University building awarded world-leading 6 Star rating

The University of Newcastle’s Q Building has become the first building in regional NSW to achieve a 6 Star Green Star certified rating.

The 6 Star Green Star ‘Design and As Built’ certified rating is the highest level awarded by Green Star, an internationally recognised rating system setting the standard for healthy, resilient, positive buildings and places founded by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

The Q Building, which opened in June last year, is now home to the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences (HCISS) and Integrated Innovation Network (I2N).

Classes at Q Building will start in Semester 1, although some HCISS activities are already underway, and I2N is also operating on Level 3.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Zelinsky said the world-leading certification confirmed that the $25M building was more than just a creative and entrepreneurial hub but an aspiration for the University, the city and the region’s sustainable future.

“This is a wonderful achievement for our University – it shows our commitment to sustainability and is evidence we are embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on energy and carbon use, and waste and recycling,” he said.

“As an institution, we had set out to achieve a new build being 6 Star certified by 2025, so Q Building puts us well in advance of the targets in our Environmental Sustainability Plan.

“From here on, all new University buildings will be designed and built for 6 Star’ Design and As Built’ rating, which is a significant step on the road toward the University being carbon neutral by 2025.”

As outlined by Green Star, this ‘Design and As Built’ rating is recognition that Q Building not only began as a good design but followed through on that design during the construction process.

While the building features a concrete core, its remaining internal structure was built using sustainably sourced, cross-laminated timber, much of which is visible from outside the building.

The Q Building is the first multi-storey timber building in Newcastle, capturing carbon, creating minimal waste and supporting the HVAC system to moderate humidity inside the building.

Additionally, the three sides of the building, which have the highest exposure to the sun (east, north and west), have been glazed with an electro-chromic smart-glass system called Sage Glass, which automatically changes its tint to respond to heat and glare.

These elements were achieved through the help of partners EJE Architecture, Hansen Yuncken, WSP and APP.

“The University of Newcastle’s Q Building is a brilliant, world-leading example of how Green Star can be applied within the education sector and is testimony to the University’s commitment to sustainability,” said CEO of GBCA, Davina Rooney.

“This is the first certified 6-star Green Star – Design, and As Built project in regional NSW and with innovation at its core from the outset, it certainly sets the benchmark for future developments of this kind.”

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the impressive accolade was a testament to the University of Newcastle leading the city in best-practice sustainable development.

“City of Newcastle congratulates the University of Newcastle in leading sustainable construction in our city and delivering a state-of-the-art building that exceeds environmental standards,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Our city’s Climate Action Plan (2021-2025) sets out a roadmap for achieving emission reduction to support a future net-zero emission Newcastle.

“It is great to see another Newcastle institution committed to sustainability and sharing City of Newcastle’s vision for being known as a liveable, sustainable, inclusive global city.”

^{Information source: University of Newcastle}