SHAPE’s new Melbourne office has achieved a 6 Star Green Star rating, representing world leadership in sustainability, and making it the third office to receive the highest certifiable rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).
Situated in the heart of the city, on Level 11 of the Queen & Collins precinct, the newly refurbished office was built with premium standards for sustainability, efficiency, and environment. The SHAPE Melbourne team, along with designers Siren Design and sustainability consultants Rewild Agency, aimed to deliver a space that supported its diverse needs for functionality and wellbeing, while facilitating sustainable practices aligned with the Green Star – Interiors Rating Framework.
The fitout scored highly across sustainability categories, including management, indoor environment quality, water, materials, land use and ecology, and innovation.
The materials used in the fitout reflect the team’s considered approach to materials with low environmental impact. Impressively, 95 per cent (by cost) of all timber used in the office is either certified by a forest certification scheme or from a reused source. While 60 per cent of timber furniture, or timber components within furniture, also meets the requirements of the ‘Sustainable Timber’ criteria.
At least 95 per cent of all engineered wood products meet specified formaldehyde emission limits, and a further 95 per cent of all internally applied paints, adhesives, sealants, and carpets meet specified VOC limits.
To enhance the comfort and wellbeing of staff and guests, and in line with Green Star’s indoor environment quality criteria, the SHAPE team addressed issues such as acoustic comfort, air quality, visual comfort and indoor pollutants. As per Green Star requirements, at least 10 per cent of the spaces in the nominated area were tested to comply with Acoustic Separation and Reverberation requirements, with all relevant building systems operational at the time of testing. Lighting levels comply with best practice guidelines, with glare eliminated and all lighting flicker-free.
Water and energy consumption was a key focus of this project. All water fixtures have 6-star WELL certification, and the team has committed to procuring GreenPower electricity from renewable energy providers.
Integrating Indigenous design was integral to creating a space representing SHAPE’s commitment to reconciliation. In the design stage, the team used Colours of Aboriginal Australia paper to guide them with the colour selection. Green was selected to draw upon the universal association with nature, renewal and regrowth, while blue depicts water. Black and grey represent recently burnt bush, which also refers to the smoke ceremony that was held shortly after the office’s opening.
With the help of Revert, a Green Star-certified waste processing facility, the SHAPE team recycled more than 91 per cent of waste during construction.
At least 95 per cent of all engineered wood products meet specified formaldehyde emission limits, and a further 95 per cent of all internally applied paints, adhesives, sealants, and carpets meet specified VOC limits.
Adam Head, SHAPE General Manager – Victoria, said: “Through careful planning and deliberation, the team worked incredibly hard to integrate sustainable practises into our new Melbourne office. We’re proud to have been recognised with a world-leading 6 Star Green Star rating. It’s a clear recognition of our dedication to sustainability, and we aim to continue to play a part in driving sustainable solutions in the design and delivery of our projects.
“I would like to thank those who worked on this project with us, including the SHAPE team, Siren Design, Rewild Agency, The Green Boat, our service engineers NDY, as well as all of our incredible subcontractors and suppliers,” he said.
To read more about the design and build of the SHAPE Melbourne office, read How the SHAPE Melbourne team collaboratively designed their new CBD office – SHAPE
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land, sea, and skies. We’re grateful to those who have cared for, nurtured, and protected Country for future generations, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.
