Bringing the First Building to life

Exploring the First Building, Bradfield and beyond.

The First Building in Bradfield City Centre and green space as seen from above.
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From design to construction

The First Building is the landmark development in Bradfield City Centre. It sets the benchmark for innovative and sustainable design in the new city.

From design to completion, many people and businesses played an important role in bringing the building to life.

Quick facts

  • 3,000sqm gross floor area across 2 levels
  • 1,000sqm manufacturing hall
  • Innovative modular building designed for disassembly
  • More than 200 local jobs created
  • More than $12 million spent with local businesses
  • More than $3.5 million spent with First Nations businesses
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Bringing the Building to Life

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Video transcript

Bringing the Building to Life

Jodie Vo

It's architecturally stunning. Most buildings, they look quite man made. You know, it's all glass and all concrete, but you come out here and it's really warm.

Jeff Morgan

When we started designing the first building, the brief of the building was still really evolving like the master plan was for the city. So we thought the building really needed to provide a strategy to react to that evolving brief.

Liz Westgarth

So the building's designed for disassembly, so it's designed as a modular kit of parts. So as the city evolves and grows over time, the need and the use of this building will also change.

Kris Letsch

I love it how you can come in, you've got the rammed earth wall there and you really feel like the building's giving you a warm hug.

Colin Jeffery

The rammed earth walls, they were done from soil from within the area. They're very complicated. There's only a couple of companies in Australia do that.

Jon Hazelwood

One of the key elements of the project that I'm most proud of is the planted roof behind. It's just been a stunning success. 14,000 plants, multiple species. It helps reduce the ambient heat on that roof and actually makes the solar panels amongst the planting far more efficient to use as well.

Tim Christie

We certainly made sure that we focused on recycling as much material as we could, made sure that the building was designed from an energy efficiency point of view, a lot of cross ventilation.

Peter Hogan

This is a building that's going to set the direction for development in Bradfield. And by that I mean it is advanced in its design and in and its aspirations and in its six green star outcomes.

Steve Winfield

It's just completely different to anything else. Your normal sheds are your precast and your tin roofs. This is all glass facade.

Matt Thorne

Just looking at this building, the timber and the glass stand out. Just it's unbelievable the fact you can see through.

Liz Westgarth

So one of the important design features is that the building is highly transparent and that was really intentional because we want to put manufacturing on show so people can come in and through and around the building and they can see advanced manufacturing in action.

Charlie Licciardello

I couldn't see anyone building a better building than what we've achieved out here. 

The architecture and design story

Design for Disassembly

The First Building in Bradfield City Centre is an exemplar of regenerative design, setting a new standard for adaptability, circularity, and sustainability.

Designed as a modular kit-of-parts, the building’s superstructure can be disassembled, expanded, or relocated in future, ensuring its resilience to the evolving needs of the city.

Design Response to Country

Deeply embedded in Dharug Country, the First Building respects its location on the Cumberland Plain and the ephemeral waterways of Wiannamatta or ‘Mother Place’. 

It’s a site of significance for First Nations women, reflected in the building’s open and welcoming architectural expression, a design language centred on ideas of water and fluidity, and the use of warm, soft, natural materials. 

The sinuous landscape flows through the building, inspired by water’s movement across the site, reinforcing the connection between built and natural environments. 

Through premium carpentry and locally sourced Victorian Ash and Tasmanian Oak, Savcon are proud to be a part of this innovative venture that puts sustainability at the forefront of not only design but construction as well.

Mario Savva, Managing Director, Savcon. Savcon provided timber services for the First Building.

Material Selection

Using a natural colour palette inspired by Country, renewable, natural materials including timber, bamboo, and rammed earth minimise environmental impact and connect the building and interior with nature.  ‘Green Ceramic’ tiles developed from recycled glass and textiles reflect the commitment to circularity and sustainability.  

Overall, a 30% reduction in embodied carbon is achieved using mass timber above ground and low-carbon concrete within the plinth. 

Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in every aspect of this Greenstar project, from the innovative use of Dulux Enviro range internally to the meticulous preparation of timber components. By prioritising environmentally-conscious materials and methods, we're empowering Western Sydney businesses to lead in sustainable construction.

Leon Filipakis, Project Manager, Grantee. Grantee were painting contractors for the First Building.

Roof Design

Spanning over the office and manufacturing hall below, the roof is the defining element of the building composition. It is both protective and functional - integrating a green roof of over 14,000 indigenous plants, harvesting both water and solar energy, while shading the building’s facades from the sun. 

What makes this project special is how we've blended traditional aluminium and glass expertise with premium Australian timbers. As a Western Sydney manufacturer, Hi-Tec is proud to be among the local suppliers contributing to this project. We've tackled the challenges of integrating curved glass with Tasmanian hardwood, managing natural timber characteristics, and delivering seamless finishes - showcasing our region's manufacturing innovation at its finest.

David Christie, Project Manager, Hi-Tec. Hi-Tec was the facade contractor for the First Building.

The collaborative construction process

The First Building at Bradfield demonstrates collaborative construction in Western Sydney, uniting Indigenous-owned businesses and local contractors. From surveying and crane operations, to masonry and electrical work, over 200 local jobs were created, channeling $15 million into the region's economy. 

You can watch the First Building come to life in the construction time lapse and gallery below.

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First Building in Bradfield timelapse

We probably don’t fully comprehend the importance of what we’re doing right now, but in 10 years’ time, we’ll be able to say we played an integral part in the building of the new city.

Michael Hatton, Founder/Director of Total Surveying Solutions. Total Surveying Solutions was the surveying contractor for the First Building.

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