World’s First Upcycled Skyscraper Finalist for 2025 Earthshot Prize

Sydney, Australia – October 7, 2025: The Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney, designed by Danish architecture studio 3XN and Australian studio BVN, has been named a finalist for the 2025 Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William. The recognition makes it the first building in history to be shortlisted for the prestigious environmental award.

Located in Sydney’s Circular Quay, the 206-metre-tall tower, originally completed in 1976 as the AMP Center—underwent a transformative retrofit completed in 2022, creating what is now known as the world’s first fully upcycled skyscraper. The project demonstrates a commercially viable and scalable model for decarbonising the built environment.

A Landmark in Sustainable Architecture

The Quay Quarter Tower’s retrofit has been recognised under the “Build a Waste-Free World” category of the Earthshot Prize, which honours pioneering solutions tackling global environmental challenges.

According to the Earthshot Foundation, “Quay Quarter Tower is the world’s first fully upcycled skyscraper and the most comprehensive building transformation ever attempted at this scale. It proves that retrofitting buildings that have stood for decades offers a commercially viable and scalable solution to decarbonising the built environment.”

This year marks the first time that an architectural project has been nominated for the award, which underscores the growing recognition of the built environment’s impact on global sustainability.

A Blueprint for the Future

Rather than demolishing the existing structure, 3XN and BVN adopted a reuse-and-renew strategy, retaining 65 percent of the skyscraper’s original structure and 95 percent of its core. The process is estimated to have saved over 12,000 tonnes of embodied carbon, setting a new benchmark in sustainable redevelopment.

“The demolition cycle is one of the greatest threats to our global climate goals,” said Fred Holt, Partner at 3XN. “Quay Quarter Tower proves that transformation at significant scale is possible and, critically, commercially viable. We hope our approach helps redefine urban development and provides a blueprint for cities worldwide pursuing low-carbon ambitions.”

The redesign introduced a striking angular glass façade and reimagined interior spaces, breathing new life into the tower while maintaining its original framework.

Global Recognition and Legacy

Now in its fifth year, the Earthshot Prize is at the halfway mark of its ten-year programme initiated by Prince William in 2020. The Quay Quarter Tower is one of 15 finalists selected from nearly 2,500 global nominees, across five categories, with winners to be announced on November 5, 2025.

Prince William said, “As we reach the halfway point of the Earthshot decade, I am truly inspired by this year’s finalists, which embody the urgent optimism sitting right at the heart of our mission. In just five years, The Earthshot Prize has shown that the answers to our planet’s greatest challenges not only already exist, but that they are firmly within our grasp.”

The Quay Quarter Tower had previously been named Best Tall Building Worldwide by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).

Previous Earthshot winners include innovations that convert waste heat into clean electricity and a dissolvable binder for EV batteries, highlighting the diversity of solutions recognised by the award.

A Symbol of Regeneration

With its sustainable transformation and landmark recognition, the Quay Quarter Tower stands as a global example of how cities can achieve environmental progress through innovation, preservation, and design excellence—a true architectural milestone in the journey toward a low-carbon future.