by jbs060109 b3 — June 10, 2009—The Northern Territory of Australia’s first 4-Star Green Star building has reportedly set a new benchmark for sustainable tropical design. Power and Water Corporation has been awarded a 4-Star Green Star – Office Design v2 rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) for its Ben Hammond Complex in Darwin.
The redevelopment across the Ben Hammond Complex is the largest commercial project to date in the Territory to incorporate a comprehensive environmental strategic design resulting in a 20 percent reduction in energy and water use across the site. Built by Laing O’Rourke, the design of the new office and workshop buildings was undertaken by GHD and Darwin-based MKEA Architects.
According to Robin Mellon, the GBCA’s Executive Director/Green Star, the new building not only showcases green features to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also demonstrates that good tropical design and sustainability can go hand-in-hand.
The GBCA recently established a new Asia-Pacific Committee to support the acceleration of green building in the region, Mr. Mellon says, and the Council is looking at ways to adapt Australia’s rating tools to local conditions.
