MINIMISING the impact

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.

"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.

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