Atlassian marks milestone in $1.4b 'world's tallest hybrid timber' tower in Sydney

Tech giant Atlassian's CEO says AI-related job cuts have not impacted its need for a new office tower, at a ceremony celebrating the hybrid timber skyscraper reaching its full height.The company on Wednesday held a "topping out" ceremony on the Atlassian Central building's rooftop in Sydney's CBD, a tradition in the construction world to mark the milestone.Construction of the 39-storey tower began at the site beside Central Station in 2022 and was estimated to cost of $1.4 billion.Atlassian Central has a hybrid timber design. (Supplied: Dexus)A new Atlassian headquarters is being built next to Sydney's Central Station. (ABC News: Adam Griffiths)The hybrid timber design used in construction also reduced the use of carbon-intensive concrete and steel.When completed in 2027, the building will be the world's tallest hybrid timber structure, standing at 180 metres tall.It comes after the software company cut nearly 500 jobs from its Australian workforce in March to invest in artificial intelligence and enterprise sales.Mike Cannon-Brookes said it would be "the most technologically advanced building in Australia". (ABC News: Adam Griffiths)Co-CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes said that move had not reduced the requirement for floor space."I don't think [AI] stops the need for people coming together to work," Mr Cannon-Brookes said."We're going to have even more, I suspect, collaboration spaces, meeting spaces."So I think from that point of view, AI is going to not change our need to collaborate as humans."Building 'put us all on the world stage'NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said it was an "engineering marvel". (Supplied: Dexus)Mr Cannon-Brookes said during the ceremony it would be the most innovative building in Australia."By the time it opens, we'll have advanced structural engineering, environmental design, intelligent controls, and a modern data platform, all wired together and working the building with one smart, intelligent system," Mr Cannon-Brookes said."The result will be the most technologically advanced building in Australia and put us all on the world stage."Atlassian Central will have a six Star Green Star target. (Supplied: Dexus)The building is co-owned by the tech company and commercial real estate firm Dexus, with Atlassian set to occupy about half of the site.The lower five floors of building will house a 500-bed "co-living" hostel operated by YHA Australia.It is part of a broader push by the state government and the City of Sydney to set up a 'Tech Central' precinct in the Haymarket-Redfern area."All of Sydney is bearing witness to the rise and rise of an engineering marvel," NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said."Only in a city like Sydney is it possible where you can combine world-leading expertise, an immigrant population, and an ambitious university sector coming together with local government to build a precinct that can give birth to companies like Atlassian."