Sydney Open - American Express Building

 This 11-storey commercial and retail tower, close to the aerial section of the Western Distributor, was designed to achieve a 4.5-star rating in the National Australian Built Environment Rating System and 4 stars in the Green Star ratings. It has ecological sustainability features such as high-efficiency lighting and mechanical systems, and external shading devices. The northern and western elevations of the building are constructed in glass and zinc with louvres and sunshades. The southern elevation is solid precast concrete. The eastern elevation is also of pre-cast concrete with window openings and vertical orange blades running the height of the building. Placed at intervals across the façade to provide shading and reduce reflectivity, these blades have become the building’s distinguishing feature. The building’s interiors were designed to mirror the characteristics of different countries. Sydney Open participants will visit the Japanese-inspired floor.

I find this an incredibly ugly building externally and the inside was quite soulless. Then there is this poor little brick building still surviving amongst all the glass, metal and concrete of the new development and motorway overpass.