Sydney’s Central Business District will soon be home to Australia’s tallest timber tower, a 13-storey boutique office building designed by the esteemed architecture firm Tzannes. The project, located at 4-6 York Street, is being developed by New York-based investor Tony Cheng through his firm NGI Investments.
The building will feature an innovative design with 11 stories of mass timber construction, topped by a hybrid timber-steel structure for the upper two floors. This steel-timber combination is essential to support the large cantilevers extending over nearby railway tunnels. Tzannes’ co-director, Alec Tzannes, notes, “It’s fully massed timber above the steel cantilevers required to span over the railway tunnels,” with timber elements used throughout, including in the floors and fire escapes.
Tzannes’ previous timber projects, like International House Sydney and Daramu House, have already showcased timber as a sustainable alternative to concrete. Co-director Amy Dowse highlighted the building’s sustainability ambitions, stating, “4-6 York Street builds on the knowledge and experience we’ve gained from our previous exemplar projects and will set a new benchmark.”
The design also respects the heritage of the nearby Bank of NSW building at 341 George Street, with a facade incorporating concrete, ceramic tiles, glass, and timber that harmonizes with the area’s architectural landscape. Director Amy Dowse remarked that the new plans significantly reduce the carbon footprint both in construction and end-of-life stages compared to traditional concrete buildings.
“Our International House Sydney and Daramu House projects proved to the Australian commercial market that timber is a viable low-carbon alternative to concrete, and a highly desirable property investment,” Dowse affirmed. “The 4-6 York Street project builds on the knowledge and experience we’ve gained from our previous projects.”