A commitment to recycling and reinvention has been rewarded with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) achieving the city’s first 4 Star Green Star – Interiors PILOT rating for its Ashmore headquarters.
The rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) acknowledges best practice in sustainable interior fit outs.
To help make the Games a gold medal success, GOLDOC needed a facility which would grow as its workforce grew – from 50 in 2014 to more than 1,000 employees by the 4 April 2018 Opening Ceremony.
The answer was found with the refurbishment of two buildings at the Ashmore TAFE campus.
According to GOLDOC Chairman Peter Beattie AC, the Games provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to leave positive economic, environmental, social and community legacies for the Gold Coast, Queensland and Australia.
“Our Ashmore headquarters is a great example of a cleverly designed sustainable workplace with an emphasis on healthy and active living, with a range of accessible indoor and outdoor working spaces and high levels of indoor environment quality.
Credit: Rix Ryan“Our local suppliers have done a fantastic job creating a unique office environment for our workforce to deliver a successful GC2018.”
“We hope the fit out will inspire other organisations and the wider community to make smart, sustainable choices,” Mr Beattie said.
GBCA Chief Executive Officer Romilly Madew said the GOLDOC team has delivered ‘a magnificent and contemporary workspace’.
“With a determination to show leadership, and by embracing a reduce, reuse and recycle philosophy, the project team has kept a tight rein on budgets and achieved this coveted rating,” Ms Madew said.
GOLDOC CEO Mark Peters said the innovations have been enthusiastically embraced by staff.
“Our workforce has developed new work practices which create a collaborative, sustainable, productive environment that is respectful of our workmates, our community and the land on which we work,” Mr Peters said“An example is our implementation of video and teleconferencing to reduce travel expenses and emissions, which contributed a point towards our Green Star rating.”
Gold Coast firm Condev Construction delivered the fit outs of the office and meeting space. Interior design was done by the Principal of the Gold Coast office of Group GSA Melissa Reid. Point Project Management oversaw the project management and WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff provided building engineering services for mechanical, electrical, fire and hydraulics.
Key features of GOLDOC’s headquarters
Extensive use of local experts for the construction and materials.
Reuse of an existing building, with a focus on recycled materials, fixtures and fittings, including floorboards sourced from a dismantled basketball court.
Waste-wise practices, including an industry-leading 12 colour-coded waste streams available for office staff to recycle and maximise diversion from landfill.
A workplace travel plan that incentivises active, public and shared transport.
Emphasis on accessible design, including upgrades to bathrooms, parking and entrance to the building, as well as accessible sinks in kitchens and hearing loop systems in major meeting rooms.
The first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) delivered by a major event in Australian and Commonwealth Games history.
More than 360 indoor plants that enhance the visual aesthetics and working environment.
