Atlassian marks milestone in $1.4b 'world's tallest hybrid timber' tower in Sydney

Tech giant Atlassian marked a significant construction milestone with a "topping out" ceremony for its new headquarters, Atlassian Central, in Sydney. The 39-storey building, which reached its full height on Wednesday, is slated to become the world's tallest hybrid timber structure upon its completion in 2027.

Construction on the $1.4 billion tower, located beside Sydney's Central Station, began in 2022. The hybrid timber design significantly reduces the use of carbon-intensive concrete and steel, aligning with environmental sustainability goals. NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey hailed it as an "engineering marvel" and a testament to Sydney's capacity for innovation.

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I don't think [AI] stops the need for people coming together to work. We're going to have even more, I suspect, collaboration spaces, meeting spaces. So I think from that point of view, AI is going to not change our need to collaborate as humans.

Co-CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes asserted that the building will be "the most technologically advanced building in Australia." He elaborated that it will feature advanced structural engineering, environmental design, intelligent controls, and a modern data platform, all integrated into a single smart system. This technological focus, he believes, will place Australia "on the world stage."

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By the time it opens, we'll have advanced structural engineering, environmental design, intelligent controls, and a modern data platform, all wired together and working the building with one smart, intelligent system. The result will be the most technologically advanced building in Australia and put us all on the world stage.

Despite Atlassian's recent decision to cut nearly 500 jobs from its Australian workforce in March to reinvest in artificial intelligence and enterprise sales, Cannon-Brookes stated this has not diminished the company's need for physical office space. He anticipates an increased demand for collaboration and meeting areas, asserting that AI will not alter the fundamental human need for coming together to work.

The building is co-owned by Atlassian and commercial real estate firm Dexus, with Atlassian occupying about half the space. The lower five floors will house a 500-bed co-living hostel operated by YHA Australia, as part of Sydney's broader 'Tech Central' precinct development.

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All of Sydney is bearing witness to the rise and rise of an engineering marvel. Only in a city like Sydney is it possible where you can combine world-leading expertise, an immigrant population, and an ambitious university sector coming together with local government to build a precinct that can give birth to companies like Atlassian.