Hines, a global real estate investment, development, and property manager, has today announced that the firm’s flagship T3 Collingwood development, the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, will reduce carbon emissions by 34%[1] compared to standard concrete and steel construction.

Speaking as part of a tour of Hines’ operations in Australia and New Zealand, CEO Asia Pacific Ray Lawler said, “T3 Collingwood is a ground-breaking, sustainable evolution of old-fashioned office buildings. The timber we use is rapidly renewable, sustainably sourced, cleaner to construct and helps keep carbon out of the atmosphere.”

T3 (Timber, Transit, Technology) projects, replace traditional structural systems like concrete and steel with prefabricated solid wood systems. T3 Collingwood will use 2,358 cubic metres of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) from XLam Australia and a further 874 cubic meters of Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) from Australian Sustainable Hardwood (ASH) both Victorian-based manufacturers.

Located at 36 Wellington Street, Melbourne, the 18,200-square-metre, 15-story heavy timber creative office building is scheduled to be completed in 2024. It aims to be one of the country’s tallest all-timber office towers and will add to the Hines global portfolio of 26 T3 assets in various development stages in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Spain.

Research[2] shows employees in office environments with exposed timber have more positive associations with their workplace, higher levels of well-being and take less leave. Wood is correlated with higher levels of concentration, improved mood and personal productivity. Another distinct advantage to timber is faster and quieter construction. 

“Timber is not only 100% renewable, recyclable and non-toxic, it also has productivity and wellness benefits. T3 Collingwood will have state-of-the-art connectivity systems, with collaborative working spaces and wellness-inspired amenities,” said Lawler 

“Collingwood was chosen to be our first T3 project in Asia Pacific because of its excellent transit connections and the local restaurant and shopping scene this area of Melbourne is famous for.”

Hines developed the T3 concept in response to evolving tenant requirements and the firm’s ongoing dedication to sustainability, most recently emphasised by the firm’s target of reaching net-zero operational carbon in its building portfolio by 2040.