Vicinity Centres and Officeworks have set a new benchmark for sustainable development in Australia with their Chadstone Place project.
The suburban Melbourne office space has become the first Australian building to receive the prestigious Zero Carbon Certification from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI).
The ILFI Zero Carbon Certification is the world’s only performance-based standard that addresses both operational and embodied carbon emissions.
This achievement demonstrates Vicinity and Officeworks’ commitment to sustainability and innovation in the built environment.
In addition to the ILFI certification, Chadstone Place has also secured:
- 6-Star Green Star – Design certification
- 6-Star Green Star Design & As Built certification
- 5.5 NABERS Energy rating commitment
The Chadstone Place project showcases several impressive sustainability features:
- Embodied Carbon Savings: By retrofitting the existing building, the project achieved an 85 per cent embodied carbon saving compared to a reference case redevelopment.
- Renewable Energy: A 440kW photovoltaic array on the adjacent car park roof boosts the building’s energy performance by over 30 per cent.
- Waste Reduction: 88 per cent of the building’s net lettable area was reused, and 90% of construction waste was diverted from landfills.
- Biophilic Design: The project incorporates 640 indoor plants and a 60 per cent increase in landscaping.
David Waldren, Vicinity’s National Head of Design, emphasised the project’s significance: “Chadstone Place is a sustainability showcase that demonstrates the possibilities when an owner and tenant partner to create a net zero workplace. Importantly, it also highlights that the greenest buildings can be the ones that already exist”.
Sarah Hunter, Officeworks Managing Director, expressed pride in the achievement, stating: “We are thrilled to operate from Australia’s first Zero Carbon Certified building, which confirms our net zero commitment to team members, customers and partners.”
Officeworks has set ambitious sustainability targets, including:
- Using 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025
- Achieving net zero emissions by 2030
Laura Hamilton-O’Hara, CEO of Living Future Institute of Australia, praised the project, stating: “The Zero Carbon Certification for Chadstone Place means 100 per cent of its carbon has been assessed and addressed, demonstrating actual decarbonisation.”
This groundbreaking project serves as a model for sustainable development in Australia and beyond, showcasing the potential for existing buildings to be transformed into high-performing, environmentally conscious spaces.
