ESD Green Building Design and Delivery

The incorporation of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) principles into modern developments is one of the most important considerations that must be implemented in their design. Whilst the environmental benefits from designing for ESD are clear, the most overwhelming benefit is seen in the value provided to the occupants in terms of physical and mental health. Numerous studies have shown that attention to daylight, natural ventilation and other passive design solutions within housing greatly enhances occupant comfort, air quality and occupant health.  Passive design is the most important design initiative to reduce environmental impact and improve indoor environment quality. The principles of passive design in homes have been found to:

• Significantly improve comfort
• Reduce or eliminate heating and cooling bills
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating, cooling, mechanical ventilation and lighting.

Built Ecology have successfully implemented innovative passive design solutions in a variety on developments, from individual houses, to housing developments, from heritage development to office towers including the following examples:

Waterfront City

Melbourne's new award-winning urban regeneration project is one of Australia's first developments of this scale, and feature signification green credentials. Covering 47 acres, the development transformed the formerly run-down area of docklands with residential, commercial, retail, entertainment and public spaces and has an iconic focal point: the 120 metre high Southern Star observation wheel. Environmental sustainability played an important role throughout the project, beginning with a strong commitment at the bid phase through to the completion date. The project's commitment to an ESD Award of Excellence led to the formation of a strong environmental brief for the staged project.  The development features low energy consumption with the use of energy efficient light fittings and control systems, and a reduction of the PVC content utilised in building services installation.  In October 2008 it was awarded the highest possible environmentally sustainable design award by the Melbourne Docklands Authority: the Award of Excellence.  The phased construction is expected to be complete by 2015.

CH2

In CH2, the Melbourne City Council wanted a building that was healthy, innovative, carbon neutral, did not depend on ageing public infrastructure and that was beneficial for its inhabitants. What they got was a 6 star Green Star world leading building that is fast becoming a global beacon. Innovative approaches and novel solutions have resulted in an unprecedented level of integrated design: the building's systems work in harmony, almost like a living thing.  As a result, when compared to a similarly sized typical office building CH2 is expected to reduce electricity consumption by 85%; reduce gas consumption by 85%; use only 15% of the energy and produce 15% of the carbon emissions.

The Melbourne Convention Centre

The new Melbourne Convention Centre has provided Australia with a world-best facility of which sustainability is a critical element.  Not only the biggest convention centre in the southern hemisphere, it is also the world's first 6 Star Green Star rated convention centre after being awarded a 6 Star Green Star - Convention Centre PILOT (World Leader) rating.  Advanced Environmental provided all environmental services. The Centre contains many ESD initiatives; including the largest use of FSC certified timber in Australia, an integrated watercycle design, one of the largest blackwater plants in Australia, a heated slab systems, and solar panels.

The University of Melbourne Economics Building

Designed prior to the creation of Green Star Education, the new Economics building incorporates a number of complementary sustainability strategies ranging from black water treatment to efficient planning and facade design. The project also incorporates a number of complementary air-conditioning strategies including passive chilled beams and displacement ventilation. The project was recently awarded a 5 star Green Star Education Pilot rating East Melbourne Library Developed for the Melbourne City Council, The East Melbourne Library showcases passive design throughout. Utilising thermal mass, light shelves and an underground labyrinth, this library demonstrate the potential of truly integrated design.  Included in this library is a geothermal cooling and heating system, supplying conditioned air by displacement delivery.

Who is Built Ecology?

WSP Lincolne Scott's specialist sustainable design service, Advanced Environmental, is re-branding and expanding as Built Ecology.

Built Ecology is a dedicated team of engineering consultants focussed to delivering sustainable outcomes within the built environment. Their delivery method is unique- they are committed to fully integrating the briefing and concept phases with the detailed engineering and design phases of the project. Close collaboration through the detail phases of the project ensures the early concepts are delivered. 

This approach to the delivery of sustainable outcomes, they believe is fundamental to developments and facilities achieving their fullest potential.  They aim to deliver projects of the highest level of quality of delivery and expand beyond the briefed environmental engineering role to offer a fully integrated sustainable building services engineering consultancy. To this end it is their policy not to separate environmental and building services engineering. 

Built Ecology provides environmental sustainability advice within the built environment. Sustainability is viewed as a key consideration for the future. Population and economic growth places more intense pressure in limited environmental resources. Efficient use of these resources is a key aspect in driving towards a more sustainable built environment. Beyond efficient resource use, environmental advice should consider strategies to improve the micro-climate of the streetscape, which includes issues such as the air quality of the city and the heat island effect. 

Built Ecology also provides professional advice on opportunities and strategic plans to reduce the requirements for heavy infrastructure and to improve and make more efficient use of infrastructure where it is required. In this, Built Ecology can also leverage the considerable expertise within the WSP group. Built Ecology is focused on providing a long term view of financial and environmental benefits. Such analysis must consider the life cycle cost as well as the environmental benefits that will be felt in the short term and those that can be expected to transpire in the long term.

The WSP Lincolne Scott group consists of over 400 professionals throughout the Asia Pacific region and includes over 30 specialists within Built Ecology.  As part of WSP plc, they are also part of a global company of over 8,000 people. 

Their strength throughout the Asia Pacific region in unison with our unique delivery method has resulted in a number of significant projects being delivered and achieving the environmental performance targeted in design in real world operating conditions. These include:

• 30 The Bond, Sydney
• City Central Tower 1, Adelaide
• The University of Melbourne Economics Building
• The Queensland Gallery of Modern Art

For more information please contact

Haris Moraitis

T. +61 3 8663 7880
D. +61 3 8663 7853
E. haris.moraitis@wsplincolnescott.com

Or go to  wsplincolnescott.com