A revamped heritage building has become the first property in Wynyard Quarter to receive an ‘excellent’ score for energy efficiency.
The 90-year-old Lysaght Building has been certified with 4.5 stars out of 6, or ‘excellent’, under the National Australian Built Environment Rating System in New Zealand (NABERSNZ).
NABERSNZ is a government-backed independent rating tool that benchmarks energy efficiency in the operations of a building.
The revamped building
The Lysaght Building was one of the first completed redevelopments in Wynyard Quarter and is owned by Panuku Development Auckland, Auckland Council’s urban regeneration agency.
Earmarked as having special heritage character, the building has been tenanted by Auckland Tourism Events & Economic Development (ATEED) since 2015 and is now home to GridAKL, where a number of start-ups and innovative small businesses are based within the Innovation Precinct.
The 4.5 star NABERSNZ rating relates to the base building (common area) energy use. Designed by Warren and Mahoney, its refurbishment retained much of the structure and defining features of the original building.
The project included the addition of a new mezzanine, a moveable façade on the building’s northern face and the use of glass to ensure visibility of character details. In common with all development in Wynyard Quarter, the building was designed to meet strict environmental criteria and is on track to receive a 5 Green Star rating.
Sustainable features include louvres and sliding doors for natural ventilation, an energy monitoring system, water-efficient fittings and a waste sorting room.
Leading the way in sustainability
Panuku Chief Executive Roger MacDonald says this is the first energy efficiency rating to be awarded to a building in Wynyard Quarter, and shows Panuku is leading the way in sustainability.
“Our vision for Wynyard Quarter is to become a beacon of sustainable design and liveability.
"We require high standards of our development partners and this rating shows we’re prepared to stand by those criteria.
“It’s an immense achievement to take a refurbished character building to perform better than the majority of New Zealand’s office stock, and thanks are due to all the people who have worked on the project.
“It sets the standard for others.”
Andrew Caseley, Chief Executive of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), says Panuku’s focus on energy efficiency in buildings is forward-thinking.
“This is a showcase project created through strong local government leadership and partnership.
“Smart buildings like this make sense financially and environmentally, and make our lives better."
