Situated in Mount Gambier, South Australia, ForestrySA is the first local government building to achieve a 5 Green Star Certification in the region
From now on all government facilities in the state will be designed and built to the same environmental standard.
ForestrySA provides 1845m² of new space for the department. It as been designed by Woods Bagot and consists of two wings, plus connecting spaces that present the public face of ForestrySA through the building reception, cafés and break out zones.
Some of the initiatives include:
- Woods Bagot’s design incorporates a swathe of environmental features including the selection of low off-gassing materials (low VOC content), including carpets, adhesives, sealants and composite wood products and a high level of cyclist facilities for staff and visitors – secure bike parking, showers and lockers for 10% of building occupants and high amenity visitor bike parks.
- Reuse of rain and grey water plays a major role in this area for flash flood and drought. A bio-swale stormwater retention system ensures that all storm water leaving the site is directed to an off-site bore to recharge the subterranean aquifer. While harvested rain water and grey water is recycled for flushing and irrigation.
- The architectural strategy also included building orientation to benefit it most in terms of solar warmth and shading; while the reintroduction of native flora and the inclusion of the bio-swale stormwater retention system ensure that the site and ecology has been maintained and even improved.
