At a ceremony celebrating the hybrid timber skyscraper reaching its full height, the CEO of tech giant Atlassian said job cuts related to artificial intelligence had not affected its need for a new office tower.
He made the comments at a rooftop completion ceremony for the Atlassian Central building in Sydney’s CBD, a tradition in the construction world to mark the milestone.
Construction of the 39-story tower began on the site next to Grand Central Terminal in 2022 and was estimated to cost $1.4 billion.
Atlassian Central has a hybrid wood construction. (Includes: Dexus)
Atlassian’s new headquarters is being built next to Sydney Central Station. (ABC News: Adam Griffiths)
The hybrid wood construction used in construction has also reduced the use of carbon-intensive concrete and steel.
The tower is expected to be completed in 2027. It is the world’s tallest hybrid timber structure at 180 meters.
It comes after the software company cut almost 500 jobs among its Australian staff in March to invest in artificial intelligence and enterprise sales.
Mike Cannon-Brookes says it will be “the most technologically advanced building in Australia”. (ABC News: Adam Griffiths)
Co-CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes said the move did not reduce the need for space.
“I don’t think (AI) will eliminate the need for people to get together to work,”
Mr. Cannon-Brookes said.
“I suspect we will have even more collaboration and meeting spaces.
“So I think from that perspective, AI is not going to change our need to collaborate as humans.”
The building ‘put us all on the world stage’
NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookie says it is an “engineering marvel”. (Includes: Dexus)
Mr Cannon-Brookes said during the ceremony it would be the most innovative building in Australia.
“By the time we open, we will have state-of-the-art structural engineering, environmental design, smart controls and a state-of-the-art data platform, all connected together and running the building through one smart, intelligent system,” Mr Cannon-Brookes said.
“The result will be the most technologically advanced building in Australia and will put us all on the world stage.”
Atlassian Central has a goal of achieving a six-star green star. (Includes: Dexus)
The building is jointly owned by the technology company and commercial real estate firm Dexus, and Atlassian will occupy about half the site.
The lower five floors of the building will house a 500-bed co-living hostel operated by YHA Australia.
It is part of a wider plan by the State and City of Sydney Governments to create a Tech Central site in the Haymarket-Redfern area.
“The whole of Sydney has witnessed the rise and flowering of this engineering marvel,” NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookie said.
“Only in a city like Sydney can we bring together global best practices, an immigrant population and an ambitious university sector, teaming up with local government to build an area that can give birth to companies like Atlassian.”