World Environment Day: 22 The Terrace, a Case Study on Sustainability
World Environment Day: 22 The Terrace, a Case Study on Sustainability
๐ This World Environment Day, weโre shining a spotlight on our transformation of 22 The Terrace: a powerful example of whatโs possible when sustainability leads design.
22 The Terrace shows how a smart, cost-effective retrofit can futureproof a commercial building while significantly reducing its environmental impact.
To learn more about this project, you can read our full case study on 22 The Terrace here.
๐ Achieved Leading Sustainability Ratings: Successfully delivered a 5-Star Green Star Design & As Built rating with a 5-Star NABERSNZ Base Building rating, showcasing sustainability in the built environment.
โก Major Carbon Emissions Reduction: Transitioned to a fully electric building, achieving a 73% reduction in operational carbon and eliminating reliance on fossil fuels.
๐ง High Energy and Water Efficiency: Delivered a 52% reduction in energy use and a 53% reduction in potable water consumption, supported by smart building systems and a 20,000L rainwater harvesting tank.
โป๏ธ Sustainable Material Use and Upcycling: Reused existing building components and specified sustainable materials to reduce environmental impact and create healthier indoor environments.
๐ Futureproofed and Climate-Resilient: Designed to withstand future energy price fluctuations and align with evolving green building standards, ensuring long-term appeal to government and commercial tenants.
Seismic resilience served as the 'stick' for 22 The Terrace, while a sustainable refurbishment served as the 'carrot,' offering significant reductions in operational expense and representing the future of decarbonisation in Wellington's commercial heart. The team faced an exciting challenge with a strong focus on value, decarbonisation (including transitioning to 100% electric operation), and improving the original building fabric's performance to achieve a 5-Star GreenStar rating โ Design & As Built NZv1.0 Certified Built Rating.
Overall, this project at 22 The Terrace demonstrates the potential for seismic resilience, sustainable refurbishment, and decarbonisation to positively impact the built environment in Wellington's commercial heart. It serves as a model for future projects seeking to combine safety, sustainability, and operational efficiency.
Catalyst's expertise in repositioning assets ensured the highest return on investment for this project. What's even more impressive is that the building, originally constructed in a decade with little regard for sustainability, achieved remarkable sustainability outcomes. This success demonstrates that even typical older 80s buildings, which are common in the industry, can attain high sustainability standards.
This project has won numerous industry awards, and the pinnacle of its success is the 5 Green Star โ Design & As Built NZv1.0 Certified Built Rating awarded to 22 The Terrace. This accomplishment is exceptional, as it sets this Green Star tool apart from others. The successful implementation of the project despite non-standard delivery, multiple tenancies, staff changes, and variable scores is truly remarkable and worthy of recognition.
Read our full case study on 22 The Terrace here.
