Retrofit building wins Best Sustainable Development

215 Adelaide Street, Brisbane was announced winner of the Thinc Award for Best Sustainable Development - Existing Buildings at the 2013 Property Council of Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards.

Held in Sydney on 18 May, the awards celebrated innovation and leading practice within Australia’s property development and investment industries. 215 Adelaide Street was among 107 finalists across 16 categories nationwide.

Located in the heart of the CBD, 215 Adelaide Street has been a prominent commercial tower gracing Brisbane’s landscape for 30 years. In 2008, Norman Disney & Young recommended a plan to improve tenant services and slash energy consumption, lifting the energy rating from 2.5 to 4.5 Stars.

Following a comprehensive $5.4 million building services upgrade, this target was achieved in December 2011 on time, under budget and without disruption to tenant business. In December 2012, the building achieved a 5 Star NABERS Energy Rating and its first 4.5 Star NABERS Water Rating.

NDY director Andrew Gentner is proud of the recognition at a national level and of the work undertaken by the NDY Environmental team. “NDY has been intimately involved with this project for over five years through project inception, design, construction and finally finetuning,” said Andrew. “It was a pleasure to collaborate with such a gifted design team and this result is testament to the team’s input and innovation.”

The building has reduced its carbon emissions by approximately 4.5 million kg CO₂(e), or 46%, and makes operational costs savings of $460,000 pa, which the company expects will increase with electricity price increases.