Telephoto from the north-west with mixed cloud: the whole tower with its stepped volumes, slanted top and hood pattern, with a tree in front of the base. The categories say AMP Centre, the tower's former name.

Quay Quarter Tower

50 Bridge Street, Sydney

3XN with BVN; original tower by Peddle, Thorp & Walker. AMP Centre 1976, rebuilt 2018 to 2022. Contemporary.

Size
210.4 m, with 49 to 54 floors
Material
Retained 1970s concrete core and frame, new glass facade with sunshade hoods
Status
Offices. 6 Star Green Star

The AMP Centre by Peddle Thorp & Walker opened here in 1976, at 188 m. AMP Capital chose to keep it rather than demolish it, and the Danish practice 3XN was appointed through an international competition in 2014, with BVN as executive architect. About two-thirds of the structure and almost the whole core were kept. New floors, extended slabs and a new podium added about 45,000 m².

The new tower is arranged as five stacked glass volumes, each shifted from the one below. The twisting shape follows views and light, with atria at various levels connecting the floors. Sunshade hoods across the glass make the staggered pattern seen from outside. They cut direct sunlight by up to 30 per cent.

Reusing the old tower saved about 8,000 to 12,000 tonnes of carbon. In 2022 the building won the International High-Rise Award and was named World Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival. In 2023 the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat named it the best tall building worldwide.

Sources

  1. Quay Quarter Tower, Wikipedia
  2. Quay Quarter Tower, Skyscraper Center, CTBUH
  3. 3XN's Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney Wins the International High-Rise Award 2022/23, ArchDaily
  4. Sydney's Quay Quarter Tower takes out top global award, Architecture Australia
  5. 3XN's Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney is a template for sustainable reuse, Wallpaper