Mass Timber Office Building: T3 Collingwood by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects

T3 Collingwood, designed by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects, exemplifies the innovative use of mass timber in office building construction. Located in Collingwood, Australia, this 29,300 m² project, completed in 2023, aligns with the T3 corporate strategy focusing on transit, timber, and technology. The building merges sustainability with local authenticity and urban connectivity, creating a forward-thinking commercial space.

Project Overview

T3 Collingwood stands as a pioneering example of mass timber office buildings. The client’s ambitious brief called for a structure that integrates sustainable practices with the rich industrial context of Collingwood. The design features a five-level brick and concrete podium with a 10-12 story lightweight mass timber structure above, reflecting the building's structural composition and the area's industrial heritage.

Architectural Concept

Integrating Industrial Context

The design draws on Collingwood's distinctive context, characterized by elegant warehouses, narrow streets, and vibrant arts precincts. The brick podium integrates seamlessly into the streetscape, while the glazed curtain wall tower above reflects the emerging typology of mixed residential and commercial buildings in the area. Aligning the northern façade with a heritage building to the east creates a generous arrival space with a civic quality.

Use of Materials

The use of red brick in the podium, terracotta in the window shades, and curtain wall shading fins in the upper façade creates a cohesive color block response. This material palette continues internally, featuring brick, galvanized metal, concrete, and timber, maintaining an honest, industrial aesthetic. The warm timber aesthetic of the interiors fosters a sense of well-being and biophilic connections, unusual for high-rise office buildings.

Functional and Aesthetic Elements

Efficient Floorplates

The building features highly efficient and flexible floorplates that capitalize on the mass timber grid, providing excellent access to light and amenities. Ground floor amenities include food and beverage offerings and end-of-trip facilities. Terraces created by the building's stepping back at higher levels add to the functionality and appeal of the space.

Sustainable Design

Sustainability was central to the design of T3 Collingwood. The building is thermally efficient and low-carbon, with its mass timber construction sourced ethically from local renewable forests. This construction method results in 34% less embodied carbon than an equivalent concrete structure. T3 has been awarded a 6-star Green Star (Design), reflecting its high sustainability standards.

Design Challenges and Solutions

Approval and Construction

Meeting the approval authority challenges for delivering a mass timber building of this height required extensive coordination and integration with consultants. The design team tested multiple grid layouts and fire engineering models to validate the final solution. Extensive modeling ensured the design was cost-effective while maintaining sustainability and performance goals.

Cost and Value Outcomes

The design process involved continuous cost and value analysis to ensure the project remained within budget. The focus was on maximizing yield, which supported the additional construction cost uplift of a mass timber system. This approach ensured that the building is not only sustainable but also economically viable.

T3 Collingwood by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects sets a new standard for mass timber office buildings. By integrating sustainable practices with local context and modern design, the project creates a forward-thinking commercial space that aligns with the T3 strategy of transit, timber, and technology. This innovative approach signals a shift towards carbon-conscious commercial spaces, showcasing the potential of mass timber construction in high-rise office buildings.

All photographs are work of John Gollings, Tom Blachford