Victorian-First 6 Star NABERS Rating Announced For Prime Building

171 Collins Street Melbourne has become the first building in Victoria to achieve a 6 Star NABERS Energy rating.

The joint project between Cbus Property and Charter Hall  is designed by award-winning architects Bates Smart, engineered by Umow Lai and managed by Knight Frank, and is one of just two commercial office buildings in Australia to reach the rating milestone.

A building with a 6 Star NABERS Energy rating emits 50 per cent less greenhouse gases than a building with a 5 Star rating which is seen as the benchmark for modern sustainable office buildings.

171 Collins saves more than 1.3 million kilograms of carbon dioxide each year, equal to 568,000 litres of petrol or 139 homes’ energy use for one year when compared to a building with a 5-Star NABERS Energy Rating.

Cbus Property Chief Executive Officer Adrian Pozzo said 171 Collins Street, home to BHP Billiton, had set a new benchmark in sustainability and was a shining example of the drive to create highly sustainable workplaces for the future.

“171 Collins Street is a lighthouse example of how premium grade buildings can deliver architectural beauty, world leading sustainability and exceptional occupant amenities without compromise,” he said.

“It is a true 21st century workplace and embodies all that we strive to achieve at Cbus Property in delivering projects that are of international architectural value and achieve exceptional environmental outcomes. ‘This milestone caps off several years of dedication by the entire project team as well as 171 Collins Street’s tenants in delivering and maintaining a truly green and sustainable building.”

The 6 Star NABERS Energy rating comes off the back off 171 Collins Street becoming the first premium building in 2014 to achieve the prestigious 6 Star Green Star As Built Office V2 rating by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), achieving a record 83 points. In addition it has been recognised at the International Property Awards Asia Pacific, United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Awards and Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards.

Opening its doors to tenants in June 2013, 171 Collins Street features a myriad of best practice sustainability features in an architectural landmark that fuses a heritage façade with modern design, creating a workplace for the future. The building features an Australian-first ceiling tile system that absorbs office pollutants and creates a healthier office environment for workers. Meanwhile, its innovative greywater treatment program collects used water from the cyclist shower facilities and recycles it through the building’s cooling towers and toilets, offsetting more than 90 per cent of the cooling towers’ water consumption.

The outside of the building is similarly impressive, with 171 Collins Street’s exterior a big driver of cost efficiency – this high-performance façade folds light from the sky into the building, also helping to achieve energy efficiency targets.

A radiant cooling and heating system and an under-floor air distribution network provides energy efficient thermal comfort for occupants, while the air conditioning system allows large quantities of outside air to be brought into the office space at a low velocity and distributed using natural stratification.

Charter Hall’s Head of Office, Adrian Taylor, explained that the rating proved that world-leading sustainability measures could be delivered at a competitive cost and with no adverse impact on the forecast investment returns. “Our active asset management and customer centric approach ensured that our tenant engagement platform created a community in the building with a common goal, as well as appointment of on-site management team with a passion for fine tuning.”

“We are very pleased with the performance of 171 Collins Street. It is a building that continues to be recognised for its innovation in sustainability and we hope sets the benchmark for the industry into future,” he said.

Cbus Property and Charter Hall formed a 50:50 joint venture in March 2010 to develop the flagship office building with a long term strategy to own and manage the asset.

In May 2014, 171 Collins Street was recognised at the prestigious International Property Awards (Asia Pacific),where it was judged the Best Commercial High Rise Development in Australia and was also highly commended in the Office Development Australia category.

Additionally the building was recently awarded the Hanson’s Green Building Award at the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards in June 2014 and also received the Sustainability Development Award at the Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards 2014.

171 Collins Street’s sustainability credentials include:

•  9 storey glass atrium that maximises natural light
• Floor to ceiling double glazing with thermal insulation to help maintain occupant comfort
• High-performance ceramic fritted glass façade to reduce heat gain and glare
• Dedicated waste storage area for separation, collection and recycling
• Advanced rainwater and greywater reuse system
• Highly flexible under-floor air distribution system for superior indoor air quality
• Highly optimised lighting design with extensive controls for occupancy and daylight harvesting
• Energy-efficient fixtures and fittings
• Low-VOC and formaldehyde emissions
• Premium end-of-trip facilities with 280 bicycle spaces, showers, change rooms and lockers
• Destination controlled lift systems

171 Collins Street is also recognised as the first premium building in 2014 to achieve the prestigious 6 Star Green Star As Built Office V2 rating by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), achieving a record 83 points.

Since its completion in mid-2013, 171 Collins Street has attracted several significant awards, including Best Commercial High Rise Development in Australia, from the International Property Awards (Asia Pacific).

It was also awarded the Hanson’s Green Building Award at the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards in June 2014 and received the Sustainability Development Award at the Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards 2014.