The new Sunshine Skills Hub at Victoria University is a 6-Star Green Star rated building designed by Woods Bagot with several sustainable features to establish its green credentials.
The three-storey Skills Hub is a purpose-designed state-of-the-art simulated learning facility offering Technical and Further Education (TAFE) courses that address the skills demand in construction technologies, advanced manufacturing and health technologies, as well as health and community services. Woods Bagot’s design focussed on improving indoor air quality through the use of low or zero-VOC emitting materials as well as by encouraging natural air flow.
Built to deliver sustainable outcomes, the Skills Hub features zero-VOC paint from Ecolour, which has also contributed to the 6-Star Green Star rating of the building. Previously, OH&S standards required the university to notify staff and students about upcoming painting projects and the potential harm from paint fumes, resulting in mass absenteeism.
However, with Ecolour’s zero-VOC and near odourless paint, this was no longer required, minimising disruption to academic schedules and saving money for the university. The premium quality GECA certified paint not only facilitates easy cleaning but also has reduced maintenance costs through less wear and tear.
South Melbourne Building Services executed all the painting works for the Skills Hub project.
The Green Star rating system assesses the sustainability of projects at all stages of the built environment lifecycle. From the initial architectural drawings and building products used in construction to the materials palette selected for interior fitouts in addition to energy monitoring and waste management post-completion, the Green Star system serves as a guidance to project stakeholders to achieve superior sustainability outcomes.
Victoria University is one of many universities using Ecolour paint for a hard-wearing zero-VOC finish.
