Country, culture and community are setting the benchmark for environmental performance
Yitpi Yartapuultiku represents world leadership in integrated sustainability, both in its design and construction as well as in its ongoing work to support culture, community and the environment
An early commitment to targeting the highest Green Star rating of 6 Star, along with meaningful co-design with the Kaurna community, ensured that the design and construction processes met the extremely high benchmarks of the certification, as well as cultural priorities and connection to Country.
It was the first project in South Australia, and equal second nationally, to achieve the 6 Star Green Star Buildings rating.
Targeting 6 Star Green Star helped us ensure that the building’s performance matches the ambition of the vision. We have been able to demonstrate that an all-electric, highly efficient building reduces operating impact over time, supports health and wellbeing, and allows us to create a legacy project the community can be proud of. It also aligns strongly with PAE’s broader commitments around climate response, caring for Country, resilience and good stewardship of public investment.
Valuable social and environmental outcomes
The environmental and social benefits of the building are interconnected, making it an inclusive, accessible building with great natural light and strong connections to nature. It was designed to use less materials during construction, to use less resources during operation, and to be resilient to our changing climate.
Some of the environmental features include:
- An all-electric building powered by 100% renewable energy, including 70kW of rooftop solar and 25kWh battery storage
- Contaminated industrial soil was deliberately kept on site, safely encapsulated under 15,000m3 of clean soil. Healing Country means not moving harm elsewhere, but taking responsibility for the site’s history
- Building envelope designed to keep the building cooler in summer and allow sunlight in during winter
- Air conditioning designed to cope with future hotter summers, with fresh air intake and improved filtration to reduce energy demand and improve indoor air quality
- Low-emissions concrete and other materials used in the build, reducing up-front carbon emissions by 33%
- 98% waste diversion from landfill during construction
- Indigenous habitat restoration including 11,000 new trees, 22,000m2 of native trees and shrubs, and creation of 10-year Healthy Country Plan outlining how to care for the seven ecological zones created at the site
- A Living shoreline
- Site chosen to ensure protection from 1 in 100 year flood levels
- Connection to recycled storm water, reducing potable water requirements by 99%
What is Green Star?
Founded by Green Building Council of Australia in 2003, Green Star is an internationally recognised rating system setting the standard for healthy, resilient, positive buildings and places. Developed for the Australian environment, Green Star has certified thousands of sustainable fitouts, buildings, homes and communities right across the country with the aim of:
- Reducing the impact of climate change
- Enhancing our health and quality of life
- Restoring and protecting our planet’s biodiversity and ecosystems
- Driving resiliency in buildings, fitouts, and communities
- Contributing to market transformation and a sustainable economy
