Facebook Tweet Help Stories Civic & Institutional MINIMISING the impact Share Tweet Help Making the most of existing features and combining them with innovative design ideas were part of Powell Fenwick's contribution to this building View of the Christchurch City Council building, with large public atrium with concrete beams, reinforcing iron and floor panels left exposed. Scoring a top rating under the New Zealand Green Building Council system requires a high level of commitment from the entire team of consultants and contractors.For the Christchurch Civic building, Powell Fenwick provided structural, mechanical, electrical, fire, civil and hydraulic engineering design services."This challenging project had a tight time frame, and the whole team, from clients to contractors, worked closely," says director Sam Seatter. View of Christchurch Civic Building illustrating the structural, mechanical, electrical, fire, civil and hydraulic engineering design services by Powell Fenwick Consultants. "As a result the design achieved a 6-Star Green Star Office Design rating, recognition that puts this building in the World Leadership category of the rating system. The 6-Star rating actually exceeded the brief, which was to achieve a 5-Star rating. That this was achieved on time and under budget is a testament to the whole team," he says.Design features contributing to the rating include the innovative use of the council's landfill gas piped across town to provide a low cost and low carbon energy source for on-site electricity, heating and cooling. Re-use of the existing structure saved embodied energy, equivalent to 5-10 years of operating energy for the building. A double-skin facade provided thermal buffering to the north elevation while maximising external views and daylighting.A high level of comfort and energy efficiency is achieved through the use of a raised floor displacement air conditioning system. View of the Christchurch City Council building, with large public atrium with concrete beams, reinforcing iron and floor panels left exposed. For more information, contact Powell Fenwick, PO Box 25108, Victoria St, Christchurch 8144, phone (03) 366 1777, fax (03) 379 1626. Email: engineering@pfc.co.nz. Or visit the website: www.pfc.co.nz. Story by: Trendsideas 09 Jun, 2011 Civic and Institutional Design Trendsideas Home kitchen bathroom commercial design Latest Post Rounded perspective 15 Dec, 2024 Everyday opulence 15 Dec, 2024 The Living Pā 15 Dec, 2024 We know the Specialists Related Book More Books > NZ2708 NZ2708 Read More Similar Stories