Construction has begun on a 182 metre tall skyscraper in Sydney, Australia. The skyscraper is being built using eco-friendly wood, jointly by construction companies from Australia and Japan.

The building, named Atlassian Central, is expected to be completed by 2026 and will include offices, flats and retail spaces. The two construction firms involved in the project claim the tower will be powered fully on renewable energy and they are also aiming to emit 50% less carbon dioxide compared to similar sized building projects.

The basement to the sixth floor will be made from reinforced concrete to support the skyscraper. From the seventh floor up, the structure will be made from a combination of steel frames and cross laminated timber, which is a wood panel made from layers of sawn lumber glued together.

CEO of the Australian construction firm involved in the project, Brett Mason said, “Nothing about this project is typical. It has been designed and developed to be a proof of concept for what the future of buildings should look like that are low impact on the environment in both construction and operation.”

The Japanese construction firm involved in the project, Obayashi, have been emphasising the use of timber in their construction projects for years. In March 2022 Obayashi completed construction a 44 metre tall building in Yokohama, Japan, with the main structural components made from wood.