T3 Collingwood is a thoughtfully designed 15-level commercial building that responds sensitively to its rich industrial context while enhancing Collingwood’s urban streetscape and sense of community. The building features an activated ground plane on Wellington Street, offering cafes, restaurants, and other public amenities, fostering a lively and engaging environment. The design, which integrates a 5-level brick and concrete podium with a 10-level lightweight mass timber structure above, draws inspiration from the area’s distinctive character. The brick podium seamlessly blends into the streetscape, while the glazed curtain wall tower above reflects the emerging trend of mixed-use residential and commercial buildings in the surrounding area.

A key architectural decision was to align the northern façade of the podium with a neighbouring heritage building, creating a wider ground plane and a welcoming entry with a civic feel. The tower above cantilevers over this setback, defining the entry pathway and enhancing the building’s presence. The use of red brick in the podium, terracotta in the window shades, and shading fins on the upper façade creates a cohesive and confident colour block that contributes to the building’s industrial and robust aesthetic.

Inside, the building continues this material palette with brick, galvanised metal, concrete, and timber, creating efficient, functional, and flexible floorplates that are bathed in natural light. The design includes ground floor food and beverage options and end-of-trip (EOT) facilities, with terraces that step back at higher levels, providing outdoor spaces for occupants. The warm timber interiors foster a calming atmosphere and biophilic connections, promoting occupant wellbeing—a feature not typically associated with high-rise office buildings.

T3 Collingwood represents a new generation of carbon-conscious commercial spaces, embodying the vision of its developer and design team. The project’s completion marks a significant contribution to the community and a positive evolution in sustainable, high-quality urban development.

Photography by John Gollings, Tom Blachford