Case Studies

Te Manawa (Westgate)

Written by NZGBC | 02 February 2021

Te Manawa is the anchoring civic component for the new Westgate Town Centre development. The brief was to set a benchmark for civic buildings, establish a sense of place and to provide a core community destination within the wider retail masterplan. The building had a sustainable brief with a core focus on implementing sustainable techniques which are visible and communicable – extending the focus on education which is implicit in its Library function. 

The building combines passive low energy design including external shading devices and overhangs to naturally shade building facades and a highly insulated planted green roof to the upper roof level, alongside active measures including a photovoltaic array configured as a shaded reading terrace.

 

Photo by Sam Hartnett


 

Project Details:

Project location

11 Kohuhu Lane, Westgate, Auckland

Project certification 5 Green Star Custom Design

Building owner

Auckland Council

Architect

Warren and Mahoney

Project Manager

Auckland Council

Service Engineer

Beca

Quantity surveyor

Maltbys

Main contractor

Fletcher Construction

GSAP

Fiona Short - Warren and Mahoney

Acoustic Consultant

Marshall Day Acoustics


Photo by Sam Hartnett

 

The following sustainable features have been recognized under its Green Star rating:

 

  • Green Star Accredited Professional engaged on the project.
  • Enhanced Commissioning for improved building services performance.
  • 333 tonnes of construction waste by weight diverted from landfill (83% of construction waste diverted).
  • Building User Guide to enable the building user to optimise the building’s environmental performance.
  • ISO14001 Environmental Management accreditation specified for the contractor to be applicable to the construction of the building and throughout the project.
  • Building Design that minimizes ongoing maintenance throughout the building life cycle.
  • Outdoor air provided at a 50 % improvement on NZBC requirements.
  • Low VOC flooring, applied coatings, ceiling tiles, adhesives and sealants specified.
  • Low formaldehyde engineered wood products
  • Thermal comfort assessment completed.
  • Good daylight levels
  • LED lighting throughout
  • Reduced internal noise levels from building services.
  • Predicted GHG emissions significantly lower than a standard building
  • Carbon dioxide monitoring and control
  • Lighting control though switching, presence detectors and dimming
  • Electrical sub-metering / energy monitoring provided throughout
  • Car parking provided at 50% less than the maximum amount permitted.
  • Parking spaces allocated to fuel efficient transport
  • End of trip cycling facilities provided for 10% of staff
  • Accessible to public transport
  • Reduced potable water consumption
  • Water efficient sanitary fittings and fixtures
  • Water metering and monitoring
  • Efficient water usage for landscape irrigation
  • Reduced water usage for water-based cooling system
  • Timber sourced from FSC certified forests with full Chain of Custody
  • Timber with reduced toxicity
  • Reinforcement steel is specified to be greater than 50% recycled content
  • Environmentally preferable floor coverings
  • Dedicated storage area provided for separation and collection of recyclables
  • Reduced topsoil and fill removed from site
  • Zero Ozone Depleting Potential refrigerants
  • Insulants that avoid use of Ozone depleting substances in both manufacture and composition
  • Building system that eliminates the risk of Legionnaires Disease

 

Innovation points awarded:

  • One point awarded for materials specified with Environmental Products Declarations (EDPs)