Sixty Martin Place

Located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, 60 Martin Place is a 32-storey commercial tower designed by Hassell with engineering by Arup. The building offers panoramic harbour views while setting a benchmark for environmental performance. From the outset, the architectural and engineering teams worked collaboratively to optimise orientation, glazing, and solar control strategies, resulting in a design that balances openness and transparency with thermal efficiency and occupant comfort. Key to this balance is the building’s dynamic façade system, which responds to environmental conditions throughout the day. Warema external venetian blinds, supplied by Shade Factor, are integrated within the double-skin façade and programmed via a KNX system to modulate heat gain and daylight. The system automatically adjusts based on solar exposure, shading angles from neighbouring structures and time of day, helping reduce reliance on artificial lighting and air conditioning. Perforated aluminium slats were selected for their high reflectivity and visual transparency. This allows views to be maintained even when the blinds are down, supporting both comfort and amenity. Solar radiation is reflected back toward the glass and the heat is extracted through the ceiling plenum, maintaining a stable internal environment without compromising the building’s outward-facing character. Achieving a 5.5-Star NABERS Energy rating, WELL Platinum certification and 6-Star Green Star (design and as-built), the project demonstrates how coordinated architectural and engineering solutions can deliver both beauty and performance. Sixty Martin Place is a model for energy-efficient commercial development in high-density urban environments.