New York-based investor Tony Cheng is set to build Australia’s tallest timber tower, a 13-storey boutique office at 4-6 York Street in Sydney’s CBD.
Designed by architecture firm Tzannes for Cheng’s NGI Investments, the building will feature 11 storeys of mass timber construction, with a hybrid timber-steel design for the top two floors to support large cantilevers over railway tunnels.
Tzannes co-director Alec Tzannes explained, “It’s fully massed timber above the steel cantilevers required to span over the railway tunnels,” noting that the design incorporates timber for everything from floors to fire escapes.
This project follows successful timber developments by Tzannes, such as International House Sydney and Daramu House, which demonstrated timber’s viability as a sustainable alternative to concrete.
Tzannes co-director Amy Dowse highlighted the building’s focus on sustainability, 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 incorporates elements that respect the nearby heritage-listed Bank of NSW building at 341 George Street, with a facade that blends concrete, ceramic tiles, glass, and timber, complementing the area’s architectural heritage.
Source: Daily Telegraph.
