greener pastures

Council and government buildings often act as the standard for the rest of the community, demonstrating a commitment to the people, environment and financial needs of the area. When Broadmeadows was named one of nine transit cities in the urban planning strategy, Melbourne 2030, Hume City Council realised the need for a municipal office that exemplified its dedication to the Hume community.

The resulting design encapsulates council staff from both Sunbury and Broadmeadows, and has a street frontage with a strong sense of public accessibility. Most importantly, the building obtained a 5-Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.

Helping it obtain this rating was one of Australia's leading construction companies, Hooker Cockram. The company became involved in the project when it won a competitive tender for the construction work, says business development manager Jason Ah Sam.

"At the time of the tender, the design was completed, so our challenge was to implement the design and ensure that the Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) principles inherent within it were translated accurately into the final constructed form."

As head contractor, Hooker Cockram was responsible for all aspects of construction, including selection, appointment, co-ordination and supervision of all subcontractors and suppliers. Hooker Cockram's Environmental Management Plan involved implementing water reuse during construction, recycling of construction waste, and using recycled materials in the new construction. This contributes significantly towards the required score for a Green Star rating. Ah Sam says the company has proven experience in this increasingly important field.

"In our specialist area of construction of pharmaceutical and health facilities, we have established skills and management systems that directly apply to ESD in project delivery. The main challenge with this project was the implementation of those design elements specific to green design principles. As achieving Green Star accreditation is still relatively new to the construction industry, ensuring sub-contractors and suppliers take into account the departures from past industry practices and embrace new technologies requires careful management and detailed supervision."

For more details, contact Hooker Cockram, Level 1, 2 Domville Avenue, Hawthorn, Vic 3122, phone (03) 8862 8888. Website: www.hookercockram.com.

Story by: Trendsideas