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A Northland Maori immersion school has achieved a 5 Green Star rating in the latest list released for World Green Building Week, marking it as one of the most sustainable in the country.
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Whangaroa in Matauri Bay was designed for the Ministry of Education by architects Adams De La Mare.
It includes two single-storey buildings connected by a covered open space and incorporates four classrooms, a teaching common, a food technology suite, art room and a multipurpose hall/gymnasium.
Sustainability features include: energy and water metering, to encourage efficiency and teach students about energy and water conservation; a design maximising natural daylight; carpets, paints, ceiling tiles and other materials made with low volatile organic compounds to reduce airborne pollutants and create a healthier indoor environment; and good insulation to reduce the need for heating.
The best commercial building was the Jasmax-designed Bayleys House in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter
New Zealand Green Building Council chief executive Alex Cutler says buildings have a surprisingly large impact on the environment,.
She says putting sustainability at the centre of the built environment is all about making smart design choices, tackling climate change, and creating better places for people to live, work and play.
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