficiency and reduced carbon weight.

This project serves as the headquarters for the technology firm Atlassian. The 39-story building uses an exoskeleton design to support seven distinct four-story segments. These sections function as separate habitats, incorporating office spaces, atriums, and elevated gardens to encourage internal collaboration and natural ventilation. The construction team integrated the site's existing historic structure, known as The Parcels Shed, into the base of the new tower.

The use of mass timber offers a clear benefit for environmental targets. The design expects to cut upfront embodied carbon by 50 percent compared to standard steel and concrete buildings of the same scale. The team also aims for high operational energy efficiency once the building opens later this year.

This high-rise represents a shift in urban office design. By prioritizing wood and natural elements in a dense city environment, the project moves away from traditional concrete-heavy construction methods. The work on the facade continues as the project nears completion, proving the feasibility of large-scale timber implementation in the vertical city landscape.