Leading light

Energy efficiency is a phrase that only grows in importance as the world's resources shrink. But paying lip service to energy-conscious practices quite simply doesn't cut it in a modern commercial environment. Retrofitting a bicycle rack at the expense of two corner carparks, for example, will hardly turn a large-scale construction into a planet-friendly exercise. The real answer is future-awareness, and meticulous planning in every single aspect of a new structure from the operating plant, to the floorplate sizes, to the flow rates on the bathroom tapware.

Green Square North Tower is a 12-storey, 24,000m², A-Grade commercial office tower that is leading the way in responsible commercial building design across Australasia. The new tower, complete with ground-floor retail and two levels of basement carparking, is the first building completed in Queensland to achieve a coveted 6-Star Green Star rating.

Developed by Leighton Properties, Green Square North Tower is a major addition to the ground-breaking Green Square development, the largest office park to be developed in Brisbane in the past 15 years. The Green Square development, an integral step in Brisbane City Council's ongoing Urban Renewal Plan, comprises the earlier completed mixed-use South Tower, the newly built North Tower, and a connecting plaza. Retail, restaurants, and even a childcare facility are all part of the strategic development's appeal.

While the South Tower received a 5-Star Green Star rating, Leighton Properties has worked hard to take this a stage further with the North Tower. Queensland state manager and executive director Andrew Borger says the building signals world-class advances in environmental sustainability.

"The North Tower's strikingly contemporary design features environmental initiatives never built before in Australia," says Borger. "Key to its energy-saving ability is a co-generation plant that allows the building to achieve a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of over 60%, compared to similar buildings of this nature."

However, the high-tech co-generation plant which is discussed on succeeding pages is only one of several green building measures integrated into the bones of the design. These include significant energy and water savings, and improved indoor environment quality, as well as the minimisation of atmosphere emissions and a reduction in the use of limited natural resources.

Leighton Properties' vision for Green Square and its two upscale office buildings was broad-ranging, and there are diverse reasons why North Tower had already attracted full tenancy, with major tenants, including Cardno and the Queensland State Government, committing prior to completion.

Location alone was a key drawcard for the tenant. Green Square is located in the burgeoning city-fringe suburb of Fortitude Valley. The site is located just 2km from Brisbane's CBD and within 250m of all public transport, a significant retail centre, a public carpark and the Valley Mall. Shopping and entertainment opportunities abound here. Close access is provided to the major arterial road network which will be further enhanced by the North-South Bypass Tunnel.

Public transport close at hand encourages car-free commuting, in itself an environmental plus in these petrol-poor times. Further to that, both the South Tower and the North Tower have extensive bicycle facilities, one rack per ten employees, and dedicated showering facilities. Over 25% of carparks in the North Tower are given over to small-car use.

North Tower offers Grade-A services and amenities. The building and floor layout includes inter-level stairs that allow staff easy, convenient movement throughout departments set across different floors.

All levels also boast ultra-efficient, expansive open-plan floors with a centralised core. An exclusive 150mm tenant services zone is included in the ceiling space of every office floor. The services zone allows for easy reconfiguration of data and electrical systems as tenant requirements evolve.

Indoor air quality and comfortable temperatures were important drawcards for the South Tower, and the same high level of user comfort is enjoyed by the North Tower.

The North Tower has a green outlook in more ways than one. Views back into the plaza running between the two towers are attractively landscaped with mature plantings. In addition, the new tower features indoor winter gardens that provide well-oxygenated, open-air places to linger, without ever leaving the building. The facade is pulled back on Levels 11 and 12 to provide a balcony to Level 11 and double-height space under the Level 12 roof. The balcony is situated to provide views ranging from north to southwest and across the CBD.

Due to its location and height, the North Tower offers high-level visibility from surrounding areas. Highly exposed signage rights to the building, rooftop and plaza were other enticements for tenants.

For details, contact Leighton Properties, phone (07) 3229 8938. Websites: www.greensq.com.au and www.leightonproperties.com.au.

Story by: Trendsideas