Project Features Key Features Critique Orion Springfield A Mirvac Town Centre Sustainable Architecture Case Study

Project Features Key Features Critique Architect/Design Team Building/Development Type Building/Development Location Climate Description

Project Features Key Features Critique Architect/Design Team Building/Development Type Building/Development Location Climate Description Applicants:Mirvac Queensland Architect:Rice Daubney Architects ESD Consultant:Synergy of Mind

Project Features Key Features Critique Architect/Design Team Building/Development Type Building/Development Location Climate Description Building/development type Retail

Project Features Key Features Critique Architect/Design Team Building/Development Type Building/Development Location Climate Description Building/development location 1 Main Street Springfield Lakes Queensland

Project Features Key Features Critique Architect/Design Team Building/Development Type Building/Development Location Climate Description Climate: Subtropical

Project Features Key Features Critique Architect/Design Team Building/Development Type Building/Development Location Climate Description Orion Springfield is a Mirvac development initiative that strives to become a central hub of activity for the greater South East Queensland. The first built stage, Orion is a large retail precinct which caters for over 120 shops and services. Orion is seen today as a pioneer of worlds best practice in environmental design for a retail and town centre. The project was awarded a 6-star rating by the Green Building Council of Australia and has been named Australia’s most environmentally sustainable shopping centre. These are huge achievements on the world stage and ones that will hopefully continue to be met with the completion of the entire area. (Green Building Council of Australia, 2012)

Project Features Key Features Critique Site layout Building Zoning Energy Transport Materials Water Waste and Pollution Health and Wellbeing

Project Features Key Features Critique Site layout Building Zoning Energy Transport Materials Water Waste and Pollution Health and Wellbeing Site layout/Land use/Ecology Orion’s total site area is 40 hectares, with Stage 1 encompassing approximately 35,000m2. The Master Plan provides for 70,000 sqm of retail, 80,000 sqm of bulky goods space, 22,000 sqm of entertainment space, and 22,000 sqm for other uses including residential, parking for over 6,000 cars and 1.5 hectares of recreational space. (Green Building Council of Australia, 2012)   The area was previously grazing land where Orion is built and the development did not impose on natural waterways or wetlands. All of the topsoil was collected and stored on site during construction then used again in the landscaping. The site achieved a cut and fill balance of bulk earthworks to minimize the removal of soil from site. (Mirvac, 2007)

Project Features Key Features Critique Site layout Building Zoning Energy Transport Materials Water Waste and Pollution Health and Wellbeing Building zoning: Retail

Project Features Key Features Critique Site layout Building Zoning Energy Transport Materials Water Waste and Pollution Health and Wellbeing Superior control of air temperature using variable air volume diffusers in mall tenancies. Natural ventilation and modal controlled air conditioning in the north and south malls ensures comfort. Automatic glaze control also cuts down on glare and heat. Super efficient and advanced design chilled water air conditioning system reduces chilled water pumping energy and cooling tower fan energy by over 60% compared to standard designs. Use of new roomless motor lifts saves over 80% energy compared to hydraulic lifts. Use of special detectors on the moving walks equates to further energy savings when visitation levels do not require their operation. (Mirvac, 2007) 100% solar energy powers the water feature pump and provides all the hot water for staff showers. Advanced climate control: Superior air condition, natural ventilation and glazing technologies save 60% of the electricity over a standard design. The incorporation of high performance variable air volume diffusers in tenancies save over 40% of the energy compared to standard fixed air volume systems. Natural lighting design of the centre saves 62% of the electricity compared to a standard centres lighting system. Efficient lifts, moving walks and lighting saves 70% electricity use compared to standard shopping centre design. The advanced ventilation design saves 92% of the energy compared to standard carpark ventilation designs. Integrated energy control system: The building management system monitors and controls all lighting and major electrical devices. (Mirvac, 2007) Orions Solar Panel

Project Features Key Features Critique Site layout Building Zoning Energy Transport Materials Water Waste and Pollution Health and Wellbeing Development of a bus interchange at the centre located at the northern end of the site. Placement of the centre within 250mtrs of the proposed Springfield railway station. Proposed to be finished by 2011. Incorporation of medium density development in land on the site adjacent to the centre. Provision of over 60 bicycles racks for visitors to the centre Provision of 6 showers and 60 secure lockers for the staff of the centre. Integration of the centre into Springfield’s bikeway network. (Mirvac, 2007)

Project Features Key Features Critique Site layout Building Zoning Energy Transport Materials Water Waste and Pollution Health and Wellbeing Water efficient features and fittings control flow to less than 4 litres per minute. Implementation of ionization technologies to reduce water use in cooling towers and blow down requirements. Water metering to allow automatic leak detection. Installation of water meters on all major users including high use tenants. Establishing a worlds best practice recycled water system with the following features: Connection to Ipswich water recycled water system means a 62% reduction in portable water use at the centre. Capture and collection of all rainwater that falls on the big w roof goes into cooling tower blow down into tanks of 780,000 litres. Use of recycled water in the water feature, toilet urinals, bin wash down, landscaping and cooling tower makeup. (Mirvac, 2007) Recycled water in the water feature

Project Features Key Features Critique Site layout Building Zoning Energy Transport Materials Water Waste and Pollution Health and Wellbeing Used forest stewardship certified hardwood for timber awnings. Use of recycled hardwood on the boardwalks. Use of recycled hardwood timber in all the concrete framework. The north and south buildings are able to be dismantled and reused which achieves a 95% recycling rate of steel panels and roofing. The tenancy fit-outs are shell and core to reduce and minimalize the waste produce in the building. 570 square metres of recycled timber used within the build. 3.7kms of Forest Stewardship Certified timber used. (Mirvac, 2007)

Project Features Key Features Critique Site layout Building Zoning Energy Transport Materials Water Waste and Pollution Health and Wellbeing The use of condensate capture and cooling tower blow down capture reduces flow to the sewer by over 50%. The use of Rh23 refrigerant in the main air conditioning machines substantially reduces the risk of refrigerant loss. All stormwater runoff is treated to remove rubbish before the water enters local streams. Waste and Pollution All insulation used on the site has a specification that avoids the use of ozone depleting substances in both its manufacture and composition. 95% of construction waste is recycled saving over 5000 tonnes of waste going to landfill. The tenancy fit-outs are shell and core to reduce and minimalize the waste produce in the building. (Mirvac, 2007)

Project Features Key Features Critique Site layout Building Zoning Energy Transport Materials Water Waste and Pollution Health and Wellbeing External finishes throughout the development are designed to reflect a philosophy of time and place and have been selected to enhance the adaptability and flexibility to change the facade. They provide visual interest with the use of fully rendered, shadow line and exposed fixing elements. All materials used are clean, green and friendly to the environment. Health and Wellbeing Internal finishes also enhance the tenant's ability to express their individual character via the use of materials and graphics. All materials have been selected for their minimum or zero VOC and to create a visually striking and inspiring environmental aesthetic for the people's enjoyment. Mindful of the health and wellbeing of the community, all paints, adhesives and floor coverings have been selected to minimise harmful volatile organic compounds. (Green Building Council of Australia, 2012) Low VOC paint on the exterior of the building.

Project Features Key Features Critique Water Energy Materials

Project Features Key Features Critique Water Energy Materials A key feature in the sustainable design of Orion Springfield is the collection, storage and use of rain water as well as recycled water. Throughout the entire build, water efficient features and fittings control flow to less than 4 litres per minute, which helps reduce the consumption. Water metering also allows for automatic leak detection and keeps a cap on high water users. The site is also connected to the Ipswich recycled water system, meaning there’s a 62% reduction in portable water use at the centre. All the rainwater that falls on the roof of Big W is collected into tanks of 780,000 litres and this water is used through the centre. Recycled water is used throughout Orion in the water feature, toilet urinals, bin wash down, landscaping and cooling tower makeup. The implementation of ionization technologies in cooling towers and blow down requirements also reduce water use. All of this accounts to a 68% reduction in potable water used by Orion compared to standard industry practice and promotes there sustainability design strategy as well as establishing a worlds best practice recycled water system. (Mirvac, 2007) CLICK Water collection on the roof of Big W

Project Features Key Features Critique Water Energy Materials Orions achievement of a 5,000 tonne reduction in greenhouse emissions compared to standard industry practice is another sustainable design feature that makes this build stand out from the rest. It achieved this through; superior control of air temperature using variable air volume diffusers in mall tenancies. Natural ventilation and modal controlled air conditioning, automatic glaze control cutting down on glare and heat. Efficient and advanced design chilled water air conditioning system. 100% solar energy powering the water feature pump and providing hot water for staff showers. Natural lighting design, saves 62% of electricity. Air conditioning, natural ventilation and glazing technologies save 60% of the electricity over a standard design. The incorporation of high performance variable air volume diffusers in tenancies save over 40%. Efficient lifts, moving walks and lighting saves 70% electricity. Low energy, underground car parks, use the advanced ventilation design saving 92% of energy compared to standard carpark ventilation designs. And the building management system monitors and controls all lighting and major electrical devices. (Mirvac, 2007) All of these things together correlate perfectly to integrate into the overall sustainable design strategy. CLICK Solar facts. Natural light filters into the shopping centre

Project Features Key Features Critique Water Energy Materials The implementation of sustainable materials is another key feature in Orion’s achievements in their overall sustainable design strategy. Orion’s super structure is designed to enable disassembly, so that 95% of the steel panels and roofing can be recycled when the centre is dismantled. The use of sustainable timber is also another critical factor in the makeup of this build, with 3.7kms of the timber used being forest stewardship certified hardwood. A further 570 square metres of recycled hardwood has been used on the boardwalks and in all the concrete framework, eliminating the need for forest harvesting. It is through this careful use of materials that sees Orion establishing a fantastic sustainable design strategy. (Mirvac, 2007) CLICK Orion’s super structure – easily assembled and disassembled

Project Features Key Features Critique Critique Reference The Orion development by Mirvac is almost impossible to critique in its areas of improvement in sustainable design. It has been awarded the highest Green Star rating of 6 and continues to make a name for itself throughout Australia and the world as one of the most sustainable retail developments to date. The future of Orion and the surrounding developments within Springfield will be a contributing factor to the continued success of this building. Orion Springfield sets the bar in sustainable design for retail developments in Australia, it is up to future developments to meet this standard. (Green Building Council of Australia, 2012) Critique- Potential Best Practice Improvements

Project Features Key Features Critique Critique Reference References Green Building Council of Australia, 2012, Orion Springfield Town Centre Stage 1 (online), Available: < http://www.gbca.org.au/project-directory.asp#120>(14/05/12)   Mirvac, 2007, Orion Springfield, Energy, Energy Management Systems (online), Available: < http://mirvac-retail.assets3.blockshome.com/assets/orion-springfield-qld/PyQeH4SREiTicqe/9775-energy-overview-29.10.07.pdf> (14/05/12)   Mirvac, 2007, Orion Springfield, Materials, Reuse in Construction (online), Available: < http://mirvac-retail.assets2.blockshome.com/assets/orion-springfield-qld/OH4WLElnD9ehK0r/9557-materials-reuse-29.10.07.pdf>(14/05/12)   Mirvac, 2007, Orion Springfield, Town Centre ESD Overview (online), Available: < http://mirvac-retail.assets2.blockshome.com/assets/orion-springfield-qld/OH4WLElnD9ehK0r/9557-esd-overview-29.10.07.pdf>(14/05/12)   Mirvac, 2007, Orion Springfield, Transport, Transport Efficiency (online), Available: < http://mirvac-retail.assets3.blockshome.com/assets/orion-springfield-qld/t42EGQssVsZg7jl/9775-transport-efficiency-29.10.07.pdf>(14/05/12)