Sydney is on the verge of claiming a significant architectural milestone. Atlassian Central, a 39-floor hybrid timber tower currently nearing completion, is set to become the world’s tallest building of its kind, surpassing the existing record holder by a considerable margin.
Designed by BVN and SHoP Architects as part of a larger development in Sydney, Australia, the tower will top out at 183 m (600 ft). That makes it more than twice the height of Milwaukee’s Ascent, which currently holds the title of world’s tallest hybrid timber skyscraper at 86.6 m (284 ft). According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), the premier authority on building heights, Atlassian Central will claim the record upon completion, ahead of any proposals not yet approved.
Designer: & SHoP Architects
The structure relies on a hybrid system of concrete, steel, and engineered wood, a combination that sets it apart from purely timber towers like Norway’s Mjøstårnet. The use of concrete and steel allows the building to reach heights that timber alone could not sustain, while glued-laminated timber columns and cross-laminated timber slabs, sourced from Europe, are incorporated throughout. In total, roughly 10,000 cubic meters (353,000 cubic ft) of engineered wood will be used in the build.
Sustainability is woven into the design beyond the choice of materials. The facade integrates solar panels alongside an automation system developed by specialist EBSA, which is expected to significantly reduce the building’s mechanical cooling requirements. SHoP Architects describe the commercial floors as being organized into seven stacked four-story “habitat” modules, each framed by the hybrid timber structure and designed to maximize natural ventilation, provide access to landscaped terraces, and support workplace well-being through a connection to natural environments.
The tower’s program is varied. The lower floors will house a hostel, and the project will incorporate an existing building on the site, which is being restored and folded into the lobby. The majority of the remaining floors are dedicated to office space, interspersed with multiple open garden areas that reinforce the building’s emphasis on greenery and natural light.
An exact completion date has not been confirmed, but Atlassian Central is expected to be finished in late 2026 or sometime in 2027. When it opens, it will represent not just a new height record for hybrid timber construction, but a meaningful step forward in demonstrating what sustainable high-rise architecture can look like at scale.
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