Quay Quarter Tower designed by 3xn, developed in partnership with BVN, has received the International High-Rise Award from the City of Frankfurt, The German Architecture Museum (DAM), and DekaBank.
Developed AMP Capital, the tower was recognized for its “radical sustainability” as the upcycling of a tired 1970s commercial tower. Almost a decade in the making, the repurposed AMP Centre building it is now the world’s biggest upcycled building.
By retaining two-thirds of the beams, columns and floor slabs and 95 percent of the original core of the 1976 building, the project reportedly saved 7,500 tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions compared to what would be released into the atmosphere if it were demolished and built anew.
The design of the new tower comprises five cantilevered glass volumes stacked slightly askew, similar to Jenga blocks, which create light-filled spaces within the building. These reduce the amount of direct sunlight entering the tower by up to 30 percent, eliminating the need for internal blinds while offering uninterrupted views of the harbor.
Quay Quarter Tower was selected from 34 entries submitted from 13 countries. 3XN partner Fred Holt accepted the prize in Frankfurt on 9 November.
Quay Quarter retains two-thirds of the beams, columns and floor slabs and 95 percent of the original core of the 1976 building.
Image: Adam Mork
BVN’s Quay Quarter project director Dan Cruddace said it was a “great privilege” to have worked on the “city defining” project.
“It’s been an incredible journey and the ultimate collaboration on what has been described as a ‘once in a generation’ project,” said Cruddace.
The International High-Rise Award was initiated in 2003 and is awarded every two years in recognition of excellence in aesthetics, design, sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and technological innovation. The developer of the winning receives a €50,000 prize (A$77,500) to be donated to the charity of their choice. Quay Quarter Tower is the tenth recipient in the award’s history.
