World's First 'Upcycled Skyscraper' Could Be Blueprint For A 'Waste-Free Future.' It's A Finalist For The Earthshot Prize

World's First 'Upcycled Skyscraper' Could Be Blueprint For A 'Waste-Free Future.' It's A Finalist For The Earthshot Prize

World's First 'Upcycled Skyscraper' Could Be Blueprint For A 'Waste-Free Future.' It's A Finalist For The Earthshot Prize In 2022, architects built what was dubbed the world’s first “upcycled” skyscraper.  The owners of Sydney, Australia’s AMP Centre wanted to replace the original 1970s structure with a bigger, better, and more energy-efficient building.  But instead of demolishing the high-rise, which comes with significant environmental costs, they asked architects to build a new skyscraper without demolishing the old one. The Quay Quarter Center sits among other downtown high-rises. Photo by Adam Mork for 3XM Firm 3XN was the pick for the job, and once completed, the “new” building, renamed the Quay Quarter Tower, now stands 676 feet tall and retains 95% of the original building’s core. The new building also retained 65% of the original building’s structure, including beams and columns. “The tower was coming to the end of its life, in terms of viability … but the …