{"id":12605,"date":"2025-01-23T10:07:32","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T18:07:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/living-future.org\/?post_type=case-studies&p=12605"},"modified":"2025-01-23T10:07:33","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T18:07:33","slug":"vicinity-centres-chadstone-place","status":"publish","type":"case-studies","link":"https:\/\/living-future.org\/case-studies\/vicinity-centres-chadstone-place\/","title":{"rendered":"Vicinity Centres – Chadstone Place"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Vital Stats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Certification Status<\/strong><\/td>Zero Carbon<\/td><\/tr>
Version of LBC<\/strong><\/td>1.0<\/td><\/tr>
Location<\/strong><\/td>Victoria, Australia<\/td><\/tr>
Project Area<\/strong><\/td>9,869 square meters<\/td><\/tr>
Start of Occupancy<\/strong><\/td>April 2023<\/td><\/tr>
Number of Occupants<\/strong><\/td>650<\/td><\/tr>
Number of Daily Customers<\/strong><\/td>50<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Project Team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
General Contractor<\/strong><\/td>SHAPE<\/td><\/tr>
Architect of Record<\/strong><\/td>Bates Smart<\/td><\/tr>
Structural Engineer<\/strong><\/td>Robert Bird Group<\/td><\/tr>
Civil<\/strong> Engineer<\/strong><\/td>Robert Bird Group<\/td><\/tr>
MEP Engineer of Record<\/strong><\/td>ADP Consulting<\/td><\/tr>
Green Building Consultant<\/strong><\/td>ADP Consulting<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Early Design Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How was the team assembled? When was ILFI\u2019s certification first discussed? Who was the first team member to bring up the possibility of certification? How did the team arrive at the decision to pursue certification? How was the decision communicated to all team members?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

The concept of Living Future’s Zero Carbon Certification formed an integral part of Vicinity Centres\u2019 pitch and successful bid to secure Officeworks at Chadstone Place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zero Carbon Certification aligned with Officeworks corporate sustainability strategy and proved the market point of difference for Vicinity Centres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vicinity Centres led the discussion working together with the consultant team to validate certification. The consultant team was assembled at project conception and thus committed to achieving the outcome at engagement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Construction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How did the project team ensure ILFI requirements were met during construction? At what phase did the team begin to involve the general contractor and\/or subcontractors? What resources did the team create and maintain to disseminate the major requirements? Did the project team hold regular meetings or other events to answer questions? Were there any issues that arose during construction that would impact certification? How did the team work through these issues?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo Credit: Pixel Collective<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

The requirements were investigated, understood and verified against the design as achievable by the consultant team prior to construction. This included a full carbon assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project team also took the initiative to complete a series of early works investigations which verified existing conditions and enabled design optimization. This included soft strip of existing ceiling finishes to expose services to maximize reuse and prevent unnecessary demolition. Another example was a series of extensive building systems testing to understand what could be refurbished and the scope of maintenance required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This de-risking also provided greater certainty for the contractor market and their ability to achieve the requirements of the certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Market engagement documentation set a clear project mandate to achieve certification. A key metric for assessing potential contractors was their understanding of Living Future’s requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formal engagement via a design and construct agreement required all project parties to ensure design finalization did not compromise certification requirements. This included consultant team review and approval of all materiality, plant and equipment maintaining compliance with Officeworks requirements and design intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From construction onset, project meetings set-out and reinforced the pathway to successful project certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following methodology establishment there were minimum monthly reporting requirements. This included discussion and agreeing strategy within the team to overcome any concerns. A project team closely collaborating resulted and drove practical solutions for the benefit of the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The contractor simultaneously engaged a subcontractor base motivated to deliver the certification. A prime example of team collaboration concerned the aim of building air tightness and the very leaky pre-existing metal-deck roof. Careful modification of the design, which had only considered acoustics, achieved both conditions whilst maintaining the Officeworks \u201cexposed services\u201d aesthetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contractor quality assurance was essential, not only through-out design finalization and construction but into the post occupancy operations. Working with the base building services consultant and independent commissioning agent, building tuning had increased focus when including Living Future requirements. The reporting process that Vicinity established made a focus of the certification requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, collation of all supporting documentation required all project parties to collaborate. This broad group included the contractor, their subcontractors, the entire consultant team along with Vicinity Centres development and centre management and obviously our tenant Officeworks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Lessons Learned<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Are there discussions the project team would have initiated at a different time in the process? Are there processes or documents the team wished they had implemented during construction to help with certification compliance? What worked well in the team\u2019s design process that other teams should consider implementing?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Key success drivers for Chadstone Place include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Embed ILFI requirements within all project agreements<\/span>: Ensures commitment from project inception to certification.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Reduce the Learning Curve<\/span>: Information and education at project conception and ongoing for new project participants to upskill on what and how to achieve ILFI net zero carbon certification.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Establish Benchmark Targets Early<\/span>: Setting benchmark targets for operational and embodied carbon emissions at the beginning of the project is critical. The project was required to submit a technical question to ILFI to set the operational energy benchmark. Once a benchmark had been established it was possible to undertake modelling and start exploring operational energy reduction strategies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Early Modelling is Crucial \u2013 Part 1:<\/span> A carbon model had not been commissioned by any project party prior to Chadstone Place. It took time to find an approved modelling platform and then understand what and the format of inputs required.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Early Modelling is Crucial \u2013 Part 2:<\/span> Undertaking modelling tasks at the outset is essential for understanding the scope of initiatives needed to reduce both operational and upfront carbon emissions. Through modelling, the project team explored different options to achieve the energy consumption target and picked the most impactful and cost-effective methods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Implement Monthly Tuning Targets:<\/span> Preparing monthly tuning targets for different energy systems during building operation is an effective strategy to ensure compliance with energy goals. For example, at Chadstone Place, the energy performance was monitored from the outset, which allowed the project team to identify and address any abnormal energy consumption promptly. Regular check-ins helped maintain energy efficiency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Clarify Tenant Requirements:<\/span> Ensuring that tenant requirements are clearly communicated and understood is vital for the project’s success. Misalignments in expectations can lead to challenges in meeting carbon reduction targets and operational efficiency. Clear guidelines and open communication channels can facilitate a smoother collaboration and ensure all parties are aligned.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Push the Boundaries:<\/span> Where you begin the ILFI net zero carbon journey may result in unforeseen project wins. In addition to ILFI, Chadstone Place was targeting 5-star Green Star Design & As-Built and 5.5-star NABERS Energy and Water certifications. However, through team collaboration, 6-stars was achieved in all categories, at no additional project time or cost.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Chadstone Place was an existing four level commercial office building at Chadstone which has been transformed into the new headquarters of Officeworks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":12607,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","cover_caption":"","cover_credit":"","featured_checkbox":false,"location_text":"Victoria, Australia","typo_dropdown":"Building","place_checkbox":false,"water_checkbox":false,"energy_checkbox":false,"health_checkbox":false,"materials_checkbox":false,"equity_checkbox":false,"beauty_checkbox":false,"cert_type_dropdown":"Zero Carbon Certified","sqfoot_dropdown":"50,000 - 100,000","ef_checkbox":false,"nsf_checkbox":false,"npp_checkbox":false,"ls_checkbox":false,"pbr_checkbox":false,"hnr_checkbox":false,"transect_dropdown":"","standard_dropdown":"LBC 4.0","footnotes":""},"program":[39],"tag":[],"class_list":["post-12605","case-studies","type-case-studies","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","program-zc"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t