The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has awarded the Commonwealth Bank Place building in Darling Quarter Sydney a 6 Star Green Star — Office As Built v3 rating, making it the first ever building to achieve the milestone.
The Commonwealth Bank Place development, by architects FJMT and developer Lend Lease, delivered a significant number of sustainable outcomes including potable water reduction of 90 per cent through rainwater harvesting and onsite water recycling initiatives, carbon emission reduction through energy efficient design, which includes chilled beam and single pass fresh air systems, trigeneration technology and a high performance façade.
The developer, Lend Lease, said that the building and its systems also provide a healthy and highly productive workspace for its tenants.
“We are delighted to award a 6 Star Green Star — Office As Built v3 rating to this iconic Australian building. It is great to see the Australian property industry leading the way in innovation and continuing to deliver developments that set new benchmarks,” said Romilly Madew, chief executive of the Green Building Council of Australia.
A collaborative effort between Lend Lease and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA), the $500m Darling Quarter precinct is a showcase for social, environmental and economic sustainability and sets global benchmarks in environmental innovation.
It comprises ‘Commonwealth Bank Place’, and a family/leisure precinct with extensive public amenity, including a vibrant retail food precinct with a range of dining options; a world-class family playground, one of Sydney’s largest covering more than 4,000 square metres; a community green; youth theatre; and 600 bay public carpark.
Mark Menhinnitt, chief executive officer for Lend Lease’s Australian business explained that the 6 Star Green Star — Office As Built v3 rating illustrated the continuing aim to push the boundaries of sustainable development.
“We are seeing a real commitment from the property industry and governments at all levels, as well as the community, to tackle a major contributor of carbon emissions - our cities. Achieving this rating brings us one step closer in the journey towards sustainable precincts and eventually sustainable cities.
“Leading edge innovation in green technologies and design has helped us to deliver projects that we never thought possible.”
The Darling Quarter development was funded and has been acquired by the Lend Lease managed APPF Commercial in joint venture with one of its existing offshore institutional investment partners.
