Bendigo Bank’s 5 Star Green Building In Regional Australia
Banksia Awards For Young Environmentalists
May 2, 2008In Control Australia Calls For Expressions Of Interest
May 6, 2008Well done Bendigo Bank! We see their new head office building in the Bendigo CBD is the first 5 Star Greenstar building a regional Australian city.
About The Building
The main building is of 6 storeys – ground, car park and 4 office floors. The leaseable area of the four office floors is 13,577 sq m and the building is linked to the former head office building to provide more than 16,000 sq m of office space.
Innovative ESD Features
- Underfloor air conditioning
- Black and grey water recycling
- External sun shades on the north and west
- Automated internal blinds
- Double glazed windows
- Perimeter zone daylight compensation light dimming
- Two full height atria ensuring all staff are within 8 metres of natural light
- Central vacuum system
- Solar hot water heating
- Low emission paints, carpets and workstations
- Rainwater collection
Checklist Of Sustainable Features
- Energy (up to 50% reduction in power usage)
- Indoor Environmental Quality (fresher air, more light)
- Productivity (improved staff working conditions)
- Water (blackwater recycling plant and rainwater collection)
- Waste (recycling)
- Materials (low emission paints, carpet, workstations and recycled paper workstation backs)
- Transport (bicycle room and showers)
- Building Rating: 5 Green Star
The Reasons For A Sustainable Building
Bendigo Bank is a community focused and environmentally aware organisation and they wanted the new office to reflect this as well as providing a better environment and working conditions for staff. As Bendigo is in a very dry area of central Victoria and water saving is imperative the move allowed the introduction of blackwater recycling.
What Are The Best Things That Have Come Out Of The Sustainable Building?
- A high quality, environmentally friendly location for all staff
- Excellent indoor air quality which provides a more healthy environment for staff
- Energy and water savings
What Made The Project Work Well?
- Excellent choice of architects and builder
- Far sighted board that allowed the project team freedom to adopt an innovative design
- Staff willingness to accept change
What Didn’t Work So Well ?
- The cost of removing tenants with existing leases
- Delays with archeological dig (took full course of time)
- Objections by local residents relating to demolition of an existing building in a heritage area (access tours to allow interested parties to appreciate that only a façade remained)
Helpful to have a far-sighted Board…
4 Comments
[…] klassischen Druckwasserreaktor > > bedeutet er einen Reaktorkern im Erdreich knapp unter dem > > Reaktorgebäude mit ziemlich hohen Aufräumkosten. > > .. und der Freisetzung von Radioaktivität. Nicht mehr als […]
Hi my name is morgan, i am 14 years of age ad have been through the new Bendigo Bank Head Office many times for my dad workd their and my Environmental class went on an excursion their on the 23rd of May this year.
I was shocked by the succsess that the design has had on the environment and how much throught had been put in to make a environmentally sustainable building.
The experience was great and i learnt so many news things about the environment and what we can do to make the difference ourself.
The building not only helps save the environment but teaches the community how to help save the environment.
The bendigo Bank has changed my opinion on the environment.
well done.
This is pretty good feedback for Bendigo – thanks for your comments Morgan.
This just reassures my decision to change from Commonwealth Bank to Bendigo Bank, even though I have to spend more on my banking.