MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday 2 June 2010
New landmark home for
Australian Institute of Architects
gets green light
The first commercial office building in Melbourne to target ‘carbon neutrality’ as its core principle – from design through construction and occupancy – has been green-lighted by Melbourne City Council.
The redevelopment of 41 Exhibition Street, the current and planned ‘new’ Melbourne home of the Australian Institute of Architect, received planning approval last week, with Council stating “this landmark development will set a new standard for green building design in Melbourne”.
Institute Chief Operating Officer Ross Clark said the dramatically sculpted and eye-catching new 21-storey commercial building – featuring ‘micro’ retail space, an architecture gallery, architectural bookshop, industry conference spaces, four floors for the Institute and an additional 16 levels of commercial strata titled offices – was being developed as an ‘exemplar’ in terms of design and sustainability.
Designed by award-winning architectural practice Lyons, the building will achieve a 5 Star Green Star (Office Tool version 3), with features including a high performance façade system and active chilled beams throughout – achieving a 40 per cent energy saving.
Mr Clark said: “The building is intended as the Institute’s long-term home, and must perform at the highest levels of sustainability accordingly, while acting as a showcase for the cutting edge, world class architecture that Australian architects are renowned for. We’re delighted both with the approved distinctive design of the building, and its forecast performance.”
“Importantly, and in addition to the Green Star rating, a total carbon assessment of the project has confirmed we’ll achieve carbon neutrality over the full life of the building – from design to its long-term operational life.”
“This assessment shows we’ll achieve a 43 per cent carbon reduction through energy efficiency, waste management, transport strategies and sustainable materials; a 60 per cent carbon saving by purchasing green power; and 100 per cent carbon neutrality by using carbon offsets through owners and tenants agreements.”
Mr Clark said 16 floors would be sold to professionals and corporates seeking to share the building’s experience and vision. Prospective purchasers can contact the Institute’s project corporate advisor Benni Aroni at [email protected] .
Key Facts – Redevelopment at 41 Exhibition Street
• The project is the commercial redevelopment of a site owned by the Australian Institute of Architect at 41 Exhibition Street Melbourne (the corner of Exhibition Street and Flinders Lane).
• The redevelopment will create a long-term home for the Victorian operations of the Australian Institute of Architects including an architecture gallery, architectural bookshop, industry conference spaces, member spaces and corporate office areas.
• The building consists of 21 levels – a ground level of ‘micro’ retail, four levels housing the Australian Institute of Architects, and 16 levels of commercial strata titled offices.
• The building is being developed by the Australian Institute of Architects as an ‘exemplar’ in terms of design and sustainability
• To achieve a high quality design the Institute sponsored a design competition, with a short-listed group of leading design practices. Following this competition, Melbourne-based design practice Lyons was appointed to undertake the project.
• The design of the project features a distinctive expressed stair at the lower levels of the building, which provides public access to the various public functions provided by the Institute.
• The stair has been ‘sculptured’ creating a series of carved out urban spaces within the design of the building.
• The building will also be exemplary in terms of sustainable design. It will achieve 5 Star Green Star rating (Office Tool Version 3), with a high performance façade system and active chilled beams throughout – achieving a 40% energy saving when measured against business as usual. It will also incorporate storage of storm water for flushing of toilets, bicycle parking, and areas for tenants waste management.
• In addition to its Green Star rating, the Institute commissioned a Total Carbon Assessment of the project to achieve carbon neutrality over the design, construction and operational life of the building. This assesses the full carbon footprint of a project over its lifecycle. The results demonstrate the project will achieve 43% carbon reduction through energy efficiency, waste management, transport strategies and use of sustainable materials; 60% carbon saving by the purchase of appropriate green power; and, 100% carbon neutrality by using ‘carbon offsets’ through owners and tenancy agreements.
• The project will be the first commercial offering in Melbourne to have carbon neutrality as its core principle.
• To achieve this outcome, the Institute has developed a Sustainability Charter, similar in principle to a ‘green lease’, requiring owners and tenants to agree to a series of practical sustainable operations during the occupation of the premises (i.e. waste management)
• A Planning Permit for the project was issued by the Melbourne City Council in late May with Councillor Peter Clarke stating that “this landmark development will set a new standard for green building design in Melbourne”.
Australian Institute of Architects
