Melbourne Business Park reaches for the Green Stars
Opened in October 2023, 90 Melbourne Drive at Melbourne Business Park (MBP) in Truganina is a modern logistics facility contributing to the city’s economic growth. Though this building is much more than that, being the first Stockland logistics project to receive a 5 Star Green Star Certification under the new Green Star Buildings v1 tool.
Davina Rooney, Chief Executive Officer at the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), said the milestone represents Australian excellence in better, healthier and more responsible buildings, and remarkably 90 Melbourne Drive is only the third property of any asset class nationally to obtain the certification under the new tool.
“Stockland has brought a vision of a modern, efficient and future-proofed workplace and industrial asset to life.
“Stockland's 90 Melbourne Drive has been designed and built with low carbon and low waste in mind, and then it does so much more.
“Operationally it’s a smart, all-electric, highly efficient building that will have a low impact on the environment and an ongoing positive impact for all who work there,” said Davina.
For e-commerce tenant New Aim, the combination of energy-efficient lighting, solar power generation and the intelligent energy management system significantly reduces their operational expenses and provides long-term cost stability in an uncertain energy market.
Fung Lam, Founder and CEO of New Aim, said he appreciated the efforts put into making the facility an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient workplace.
“With a design that optimises natural light and indoor air quality, Stockland has created a more comfortable work environment leading to higher productivity and greater employee satisfaction.
“As a company with our own ESG vision, the 5 Star Green Star certification aligns with our sustainability goals and strengthens our position in future investments, financing and regulatory compliance,” said Fung.
Stockland, alongside builder partner Texco and consultants Sustainable Development Consultants (SDC) and Cundall, was determined to elevate the 31,000-square-metre project from a 4 Star Green Star Certification to a 5 Star.
Overall the project achieved an impressive 12% reduction in embodied carbon by using low-carbon alternative materials, such as thinner concrete slabs with supplementary cementitious materials, and diverting more than 90% of construction waste from landfill. Additionally, Texco’s Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) policies and procedures ensured all workers were aware of their part in safely delivering a sustainable building.
In operation, the facility uses 45% less energy than a typical warehouse, thanks to intelligent, energy-efficient LED lighting and a 198kW rooftop solar PV system. It also uses 75% less potable water with rainwater collected onsite for landscape irrigation.
Stockland’s Senior Development Manager, Anthony Osborne, explains how these sustainability features cut New Aim’s occupancy costs through reduced water and energy consumption.
“It’s a fully electric building with tenancy power supplied by 100% green power via a combination of solar produced onsite and a green power purchasing agreement. Advanced energy and water metering systems monitor performance and optimise the use of these resources.
“Inside the building, employee wellbeing is a priority. Natural light is maximised and complemented by best-in-class artificial lighting, while indoor pollutants are removed through product selection and a steady supply of outside air continues to put the health of occupants first,” added Anthony.
The air quality testing undertaken at the building’s practical completion confirmed best practice levels of toxins (VOCs and Formaldehyde) throughout the facility.
Other measures to achieve the certification include internal finishes, 40% (by cost) of which are third-party certified under an approved best practice standard. Additionally, all carbon emissions related to air conditioning refrigerants and diesel used by fire pumps are offset with certified Australian carbon offsets.
“Our 5 Star Green Star rating is more than just a badge; it represents responsible and innovative commercial development which is core to Stockland values and progress on delivering our ESG strategy,” said Anthony.
This achievement with the new tool builds on Stockland’s growing portfolio of Green Star rated buildings, and its commitment to achieving 5 Star Green Star across its ~$6 billion Logistics development pipeline.