sound engineering

For most of us, the concept of environmentally sustainable design principles probably extends no further than using low-flow taps and energy-efficient light bulbs. For the people working on the NZI Centre, the goal was to achieve a level of sustainability rarely seen in New Zealand.

"The engineering team from Stephenson & Turner worked in close concert with the architectural team from Jasmax, applying the vision of a pioneering client Newcrest Holdings and a sustainably responsible tenant," says Stephenson & Turner director Fadia Sami.

Fellow director, Paul Taylor says, "It's quite rewarding for an engineering team to be involved in a building right from the concept development phase, but this goes to show just how much everyone was invested in achieving the right result for this project.

"The whole process was an open, sharing exchange of information, the result of which is a building that sets a benchmark in environmentally responsible design."

The building is the first commercial office in New Zealand to utilise an underfloor air-conditioning system, which supplies conditioned air through a series of diffusers mounted into a raised floor plate. This system operates more efficiently than traditional ceiling-mounted systems, greatly reducing energy use.

The Stephenson & Turner team utilised up-to-the-minute computer modelling, using real weather data to predict internal space temperatures and annual energy usage.

"Rigorous analysis was carried out to optimise the acoustic performance. From the double facade which was optimised through traffic-noise monitoring to the full-height atrium, with its varied acoustic treatments designed to minimise noise transference, there isn't a single aspect of this building that was left to chance everything was worked out scientifically," says Sami.

"On its way to receiving a 5-Star Green Star office design rating and a 5-Star Green Star office interior rating, the building has achieved a great balance between energy and aesthetics. It's a wonderful expression of the commitment to environmentally sustainable design of everyone involved," says Taylor.

For more information, contact Stephenson & Turner, PO Box 1830, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140, phone (09) 303 1249, fax (09) 303 2554. Email: auckland@stephensonturner.com, or visit the website: www.stephensonturner.com.

Story by: Trendsideas