BNZ tops off innovative office with Green Star rating

MAY 14

BNZ tops off innovative office with 'New Zealand excellence' Green Star rating

Innovative design and exemplary waste minimisation has helped BNZ achieve a 5 Green Star Office Interiors rating for the two newest floors of its central Auckland office.

When BNZ expanded its eight-floor tenancy in the Deloitte Building (at 80 Queen St) to floors 9 and 10, it undertook a Green Star Interiors fit-out to ensure the new space was energy and water efficient, with an environment that supports team-working.

Throughout the fit-out BNZ succeeded in either reusing or recycling a massive 97% of construction and demolition waste, exceeding Green Star benchmarks.

The floors are flexible workspaces, meaning that no one has an assigned desk and people can work anywhere depending on the task they are doing. There are shared collaboration spaces in the premium corners of the buildings which benefit from natural light and external views.

Jo Monaghan, BNZ Workplace Design Manager, explains this helps people use space more efficiently, leading to lower energy consumption per employee.

"The aim of the project was to look at how we could create a new way of working which was flexible and efficient and gave the highest quality spaces to the staff. Pre and post occupancy surveys show that they feel that the new spaces are more closely aligned to the BNZ brand and culture and they feel more productive in them. This demonstrates the success of the project which is contributed to by both the quality of the internal environment and the design."

BNZ has a strong record of providing Green Star-rated interiors for staff. The bank’s fit-out of the Harbour Quays Building in Wellington was the first 6 Green Star Office Interiors rating (the highest possible, denoting ‘world leadership’). Its fit-out of Quay Park One in Auckland also achieved a 5 Green Star Office Interiors rating.

Alex Cutler, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Green Building Council, said BNZ will reap the rewards of its commitment to sustainable offices – from cost savings to the positive impact on staff wellbeing.

“The value of Green Star for an office fit-out is that it provides a sound framework and independent validation that you’ve achieved a high-quality environment for staff," says Ms Cutler. "Paying close attention to light levels, air quality, energy use and healthy material choices, all bring tangible benefits for occupants’ health, wellbeing and productivity. And as BNZ’s research shows, they’re reaping the benefits through staff satisfaction.”

Other features of BNZ’s fit-out include:

• Lighting design and workspace planning that maximises daylight and external views
• Reconfiguration of existing lighting and HVAC system, including installing presence sensors
• Extensive greenery to improve internal air quality and enhance connection to the outdoors
• Reuse of ceiling tiles, carpets, lighting and blinds
• Selecting low-VOC and environmentally certified materials and furniture
• Energy-efficient appliances and water-efficient fittings
• Recycling programme through which waste is measured and reduced.

BNZ also achieved a 5 Green Star Interiors rating for its existing tenancy on floors 1–8 of the Deloitte Building. The building at 80 Queen Street, owned by Sabina Ltd, also holds a 5 Green Star Office Design and Built rating.

The Green Star Accredited Professional was Jo Monaghan, BNZ Workplace Design Manager.

ENDS

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