A revamped heritage building in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter has received an ‘excellent’ score for energy efficiency.
Last week (29 March 2017), the 90-year old Lysaght Building was certified with 4.5 stars out of 6, or ‘excellent’, under the National Australian Built Environment Rating System in New Zealand (NABERSNZ).
Tailor-made for New Zealand office buildings, NABERSNZ is a government-backed independent rating tool that benchmarks energy efficiency in the operations of a building.
The Lysaght Building was one of the first completed redevelopments in Wynyard Quarter and is owned by Panuku Development Auckland, Auckland Council’s urban regeneration agency.
Earmarked as having special heritage character, the building has been tenanted by Auckland Tourism Events & Economic Development (ATEED)since 2015 and is now home to GridAKL where a number of start-ups and innovative small businesses are based within the Innovation Precinct.
The 4.5 star NABERSNZ rating relates to the base building (common area) energy use.
Designed by Warren and Mahoney, its refurbishment retained much of the structure and defining features of the original building.
The project included the addition of a new mezzanine, a moveable façade on the building’s northern face and the use of glass to ensure visibility of character details.
In common with all development in Wynyard Quarter, the building was designed to meet strict environmental criteria and is on track to receive a 5 Green Star rating.
Sustainable features include louvres and sliding doors for natural ventilation, an energy monitoring system, water-efficient fittings and a waste sorting room.
Panuku Chief Executive Roger MacDonald says this is the first energy efficiency rating to be awarded to a building in Wynyard Quarter, and shows Panuku is leading the way in sustainability.
“Our vision for Wynyard Quarter is to become a beacon of sustainable design and liveability. We require high standards of our development partners and this rating shows we’re prepared to stand by those criteria.
“I’m delighted the Lysaght Building is the first in Wynyard Quarter to be energy-use certified.
“It’s an immense achievement to take a refurbished character building to perform better than the majority of New Zealand’s office stock, and thanks are due to all the people who have worked on the project.
“It sets the standard for others.”
Andrew Caseley, Chief Executive of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), who work with many large property owners and tenants to improve energy efficiency in buildings, says Panuku’s focus on energy efficiency in buildings is forward-thinking.
“This is a showcase project created through strong local government leadership and partnership,” says Andrew Caseley says.
“Smart buildings like this make sense financially and environmentally, and make our lives better.”
New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) Chief Executive Andrew Eagles says NABERSNZ provides critical proof that sustainably-designed buildings perform as they should.
“Running an energy-efficient building requires care and attention to get it right – it’s no longer good enough in New Zealand’s office sector to design and build, and then walk away.
“Tenants increasingly understand the link between staff wellbeing and building performance, and they expect their spaces to work well for people.”
The Lysaght Building was one of four buildings in Wynyard Quarter included on a walking tour for attendees of the Green Property Summit 2017, which took place last week.
The Summit is hosted by the NZGBC in partnership with the Property Council of NZ.
NABERSNZ is licensed to the EECA and administered by the NZGBC.
ENDS
For more information contact Melanie Roberts, Senior Communications Advisor at Panuku, on:
022 370 1756 or email: melanie.roberts@developmentauckland.co.nz.
Notes to editors
The Lysaght Building is located on the corner of Pakenham Street West and Halsey Street. The building was once used by sailors and derives its name from the original tenant in the space, the John Lysaght steel company. It has an area of 1,800m2.