Built is pushing forward with the top out of the timber structure installation at 42 Honeysuckle Drive. Through a combination of 29 semi-trailers worth of cross-laminated timber (CLT) from Albury and 10 40t shipping containers worth of glue-laminated timber (GLT) from Germany, the innovative vertical precinct is set to become Newcastle’s first timber office tower and the city’s most sustainable office building.

The mixed-used precinct, constructed on behalf of Built’s client Doma, sees the combination of the 181-room Little National Hotel and a commercial A-grade office building. The striking design comprises two towers emerging from the Level 3 shared podium – one tower being a typical vertical structure (hotel) and the other a timber CLT/GLT tower (commercial office).

With the built environment responsible for 37% of energy related greenhouse gas emissions, the industry continues to adopt new and alternate approaches to new builds, including building material selection. One of the key benefits of selecting CLT and GLT over traditional building materials is its ability to sequester carbon and store it, thus reducing overall carbon emissions. With the timber tower launching from Level 3 on a boundary-to-boundary site, the Built team had to navigate the additional challenge of no laydown area to store material.

Through negotiations with local stakeholders, including Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC), they secured a compound adjacent to the site.

“Forward planning has been critical to achieving efficiency with this compound and we’ve had to ensure we only store material required for each working week,” added Liam, Foreman, Built.

With the hotel structure and the commercial timber structure both topped out, the next key programme activity will see the façade installation to the commercial and hotel levels.

In addition to the use of mass timber, the commercial office portion of the building is also aiming to achieve 6-star Green Star Design and As Built ratings and 5.5 Star NABERS Energy ratings.