NZGBC Green Building Week events

World Green Building Week runs from the 21 - 27 September 2015, and the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) are running a range of activities and events as part of the international events program. See below for a short synopsis of the events that are taking place across New Zealand for the week.

15 Stout Street Building Tour
When: Tuesday 22 September, 5 - 7pm
Where: MBIE, 15 Stout Street, Wellington

Completely reconfiguring a Category 2 heritage building is quite a challenge – but today, the exterior of 15 Stout Street exists in harmony with a modern interior that has achieved a 5 Green Star Built rating. The building was completely renovated with new services, plant and roof, while retaining the heritage facade and bronze windows.

The project has won numerous awards including Gold winner at the 2015 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards, the National Award in Restoration in the Local NZIA Award, and 2015 Green Building Award from the NZ Property Council.

Come along for a tour of this remarkable heritage retrofit where you will hear from:

• The building owner: Argosy - Saatyesh Bhana, asset manager
• Tenant: Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment - Brian Hill, facilities manager
• Main Contractor, project manager and quantity surveyor: McKee-Fehl Constructors Ltd - Stephen Cummings, general manager
• Architect: Warren and Mahoney - Ralph Roberts, principal and executive director
• GSAP: COR Associates - Jason Quinn, senior mechanical engineer

Drinks & nibbles will be provided. Free event - places are limited, register here.

Auckland Conversations: Public buildings and spaces that innovate and inspire
When: Wednesday 23 September, 5 - 7pm
Where: Aotea Centre, Lower NZI, Auckland

Join the discussion about place-making and liveability in Auckland and hear about the Philharmonie de Paris which is an exceptional landmark and icon of sustainable architecture.

Auckland’s Aotea Precinct & Public Life Survey Update
Consultation on the Aotea Quarter Framework aims to re-establish the area around Aotea Square as Auckland’s premier civic, cultural and entertainment hub. Results from the latest Public Life Survey, conducted by the Auckland Design Office and Gehl Architects, which monitors how Aucklanders visit and use city centre public spaces, will assist in preparing the draft framework. You’ll hear more about both exciting activities at this Auckland Conversations event.

A Living Space: the Philharmonie de Paris
The Philharmonie de Paris is an exceptional landmark and icon of sustainable architecture. New Zealand’s Chris Day of Marshall Day Acoustics was involved in the design, alongside Pritzker prize winning architect, Jean Nouvel. The Philharmonie de Paris is a cultural centre that is truly unique in the world, bringing learning and music awareness to a diverse public. Chris will talk about this unique project, how they realised the vision and the challenges they faced.

Free event, all welcome. Places are limited, register here.

Visiting New Zealand’s first 10 Homestar Built home - Christchurch
When: Thursday 24 September
Tour one: 12 - 1pm. Tour two: 1 - 2pm.
Where: 11 Church Square, Addington, Christchurch

Bob Burnett Architecture‘s Church Square received NZ’s first 10 Homestar Built rating. It is also the first project in the country to achieve a 9 Homestar Design rating. Some of the sustainable features includes passive solar design, fully insulated foundation slabs, rainwater harvesting and energy recovery shower wastes.

Bob Burnett, architect at Bob Burnett Architecture will take you through the home and will tell you more about the design and built, unique details, challenges that were faced and the sustainable features. The tour will also be followed by a short Q&A with Bob Burnett.

Free event, all welcome. Places are limited, register here.

Green Architecture Walking Tour - Auckland
When: Saturday 26 September, 10-12pm
Where: Meet on corner of Victoria Street West and Elliott Street. Finishes at Wynyard Quarter.

Downtown Auckland has more than 30 Green Star rated buildings – among New Zealand’s best sustainable commercial design. To celebrate Auckland Architecture Week and World Green Building Week, the New Zealand Institute of Architects and the NZGBC are running a joint walking tour of notable CBD buildings. Join us for a morning stroll with expert commentary.

You will also go inside the 5 Green Star NZGBC office and will find out how the NZGBC put its own tools into practice to create a welcoming, low-impact home.

Note: There will be a mini van offering transport from the end of the tour, both to and from the Bungalow Festival Open Home Tour (1-3pm).

Download the Green Architecture Walking Tour map here. Free event, places are limited. Register here.