BOTANICCA, BUILDING 1

When two of Australia’s largest retailers, David Jones and Country Road, leased new headquarters in Richmond’s Botanicca Corporate Park (Melbourne, Australia) Inhabit was appointed as the project’s independent ‘Green Champion’ consultant.

This position was created to provide direct support to the retailers throughout the design and construction of Building 1 and Building 2 fit out works. Inhabit’s building physics engineers integrated a range of energy and water efficiency initiatives to meet sustainability goals and achieve high levels of occupant comfort.

The retailers’ South African parent company, Woolworths Holdings Limited, aims to be the most sustainable retailer in the southern hemisphere and has created the Good Business Journey, a program to manage sustainability issues across their global supply chain. The program’s eight focus areas are transformation, social development, health and wellness, ethical sourcing, sustainable farming, waste, water, as well as energy and climate change.

The performance of the buildings was assessed though a bespoke framework, supported by but not certified to, Green Star Interiors v1.1 and the WELL Building Standard.

Key outcomes from both Buildings 1 and 2 were:

70% of all waste (827.7 tonnes) was diverted from landfill (re-used off site and recycled)
30% of all waste (357.3 tonnes) was sent to landfill
> 94% (by volume) of all internally applied paints, adhesives, sealants or carpets meet total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) limits to meet health and wellness requirements
> 95%  (by area) of all engineered wood products meet formaldehyde emission limits
> 81% (by cost) of all timber used in the fit out works is traceable and either certified by a forest certification scheme or from a reused source
> 83% (by cost) of all  pipes, flooring, blinds do not contain PVC, have a recognised product declaration or meet Best Practice Guidelines for PVC.
> 42% (by cost) of furniture, partitions, ceilings, joinery, flooring, wall coverings, cladding, masonry and glazing meet one of the following initiatives including reused products, recycled content , environmental product declarations, third-party certification and stewardship programs.

The buildings’ lighting was upgraded to energy-efficient LED lighting which is controlled by a central system for further energy efficiency and water-efficient fittings and fixtures were installed throughout the buildings.

High occupant comfort is ensured through increased outdoor air which is provided at a rate 50% greater than the minimum required by AS 1668.2:2012.

  • Scope
    BUILDING PHYSICS + SUSTAINABILITY
  • Location
    MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
  • Client
    DAVID JONES | COUNTRY ROAD GROUP
  • Developer
    GROWTHPOINT PROPERTIES
  • Architect
    GRAY PUCKSAND
  • Project Manager
    AKT. PROJECT MANAGEMENT + MONTO PROJECTS both formerly VOLO PROJECTS