Taking out the Best of the Best and Commercial (Large) categories at the 2024 Sustainability Awards, T3 Collingwood is a sight to behold.
A thoughtfully designed commercial development, T3 Collingwood harmonises with its industrial heritage while contributing to the evolving streetscape and vibrant community of Collingwood.
The 15-storey structure masterfully balances form and function, featuring a ground level enlivened by cafes, restaurants, and public amenities along Wellington Street.
The architectural vision integrates a five-storey brick and concrete podium with a lightweight timber tower rising ten levels above. The robust brick base nestles seamlessly into the urban fabric, while the glazed tower introduces a contemporary aesthetic reflective of the area's growing portfolio of mixed-use developments.
A key architectural gesture aligns the northern façade of the podium with an adjacent heritage building, creating a broad entryway that conveys a sense of openness and civic purpose. The tower, cantilevered above, emphasises this thoughtful integration with its dynamic, stepped design.
According to the client, Hines: “T3 Collingwood is Hines’ first mass timber office building in Asia Pacific, adding to our global portfolio of 26 timber assets across North America and Europe. The T3 concept is built around three pillars: the warmth and sustainability of timber, the innovations made possible by new technology, and the connectivity of transit.”
“The design focuses on occupant wellbeing, offering an employee-centric workspace that attracts and retains talent. Meeting ambitious sustainability targets, T3 Collingwood responds to a growing demand for high-quality, green office buildings in Australia. We’re incredibly proud of the outcome.”
A palette of red brick, terracotta, and shading elements in the curtain wall imbues the structure with a cohesive, industrial charm. Internally, materials such as galvanised metal, concrete, and timber offer a tactile sense of honesty and warmth. The stepped form of the building facilitates outdoor terraces on higher levels, enhancing connectivity to the natural environment and fostering occupant wellbeing through biophilic design.
With an emphasis on flexibility, the project delivers efficient floorplans filled with natural light. Complementing these are premium amenities, including end-of-trip facilities and thoughtfully curated ground-floor spaces.
T3 Collingwood represents a forward-looking model for sustainable office spaces, aligning innovative design with the imperatives of carbon-conscious construction. This landmark project marks a defining moment for Collingwood’s urban renewal.
According to the jury: “T3 Collingwood had an aspirational brief that has been met in a timeless way with its timber structure inside a brick facade, like so many older buildings - almost as if we have come full circle - but with very high technical performance and carbon storage, it’s more like a spiral moving forward in time.”
“Flexible spaces, with light and beauty, provide a biophilic experience thanks to the exposed timber structure. The prefab construction techniques also shortened the disruption major projects cause to their neighbourhoods.”
COMING SOON: Podcast with JCB Architects Senior Associate Jimmy Walker on how T3 Collingwood came about and what it means for commercial office design.
The Commercial Architecture (Large) category was proudly partnered by Network Architectural
The Best of the Best category was proudly partnered by Autex Acoustics
