The Ausgrid Learning Centre designed by DEM Architects has been completed in Sydney, achieving 6 Star Green Star Education Design rating.
Registered for a 6 Green Star As-Built Rating, the ALC will be the first education facility of its kind in Australia to use the Education V1 Rating Tool which assesses the environmental attributes of new and refurbished education facilities.
The $75 million Brookfield Multiplex development for Ausgrid (formerly Energy Australia), is in Silverwater, New South Wales.
Spanning three levels and over 17,200 square metres the centre will consolidate Ausgrid’s services from four locations into one fully integrated learning facility.
The ALC will be equipped to accommodate training across a number of areas including power worker training, technical training and research, corporate learning and development as well as regulatory training and graduate programs.
Brookfield Multiplex pioneered two environmental firsts for Australia with the implementation of an in-situ in slab ducted cooling for class rooms and the procurement and installation of various unique systems in the building, including, tri-generation, 260 photovoltaic cells, ground source heat rejection and in slab cooling. Using all of these systems in one facility has also never been done before in an Australian development.
Other ESD features include gas driven tri-generation power utilising 55 geothermal bores for heat rejection, rainwater harvesting, grey water re-use and 260 Photovoltaic Solar Panels. 3-point Green Star concrete with 20 per cent recycled content was also used on the project.
It was an initiative of the Australian Government, through the Education Investment Fund which was created to develop infrastructure in higher education institutions, research institutions and vocational education and training providers.
“Brookfield Multiplex are committed to being at the forefront of sustainable design which is why we pioneered the in slab ducted cooling system,” said George Kostas, Joint Managing Director of Brookfield Multiplex.
“We carried out a number of prototype panels off site which gave surety to the design, detail, installation and programming of the project.”
