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20 May 2011
GHD has designed the engineering services for a new office
building in Mount Gambier South Australia which has been awarded a
5 Star Green Star – Office Design v2 Certified Rating, which
represents ‘Australian Excellence’ in environmentally sustainable
design (ESD).
The building houses the Department for
Families and Community, a government agency responsible for
providing quality services that protect and enhance the community's
well-being.
As one of the world’s leading engineering,
architecture and environmental consulting companies, GHD was
responsible for the ESD, mechanical, electrical, fire, civil and
structural engineering works on the project.
The building’s design incorporates a raft of
sustainable features including controlled daylighting, water filled
Trombé walls, extra low water consumption sanitary ware, harvested
and recycled rainwater as well as natural ventilation through
automated motorised louvres.
The site’s irrigation is served from reclaimed
greywater using a reed bed to provide suitable water treatment to
the harvested wastewater. In addition, stormwater is collected on
site, filtered, treated and discharged into an onsite aquifer,
resulting in no stormwater leaving the site boundary.
Of significance is the building’s
heating/cooling system which leverages a thermal plant to reduce
running costs and minimise energy consumption.
Commenting on the award, Paul Whatnell, South
Australia’s Sustainability Manager said, “This is the first GHD
designed commercial building granted a 5 Star rating in South
Australia. We’re excited to further develop our capability in this
space.”
The project also won an Award of Excellence
from Engineers Australia in 2010.
For more information, please contact Kane Dowsett