New Zealand Green Investment Finance walks the talk with a 4 Green Star office fit out
Essentials
What: New Zealand Green Investment Finance national office – launched by the Crown with a capital injection of $100 million, the independent limited liability company grows domestic low GHG emissions investment across transport, process heat, agriculture and the built environment
Occupancy: 15 people work on the NZGIF floor including secondees and contractors
Where: The Terrace, Wellington CBD
The Building: While its heritage façade has been retained, the building has been redeveloped to bring it up to 100% NBS code. Three additional office floors were added during the renovation.
Project Snapshot
Tenant: New Zealand Green Investment Finance
Architect: Unispace Limited
Service engineer: TM Consultants
Structural engineer: Stephen Mitchell Engineers Ltd
Main contractor: Unispace Limited
Project status: 3 month refurbishment 2019
Project certification: 4 Green Star Interiors NZ v1.0 Certified Built (2020)
It is no surprise that green design led the conversation when New Zealand Green Investment Finance (NZGIF) undertook a fit out of its head office in Wellington.
Equipped with green finance expertise, NZGIF is a green investment bank* accelerating investment in Aotearoa’s low carbon future.
Created by the Crown in 2019, they had intended to set up home in a small footprint office in a Green Star-rated building.
But when timing issues scuttled its plans, NZGIF opted to lease a floor in a redeveloped 1938 heritage building and pursue a Green Star Interiors rating for its headquarters.
“We were looking to create an office space that would fit with our purpose and objectives as we grew and evolved,” says Craig Weise, Chief Executive of New Zealand Green Investment Finance.
Housed on the second level of a six-storey building in the capital’s commercial cityscape, the comprehensive 200m2 office fit-out included mechanical, seismic, hydraulic, fire, electrical and communications upgrades.
The NZGIF project has scored New Zealand’s first 4 Green Star Interiors NZ v1.0 Certified Built certification representing ‘Best Practice’ under the New Zealand Green Building Council’s Interiors rating tool.
Sustainable highlights include CO2 and fresh air demand controlled ventilation – providing fresh air ventilation rates 100% above minimum Building Code, glare reduction for visual comfort, electrical and water metering and monitoring, and stylish indoor green spaces including a vertical green wall at the entrance to the offices.
Craig Weise says the achievement demonstrates to the market that NZGIF walks the talk and helps showcase what green can look like.
“As a leader in sustainability we wanted first-hand experience to demonstrate to the market what worked and what didn’t, and the value of obtaining a Green Star rating. We aimed for a 4 Star rating because it provided a good level of sustainability, it was achievable and cost effective,” says Craig.
“Undertaking the Green Star fitout was a good move, not only for us but also for any future beneficiaries as we’re adding to the overall green stock in the market. As more people build and occupy Green Star rated office spaces and enjoy the benefits of them, the greener and more low carbon our cities will be.”
The fit-out, designed and project managed by Unispace Limited had a three month construction timeframe during which demolition waste to landfill met a fixed benchmark of 1.6 -2.5kg per m2 of rentable area.
“Much of the initial fit-out design by Unispace was made with sustainability in mind – so there wasn’t much tweaking needed to achieve the 4 stars,” says Matt Blackwell, Senior Mechanical Engineer and Green Star consultant at TM Consultants
NZGIF says the outcome conveys a sense of the company from the moment you step out of the lift.
“We see real benefits in knowing that we are helping the environment. Sourcing materials and resources locally means we are in service to New Zealand’s climate aspirations,” says Craig.
Feedback from NZGIF’s workforce shows the combination of greenery and wood panelling in its new space has created “a clean, green, natural work environment” which has contributed to office dynamics and team culture.
“We’ve found that the environment enables high levels of staff productivity – we all work hard but coming into the office isn’t a drag. It feels like the company cares about us and recognises the positive effect a great working environment can have on our wellbeing,” says Roslyn Marlow, Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive.
Green features include:
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Technical features include:
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* New Zealand Green Investment Finance is not a registered bank.