The Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney is an innovative example of sustainable architecture revitalization, offering a fresh definition of large-scale redevelopment by preserving a significant portion of the existing structure. Located near the bustling Circular Quay area, the project opted to retain over 65% of the beams, columns, and slabs, and 95% of the core of the original AMP Tower, built in 1976, instead of demolishing it completely. This approach has resulted in a significant embodied carbon saving (equivalent to 7.3 million kilograms of CO2), marking an important step towards reducing the environmental impact of high-rise construction.
The architectural form of this 49-story tower consists of five stepped and rotated volumes, creating a distinctive skyline while offering stunning views of the Sydney Opera House and the Royal Botanic Gardens. This intelligent design has creatively added more than 45,000 square meters of new space to the building, all within the framework of urban shading regulations, without compromising the visual or functional connection of the building with its surrounding environment.
The interior design of the tower is based on the concept of a “vertical village,” with user experience placed at the forefront. Each of the five main volumes features a central atrium, a spiral staircase, and exterior open spaces that channel natural light deep into the 2,000 square meter floor plates. This flexible architecture also provides the option to add portable and removable floorplates, allowing for further space division as needed to accommodate the changing needs of companies.
At street level, the designers have utilized the site’s slope to create an open lobby and public market hall, effectively blurring the boundary between the tower and the surrounding urban fabric, while enhancing public accessibility to the space. The design of this project was carried out by the Danish firm 3XN and later developed in collaboration with BVN, Olafur Eliasson, and ASPECT Studios. The Quay Quarter Tower project has now become a leading example of high-rise redevelopment with a focus on sustainability, urban interaction, and enhanced user experience.