Te Urutī, Pita Te Hori Centre

Photo by Olivia Spencer-Bower, Project Story.

Te Urutī is one of two five-level office buildings in the Pita Te Hori Centre located in central Ōtautahi-Christchurch.

Situated near the historic site of the ancient Puari Pā of the Waitaha and Ngāti Māmoe, the Pita Te Hori Centre – comprising the Te Urutī and Iwikau buildings, has strong spiritual, cultural and historical significance for Ngāi Tūāhuriri, the mana whenua rūnanga of the area, and the wider Ngāi Tahu iwi.

The site also holds historical military and police significance, as the previous home of the old King Edward Barracks and the former Christchurch headquarters of the New Zealand Police.

Project Summary

The Pita Te Hori Centre features a district energy scheme using highly efficient and sustainable artesian-source heating and cooling for the buildings within it.

The five-storey Te Urutī office building also includes ventilation heat recovery with additional fresh air flows, high-performance glazing and insulation, high-efficiency light fittings and control systems. The build and fitout saw reduced use of materials containing volatile organic compounds and eco-choice building materials were used where possible.

Ongoing water efficiency is supported through the installation of low-flow water fittings. Individual metering for tenancies to allows ongoing encourages further reductions. The Pita Te Hori Centre includes an intelligent Building Management System for recording and measuring data, and a 41kW solar PV array for onsite energy generation and peak usage demand reduction for the office buildings.

Green Star NZ Tool: Office Built (2009)

Project Title: Te Urutī, Pita Te Hori Centre

Rating Awarded: 5 Green Star Office Built

Project Details

Key sustainability features

• Enhanced Commissioning and Environmental Management practices adopted
• 107 tonnes of construction waste by weight diverted from landfill (>30% recycled)
• Fresh air rates of 20 L/s/work setting with variable fresh air volume mechanical ventilation (higher than required for NZBC)
• Low volatile organic compound floor coverings and ceiling tiles
• Removal of indoor pollutants from printing and photocopying
• Thermal comfort assessment
• Daylighting, glare control and external views to reduce tenants’ eyestrain and provide visual connections to the outdoors
• LED lighting with presence detectors and dimming
• Low internal noise levels from building services
• Carbon dioxide monitoring and control
• Electrical sub-metering/energy monitoring provided throughout
• Provision of end-of-trip cycling facilities, visitor bike parking
• Efficient sanitary fittings and fixtures
• Water metering/monitoring throughout
• No water-based heat rejection systems
• Low environmental impact insulation, timber and floor coverings
• Innovative District Energy System

Innovation points awarded