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design
mag |
49
These initiatives and others such as roof-
mounted photovoltaic panels and an HVAC
system using variable air volume, ensures
the centre is emissions-neutral, meaning it
produces as much operational energy as
it consumes.The campus also features a
42 kilolitre rainwater tank and a low-water
‘xeriscape’ garden.
The project cost $13 million which included
a sustainability premium of 10 to 15 percent.
AIM WA’s executive director, Patrick Cullen,
said that “during the tender stage we put out
options for both a 5 Star and 6 Star rating.
There was relatively little financial difference
between the two, reinforcing our desire to
target the higher 6 Star Green Star rating.”
Darrell Williams, director of building services
engineers, Norman Disney & Young: “From a
design perspective, what’s remarkable about
this building is its achievement of a 6 Star
rating without compromising the aesthetic
value or usability of the facility.The building
achieves its targets subtly, yet delivers a
dynamic overall impact.”
The Katitjin Centre sets a high sustainability
pass mark for other educational facilities
across Australia and around the world. More
importantly, it will present an operational
example of the benefits of a sustainable
building design for its influential students to
take back to their workplaces.
Xeriscape
™
is a trademark of Denver Water.
(Clockwise from left) The Centre’s
internal spaces are open and
inviting, with extensive glazing
affording views of the leafy
campus.The concrete panels are
crisply detailed with pencil round
edges.The panels were designed
and installed using accessible
stainless steel bolts to allow ready
disassembly.The thermal mass of
the panels make a substantial
contribution to the building’s
energy efficiency.