Sydney’s New 1 Bligh Skyscraper is Australia’s Greenest Office Tower

<a href="http://www.ingenhovenarchitects.com/flash.html" target="_blank">Ingenhoven Architects + Architectus</a> recently unveiled a brand new glass high-rise in downtown Sydney that has earned the highest score in Australia’s Green Star standard. Inaugurated by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/origami-shaped-beached-house-saves-energy-in-australias-bucolic-landscape/" target="_blank">Australian</a> Prime Minister Julia Gillard and commissioned by the Dexus Property Group, the 1 Bligh <a href="http://inhabitat.com/derelict-east-london-granary-transformed-into-creative-office-spaces-studios/" target="_blank">office tower</a> glows from within with 28 story-high atrium that stretches from the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/lucasfilms-singapore-headquarters-is-a-high-performance-sandcrawler-straight-out-of-tatooine/" target="_blank">building</a>'s lobby to a massive skylight up top.

The shape and design of the building is based on solar orientation - the layout creates advantageous shady and sunny areas.

Employees can enjoy harbor views from any height through the clear <a href="http://inhabitat.com/gorgeous-glass-visitors-center-rises-at-the-foot-of-troll-wall-cliff-in-norway/" target="_blank">glass façade</a>.

The floor-to-ceiling atrium acts as a natural cooling system, siphoning hot air and funneling it out the top of the building.

Office balconies line the interior of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/station-hyllie-hovers-like-a-ufo-over-malmo-train-tracks-with-tractor-beam-daylighting-portals/" target="_blank">atrium</a>, benefitting from the breeze and natural light.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/double-skinned-glass-townhouse-glows-from-within/" target="_blank">double skinned façade</a> glitters in Sydney’s skyline, while cooling the inside. The building is partially powered by a vacuum tube solar collector. Sydney frequently experiences water issues, so the building has an on-site <a href="http://inhabitat.com/sloans-innovative-aqus-grey-water-toilet-system-makes-every-drop-count/" target="_blank">wastewater recycling system</a> that is so prolific it recycles some public sewage system water as well. On-site bicycle parking encourages employees to take green transportation to work.

1 Bligh is a beautiful addition to Sydney’s downtown and a benchmark for green buildings in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/australian-government-acts-to-prevent-permanent-damage-to-great-barrier-reef/" target="_blank">Australia</a>. It received 6 Star/World Leadership certification, making it the first office tower in Sydney to achieve this status.