Vision
Peter Szental’s vision for the project was:

“…to demonstrate how to recycle a typical existing suburban office building into a leading edge building offering best practice performance in energy, greenhouse and sustainability.”

This vision included:

• Setting the benchmark of sustainable buildings in Australia
  
• Achieving the best possible energy and environmental efficiencies by putting into practice the work the Szencorp group carries out for customers
• Achieving the best possible environmental outcomes for employees, visitors and tenants
• Demonstrating the commercial viability of sustainable development
  
• Acting as a test bed for innovative technologies to be demonstrated and commercialised
  
• Evaluating rating tools
• Providing monitoring, verification and metering
• Providing flexibility to minimise churn rate
• Increasing amenity through daylight and increased office volume
• Offering "walk the walk" leadership
• Increasing rental returns
• Demonstrating that green is commercial

Project at a glance
Address: 40 Albert Road, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Map: view google map
Built: 1987
Refurbishment: 18th months, from mid 2004- late 2005
Opened: November 2005
Design: SJB Architects and Interiors, Energy Conservation Systems Pty Ltd, Connell Wagner
Construction: Construction Engineering
Size: 1,200m2
Levels: 5 storeys with 4 office levels and 2 car park levels
Car spaces: 20
Bike spaces: In basement and ground floor car parks, visitor bike rack out the front

Ventilation: mixed mode (natural ventilation and mechanical)

Electricity used: 100% Green power and renewable electricity generated onsite

On-site energy generation: 3 x solar arrays, total output of 7.55 kW

Carbon offsets: emissions from the building, office paper and all employees’ car, air, public transport to and from work as well as work-related travel are offset by Climate Friendly.