PROJECTS / 1 BLIGH
Australia's first green skyscraper
The 1 Bligh tower in Sydney’s financial district, prominently visible from the Harbour Bridge, is a striking addition to the city’s skyline. As Australia’s first truly “green” skyscraper, this 139-meter, 28-story tower combines top-tier sustainability, spatial efficiency, and careful urban integration, offering spectacular views of the harbor. Thanks to its elliptical shape, employees in nearly all offices can enjoy panoramic views.
The compact elliptical design maximizes views while minimizing solar heat gains. Urban planning considerations led the building’s footprint to respond to the unique intersection of two city grids at Bent Street. The gentle curves of the ground floor seamlessly connect Bligh Street with the lower O’Connell Street. The fully public ground floor, featuring public steps, visually extends Farrer Place and has become a popular seating area. The elevation of the office floors ensures that the public steps are well shaded in summer and pleasantly warmed in winter. Amenities such as a lobby café, an external coffee point, a childcare center, bicycle parking, and end-of-trip facilities (lockers and showers) within the “podium” serve both tenants and visitors.
A “Tri-Generation” system based on natural gas provides cooling, heating, and electricity, doubling the efficiency of the conventional power grid. Solar thermal collectors on the roof contribute high-temperature energy to the solar cooling system. Additionally, a black water recycling system treats the building’s wastewater, supplemented by additional sewage “mined” from a city sewer, saving 100,000 liters of fresh water daily.
The openness of the ground floor continues into the building’s full-height atrium, which allows for views into the office spaces from the glass lifts, fostering a sense of community among tenants. One of the main sustainability features is the naturally ventilated atrium, which serves as a cool air reservoir and houses balcony workspaces. The fully glazed double skin façade includes operable external sun blinds that significantly reduce energy demands while maintaining harbor views.
Consequently, the building earned the “6 Star/World Leadership” certification from the Australian Green Star system, the first office tower in Sydney to achieve this. It also received a “5 Star” rating from the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS).
Data
Competition 2006, 1st Prize
Construction start 2009
Completion 2011
Client DEXUS Property Group, Sydney
GFA 45.000 m²
Green Building
Council of Australia,
GBCA Green Star, six star
Credits
Partner Architect
Archtiectus
Structural Engineering
Enstruct Group, Milsons Point
Facade Design
DS-Plan [double facade and inner atrium facade]
Arup Facade with Enstruct [winter garden facade, single facade on the main building, single facade to the roof terrace, horizontal atrium facade]
Fire Protection
Arup Fire Engineering
Steve Paul & Partners
Acoustics
Arup Acoustic
Electrical Engineering
Arup Electrical
Lighting Design
Arup Electrical [standard lighting]
Tropp Lighting Design [special lighting]
Landscape Design
Sue Barnsley DesignTraffic Planning
Masson Wilson Twiney
Vertical Transportation
Norman Disney and Young
Mechanical Engineering
Arup Mechanical
Hydraulic Engineering
Steve Paul & Partners
Project Management
APP Corporation
Awards
2021
CTBUH 10 Year Award
2019
CTBUH: ‘One of the Most Influential Buildings of the last 50 Years’
2014
IDEA Award for Workplace
The John Verge Interior Architecture Award
Energy Globe Award
2013
ICONIC Awards
Green Good Design Award
2012
International High Rise Awards
Australian Institute of Architects The Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture
Australian Institute of Architects National Award for Sustainable Architecture
CTBUH Best Tall Building Australasia
Professional Excellence Award, Australian Institute of Building
Australian Institute of Architects (NSW) Sir Arthur G. Stephenson Award – Commercial Architecture
Australian Institute of Architects (NSW) Milo Dunphy Award – Sustainable Architecture
Australian Institute of Architects (NSW) Urban Design – Architecture Award
Fassa Bortolo Sustainable Architecture International Prize – Silver Medal
CTBUH Best Tall Building Award
2011
UDIA NSW Awards for Excellence Retail/Commercial Development
API NSW Excellence in Property Awards: Landmark White Property Development Award
Asia Pacific International Property Awards Highly Commended – Office Architecture + Office Development
MBA Excellence in Construction: Site safety >$50M,
LandMark White Property Development Award
2008
International Property Awards: World class office architecture
Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Award
