Green Star rating
5 Star Green Star — Design & As Built v1.2
Location
Gadigal Country
New South Wales
Completion
2024
Type
Commercial
Owner
Sydney Swans Limited
Main contractor:
FDC Construction
ESD Consultant:
Aurecon Australasia Pty Ltd
4 Star Green Star — Design & As Built v1.3
The Royal Hall of Industries in Moore Park has worn many hats over the past 100 years, but its most recent refurbishment has turned the historic building into a 5 Star Green Star rated project, and the new home of the Sydney Swans.
“Achieving Green Star Certification is a significant milestone in building design and construction, and the City of Casey are proud to contribute to a more sustainable future,” said Michael Barrett, Manager City Design and Construction.
City of Casey pursued certification to align with its Environment Strategy and to embed sustainability in community infrastructure. “Our decision aligns with Council’s Environment Strategy, which commits to embedding sustainability into infrastructure and reducing emissions. Green Star certification ensures the facility meets high environmental standards and supports our goal to become a climate-resilient city,” Barrett said.
Chief Operating Officer Drew Arthurson explained, “We are building for the future, both on and off the field. The Sydney Swans has two elite teams of young athletes, along with the QBE Sydney Swans Academy with 700 boys and girls, so we want to ensure we minimise the footprint of our operations today to leave our planet in the best shape for the generations that follow.”
High-performance on and off the field
So, why certify with Green Star?
For the Sydney Swans team, it was vitally important to pursue independent verification for the project’s sustainability outcomes.
“We’re experts in high-performance rather than environmental best practice. Therefore, it was important for us to work with experts who could offer guidance on green initiatives for our new facility, and independently verify the project outcomes. Green Building Council Australia is a leader in this space and pursuing Green Star verification demonstrates our commitment to achieving sustainable outcomes”, said Arthurson.
Design & As Built ratings consider nine categories that define best practice in environmental design. The HQ received points in all nine categories including Management, Indoor Environment Quality, Energy, Transport, Water, Energy, Land Use & Ecology and Innovation. The 5 Star Green Star certification represents Australian excellence in better, healthier and more responsible buildings.
Key features
Skylights and plenty of well-placed windows to maximise natural light within building.
Rainwater tanks to increase recycled water usage.
EV charging stations supporting low emissions travel
Upgrades to existing glazing and a new high-performance Danpatherm façade to the basketball court, improving indoor conditions while reducing pressure on heating and cooling systems.
Increased indoor plants to improve air quality and indoor environment for staff, as well as access to green spaces.
Adaptive reuse and historic buildings
Working together through the project, the Sydney Swans and GBCA pinpointed several key areas to promote sustainable design and operations and minimise environmental impact – all done with painstaking care due to the state significance of the building.
Should the Royal Hall of Industries ever need to be returned to its original condition, every original pane of glass has been preserved to celebrate its history.
The decision to breathe new life into an existing building, rather than construct a brand-new facility, came to light for two key reasons.
“There were two very compelling reasons we chose to revamp an existing building. Firstly, the Royal Hall of Industries is an iconic building full of nostalgia for Sydneysiders – it’s fondly remembered as the showbag hall from the Royal Easter Show. The building also happens to be a drop punt from our home ground at the SCG, so from a location perspective it was a perfect fit.
“Secondly, the adaptative reuse of this building also reduced the materials and embodied carbon that would have been associated with a new build – therefore, it was a greener choice. We couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome to have a world-class training, administration, and community facility housed within a state significant building”, said Arthurson.
A focus on community
Designed by architects Populous and constructed by Australian owned company FDC, the Royal Hall of Industries is not just the HQ for the Sydney Swans. The facility is shared with three community tenants (all rent free) – Lifeblood, GO Foundation and Clontarf Foundation – along with 98 Gym Sydney and Hoops Capital, the owners of the Sydney Kings and Flames basketball teams. The decision to make better, healthier and more responsible buildings a priority will have a flow-on effect to all these organisations, as well as the community groups who regularly use the space.
With such an impressive Green Star rated project under their belt, Drew Arthurson offered some advice for others looking to achieve a Green Star rating.
“There is so much new and emerging technology that can deliver terrific outcomes, for example, we have worked with our partner Origin to install EV charge stations to encourage the use of more sustainable vehicles. There are also simple measures, such as indoor plants, that can improve the indoor environment and air quality for staff. Working with experts will ensure your project has a holistic and cohesive approach to sustainability, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for your people and the planet.”
Take a look at the facility video tour