These days our public facilities are multi- purpose and they can be used to provide a range of services in the areas of medical, transport and recreation. Public places are utilised by many, and in order for a space or structure to serve its purpose, an architect must make a place inviting, functional and in this day and age, sustainable.
The Public Building category at the 2022 Sustainability Awards is now a stand-alone category with the ‘Public’ portion of the Public, Urban & Landscape category removed. There is a strong focus on public structures in this category, with buildings, facilities or artworks projects eligible for entry. This includes hospitals, medical centres, sports ovals and facilities, transport hubs, parliament houses, zoological gardens, museums, government department buildings and religious structures.
Given the desire from the built environment and wider construction industry to lower emissions levels, many public buildings can be the catalyst for change. Those who design for public spaces need to be mindful of the building’s footprint and appreciate that a sustainable public building can inspire and influence those who walk through its doors, so that each person becomes environmentally conscious and ethically responsible for their world.
Siniat is the inaugural partner of the Public Building category. The plasterboard and framing company is guided by a commitment to sustainable development and aims to reduce its impact on the environment and respect the local ecosystems in which it conducts business.
Siniat’s carbon neutral opt-in program, certified by Climate Active, is regarded as an industry first. The company’s products can be incorporated in projects that are being built to Green Star certifications, and it prides itself on creating solutions that reduce carbon footprint and provide client satisfaction.
For the first time, we will crown the winner of the Public Building category later in the year at the Sustainability Awards Gala in Sydney. Entries are now open and we can’t wait to see your projects, whether it is in the new Public Building category, or any of the other 11 categories in the Awards. Submit your project at sustainablebuildingawards.com.
