Author Archive
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Focus on Apartment Development in South East Queensland
The increase in approvals published on Brisbane City Council's PD-online and the profusion of gantry cranes on multi-residential sites around the city are an indication that apartment living is a very active sector of the construction industry in Queensland. The draft City Plan talks of densities of up to 300 people per hectare. This increased density will undoubtly put more pressure on the existing infrastructre ...
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The value of early information
Building Information Modelling demonstrates that the early integration of information will save significant dollars and time on a typical project. As shown in this diagram, moving from the traditional design process to an earlier integrated process positively impacts on costs and functional capabilities. Applying the BIM principles to energy and sustainability delivers similar results. Early integration of the information from energy efficiency modelling and sustainable strategies ...
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Future proofing the value of our homes
For too long the focus of accessibility and universal design in our homes has been on the needs of the 7 million Australians over the age of 50. Accessibility issues can hit anyone, of any age, at any time. Ironically it is not until we are presented with the challenge of restricted mobility that we come to realise how inadequate the average Australian home is in ...
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The value of good design – Scott Keck
A great article from Scott Keck in The Urban Developer.com. Excerpt: “In this more competitive and potentially lower growth environment, how will residential property investors and developers prosper? All of the usual rules about location, proper due diligence, efficient procurement and risk mitigation hold true, however one aspect of residential property that has often been neglected in previous decades, and which will become increasingly important in the coming ...
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What’s Australia’s message to the world?
Take 5 minutes to watch the video and then lets ask ourselves: ” What would we, as Australians, have to say if we had to produce a video about our food security, sustainability and the future?” Worth the investment of your time. Origin Green was produced by the Irish Food Board to encourage the people of Ireland to appreciate the unique sustainable qualities of the country and how it can be used ...
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Resilience: A critical consideration for the built environment
Sustainability has been a common goal amongst building industry professionals, since the 1980’s. Recently, a new dialogue has emerged around the concept of resilience. It is defined as “the capacity to buffer change, learn and develop.” (Folke et al. 2002, pp. 437). While sustainability is based on the idea of living in equilibrium with the planet and each other, resilience acknowledges that the world is increasingly ...
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Managing risk in a Green Star As Built project: a contractors perspective
“Project risk management is the culture, processes and structures, adopted by an organisation , directed towards the effective management of risk in projects.” AS/NZS 4360:2004 In January 2013 the Green Building Council of Australia committed to shifting the delivery of a Green Star rating more towards building contractors. Setting a time limit on the currency of a Design Rating to two years after practical completion is likely to shift the industries’ interest more towards an As ...
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John Moynihan of Ecolateral is appointed to the Green Star Communities Assessor Panel
The recently released Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star Communities pilot tool has created much interest among the Development Industry throughout Australia. John Moynihan, Director of Ecolateral, has been appointed to the panel of assessors for this pilot tool.
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Green Star Design rating has its life cut short
On the 1st of January this year, the Green Building Council of Australia introduced new conditions on Green Star Design ratings. Any new projects registered after this date will, if successful, have their design rating recognised for a maximum of 2 years after practical completion. This change is likely to reinforce the business case for pursuing an As Built rating only when a project is considering Green star accreditation. Not formally applying for a Design rating ...
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Corso at North Lakes awarded first 5 star green star public pilot in Queensland
Source: http://www.pdt.com.au/news/the-corso-at-north-lakes-awarded-first-5-star-green-star-public-pilot-in-qld/ The $45 million civic and office complex, The Corso at North Lakes, sets a new benchmark for public buildings and was recently awarded a 5 Star Green Star Public Building PILOT Rating – the first in Queensland and joint first in Australia. A significant project for the local community comprising a state-of-the-art library, community centre and office complex, The Corso at North Lakes ...
