Terminal velocity

Meeting the sustainability criteria for the US LEED rating was a key factor in the new pier engineering design undertaken by Beca. Jon Williams, general manager building services, says the project complexity was compounded by the fact that Auckland Airport was the first airport outside North America to be designed and assessed in this way.

"When this project commenced, the NZ Green Building Council had not yet released an appropriate assessment tool, hence the decision to go with the LEED rating," says Williams.

Key sustainable design features include 160m² of photovoltaic solar panels on the roof of the building. The solar energy is expected to produce 29,500kW/h annually the same amount used each year by three households. The solar energy also heats hot water for washrooms and powers lighting in the corridors that connect the pier with the terminal. Low-flow fittings provide water savings of 40%.

Rainwater is harvested as well, and stored for use in the air conditioning cooling towers. The building also features energy-efficient lighting systems, which include daylight sensors that help prevent energy wastage.

"The sustainability initiatives weren't limited to eco-friendly features they involved the whole construction process," says Williams. "Throughout the build, plans were in place to prevent the pollution of stormwater systems, to recycle all paper, glass, concrete and metal waste, and to regularly ventilate the building to remove any dust and toxic gases."

For more details, contact Jon Williams, Beca, phone (09) 300 9000. Website: www.beca.com.

Story by: Trendsideas