The tower at 8 Chifley provides functional quality offices while creating opportunities for connectivity between occupiers from different parts of the building. The office spaces across 21 levels are connected by a series of adaptable two- and three-story interlinked vertical “villages.” These villages, ranging in size from 1,800 to 2,600 square meters, provide the building with a high degree of flexibility, while creating a variety of individual workspace environments that allow privacy and interaction between individuals. This floor space, within a void, and yet within the tower, allows the redistribution of space higher up the building where better views can be enjoyed. The villages are interspersed with full-floor office levels, which allow for multiple villages to be connected. These dramatic vertical business units, each of up to four floors, frame the magnificent views over the cityscape. The larger “villages” create 45 percent more perimeter space with enhanced natural light, compared to traditional floorplates, providing flexibility for either open-plan or cellular-office layouts.

Central to the building’s sense of connectivity and community is the building’s social heart: its elevated “village square,” on the 18th floor, set within a three-story void. This landscaped space contains a glass pavilion for all-weather use. The profiled roof allows level 30 to take on similar qualities to the loggia spaces at ground level and at level 18. Framed by a wind-permeable structure that neutralizes the wind load, the light structure provides shading to the terrace, while allowing an open character.

On a prominent, north-facing site, 8 Chifley makes the most of its small site, which, unusually, is open on three sides, the new building reaches to the edges of its site, opens up at the lower six floors, forming a large public space that addresses one of Sydney’s few existing city squares. This tight site presents a number of logistical construction challenges, which led to extensive use of offsite manufacture and well-timed deliveries to keep to a tight program. Construction started following the demolition of the existing Goodsell building.

The design aims to create a building whose carbon emissions are at least 50 per cent less than those of a “typical” Sydney CBD office, through a wide-ranging environmental design strategy. The blackwater recycling plant for the treatment and reuse of building and main water reduces the building’s demand on potable water supply and discharges. A tri-generation system provides onsite base building power, heating and cooling and peak load reduction from the existing electricity grid. The tri-generation system is also capable of exporting power to other buildings at certain times of the year. A chilled-beam mechanical system reduces energy use and requires a high volume of fresh-air intake. The high-efficiency façade, including external shading and performance glazing reducing heat load, directs sunlight and daylight glare. A naturally ventilated ground floor glass lobby enclosure allows cooling without extensive energy expenditure. The interiors use low volatile organic compound (VOC) materials and minimize the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Basement facilities accommodate cyclists through bike racks, change rooms and lockers, and the roof is designed to accommodate photovoltaic cells at a future date, while a shower and accessible bathroom are provided on each level. In all, these strategies contribute to the building’s 6-Star Green Star rating, the highest achievable in Australia.