Are T3 buildings the future for Australia?
T3 Collingwood aims to redefine timber construction
What’s the Point?
A new timber building trend is shaping timber construction in Australia’s innovative T3 Collingwood development.
In Australia, the use of mass timber, a sustainable alternative to traditional construction materials, is rapidly increasing. Mass timber offers superior weight-to-strength performance compared to steel or concrete and can be precisely manufactured offsite using prefabricated technologies. The adoption of mass timber has been accelerated by recent changes to Australia’s national construction code, which streamlined approvals for structures up to eight stories. There are also more supply options for mass timber products now with local and international suppliers expanding their presence in the Australian market.
To help accelerate timber construction the Australian government has introduced a new program worth $300 million to promote the use of mass timber construction in the office sector. This initiative seeks to encourage a new approach to building, one that is environmentally sustainable and helps to reduce emissions.
The Timber Building Program, initiated by The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), aims to substantially reduce construction-related emissions by providing a greener alternative to conventional construction materials. The CEFC, which invests $10 billion in Australia's clean energy sector on behalf of the government, has launched this program to transform Australia's green approach to construction. Their goal is to achieve an economy-wide transition to net-zero emissions, as announced on their website.
With investment from the CEFC and the Madigan Active Debt Fund, Australia's newest eco-friendly timber high-rise, T3 Collingwood, is one of the first timber developments to be financed under the new program. It is also the first in-country development to adopt Hines’ proprietary T3 development blueprint that prioritizes the use of Timber, access to public Transit and active use of tomorrow’s Technologies. Hines’ T3 construction methodology replaces traditional structural systems such as concrete and steel with prefabricated solid wood systems, to create best-in-class projects in a fast, clean, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing manner.
The 15-story office tower development, located at 36 Wellington St Collingwood, will strive to deliver dual emissions reduction impact by cutting embodied carbon levels by up to 40% during construction and targeting market-leading net zero emissions once operational.
The timber office will incorporate about 3500 cubic meters of wood and will be designed with an architectural form to mediate between Collingwood’s significant industrial heritage and the wave of contemporary new developments currently being delivered. The building will cater to tenants who are seeking to improve the quality of their work/life balance and workplace experience.
T3 Collingwood boasts top-notch transportation connectivity and proximity to the Melbourne central business district (CBD). Its urban environment, rich in amenities, is perfect for tech and creative businesses. The project features communal social spaces, spacious tenant terraces, activated public areas, and premium end-of-trip facilities for cyclists, runners, and walkers who choose alternative modes of commuting.
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