13. Sustainable construction and renovation

Importance of sustainable construction and renovation

Sustainable construction is about improving processes to minimise resource use (energy, water, materials, etc.) throughout the life-cycle of the structure or building. This framework provides an opportunity to provide input on Charles Sturt University’s existing sustainability processes for construction, renovation and operations, as well as how we manage these into the future.

Buildings are important to how students, staff and the community experience an institution. Whether an office building, laboratory, lecture hall, classroom or student accommodation, a building impacts:

• Health and wellbeing
• The local community and overall landscape and skyline (place making)
• The environment (energy, water, waste, travel, procurement, carbon emissions)
• A university's reputation
• Student and staff recruitment and retention.

See the Charles Sturt Sustainable Construction sheet [PDF 93KB]

Progress towards best practice

This framework was benchmarked in 2016. The below graph illustrates our progress towards best practice across the eight (8) activity areas. The green bars reaching four (4) highlight best practice and the lower bars in blue indicate Charles Sturt’s current ratings.

Action Plan

• See the Charles Sturt Sustainable Construction & Renovation Action Plan [pdf 112kb]

Initiatives

Here are a few things you can do to enjoy our sustainable spaces and reduce energy use:

• Learn how to use the features of your building to maximise comfort and energy efficiency – contact Sustainability at Charles Sturt to find out more
• Use outdoor courtyard and green spaces for studying, meetings and events
• Open workspaces up to natural light and views to the outdoors
• Get fit with active transport choices and use our end-of-trip facilities to store your bike or take a shower.
• Take a tour of our campuses and check out our sustainability credentials -
  • Wagga Wagga campus sustainable features map
  • Albury Wodonga campus sustainable features map

Bathurst Engineering building commended for sustainable design

At the 2017 NSW Architecture Awards, ThomsonAdsett received a Commendation in the Sustainable Architecture category from the NSW branch of Australian Institute of Architects for the University's purpose built complex for its engineering program.  It brings to four the number of awards the Charles Sturt University Engineering building has received for its design and construction.

The jury noted the design clearly embraced, 'the notion of sustainability in a holistic manner, reusing existing buildings, integrating renewable energy, utilising best practice water systems and creating open and flexible interiors.  ThomsonAdsett and the staff of Charles Sturt University Engineering worked closely with the University's Division of Facilities Management to design an appropriately functional structure.

"Our architectural education team conceived the building as a character that engenders conversations and creates places for people", said Mr Graham Legerton, ThomsonAdsett's Group Director (Education and Communities).  The building houses a 'pitch' space, a maker studio, laboratories, a technological gallery, a 'Honeycomb of Learning' with clustered student and staff collaboration zones, and the Mount Panorama room - a meeting room with views of the iconic mountain at Bathurst.

Executive Director of the Charles Sturt University Division of Facilities Management, Mr Stephen Butt said, "Charles Sturt University is extremely proud of these awards, especially given our competition.

"The jury's comments reflect the building's place in the University's broader strategy toward sustainable living, which is encapsulated in the philosophy of the Wiradjuri people of 'Yindyamarra Winhanganha', or 'the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in'.

"As Australia's first carbon neutral University, we wanted an innovative design to create spaces that incorporated future teaching needs, sustainable building practices and clever technology that furthered this philosophy."

Former Director of Charles Sturt University Engineering Professor Euan Lindsay said, "ThomsonAdsett has won well–deserved recognition for the way the firm has helped make our vision real.  "This building is an active character in the story of Charles Sturt University Engineering. We wanted a workplace for our student engineers that would authentically reflect the environments they would encounter in their transition into the workplace."