Bradfield City Centre’s First Building unveiled: a bold step toward a regenerative future

What if our future cities didn’t just stand still but actively gave back — regenerative, adaptable and deeply connected to First Nations culture? That’s the vision behind the First Building for Bradfield City Centre in Western Sydney, Australia’s newest city in over a century.

Dharug Country (Western Sydney), Australia — As Bradfield City Centre prepares for its future, the newly completed First Building — housing Stage 1 of the Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF) — offers a glimpse into the city’s ambitions. 

With the growing urgency for sustainable circularity, our modular design for the First Building ensures adaptability to future changes, allowing components to be disassembled, reconfigured, or reused as Bradfield evolves. The building reflects the values of connection, sustainability and innovation that are central to the city’s growth. 

The First Building is a bold statement about what’s possible and a living example of what our built environment could be.

Possessing a deep reverence for Country, the First Building’s design is informed by First Nations cultural research and design practice Djinjama and is inspired by its location on the Cumberland Plain, blending architecture with the surrounding landscape. 

A natural colour palette and materials including rammed earth, recycled glass and textiles reflect the commitment to circularity and sustainability, while expansive windows and carefully designed vantage points offering sweeping exterior views, highlight the Connection to Country. A richly planted, permeable landscape of locally underused species will also play a critical role in re-establishing the site’s ecological identity.

Now, imagine this idea of adaptability, reuse and Connection to Country scaled up. Imagine if we adopted the principles behind the First Building across our cities. How would that transform the way we live and the way we work? How would it reshape our relationship with the world around us?

As Bradfield grows, the First Building sets a precedent for future development, embodying a deep respect for the environment and a forward-thinking approach to regenerative urban design.