Sydney’s Quay Quarter Tower (QQT) has been awarded the International High-Rise Award (IHA) overnight in Frankfurt, Germany out of 34 projects representing 13 countries globally.
The biannual award – initiated in 2003 by the City of Frankfurt, Deutsches Architekturmuseum and DekaBank – is bestowed upon a high-rise that recognises excellence in aesthetics, design, integration into its urban context, sustainability, innovative technology and cost-effectiveness.
The 49-storey QQT is part of Quay Quarter Sydney – an 11,000 square metre precinct spanning two city blocks. It has strong sustainability credentials, targeting a 6 Star Green Star Office Design v3 rating from the Green Building Council of Australia for its innovative environmental features and vertical village design, which optimises the existing building’s embodied energy and resources. Environmental ratings targets include a 5.5 Star NABERS Office Energy Rating Base Building, 4 Star NABERS Office Water Rating Base Building and WELL certification.
AMP Capital Global Head of Real Estate Kylie O’Connor said Quay Quarter Tower is a transformational building within a broader precinct undergoing a complete revitalisation.
Photo by Adam Mork.
“More than AU$6 billion has been invested so far in a range of projects across Sydney’s waterfront gateway Circular Quay to rejuvenate the precinct.
AMP Capital transformed the existing 45-year-old, 45,000 square metre NLA office building into an 89,000 square metre commercial tower and retail podium.
“Quay Quarter Tower is the pinnacle of this revitalisation and is destined to be a Sydney CBD icon for generations on a domestic and international scale.
“We are all very proud of Quay Quarter Tower – the design by 3XN architects, its structural engineering and sustainability credentials and its significant impact on the Sydney skyline – and we thank the jury for recognising the magnitude of Quay Quarter Tower.
Designed by 3XN and developed in partnership with BVN, QQT comprises five shifting glass volumes stacked upon each other and punctuated by atrium space, delivering expansive views of Sydney Harbour while maximising natural light deep into the floorplates.
3XN accepted the award and a statuette by renowned artist Thomas Demand at the formal prize-giving ceremony in Frankfurt. A €50,000 prize for the developer to donate to a charitable cause was also awarded.
QQT will now feature in the Best High-Rises exhibition at Museum Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt from 10 November 2022 until 22 January 2023.
QQT is jointly owned by Dexus Wholesale Property Fund, Mirvac Wholesale Property Fund and Rest Super. It was delivered by Head Contractor Multiplex and their contactors including BG&E (structural engineers), Arup (building services & façade), URBIS (planning and heritage). The building achieved practical completion in April 2022 and its retail podium is due for completion later this year.
Finalists for the 2022 award spanned five buildings from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America from 34 nominated high-rise buildings from 13 countries. Besides QQT, this year’s finalists included Vancouver House by BIG, TrIIIple Towers in Vienna by Henke Schreieck Architekten, The Bryant in New York by David Chipperfield Architects, and Singapore State Courts by Serie Architects+ Multiply Architects.
