Queensland’s Bond University wins global sustainability award

13 Nov 2009

Bond University’s Mirvac School of Sustainable Development (MSSD) in Queensland is now rated ‘world’s best’, having won the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) global award for sustainability.

The building - which innovatively reduces carbon emissions by 80% - was applauded at a special award ceremony held in London, attended by professionals from 140 countries. As the first higher education building in Australia to receive 6 Star ‘World Leadership’ status from the Green Building Council of Australia, Mirvac fought off strong competition from Spain, France, Germany and the UK to claim the top award.

Working with architects, Mirvac Design, and a multidisciplinary design and construction team, Arup guided the sustainability components of the design and development of the building. This required establishing an understanding of sustainability for the project, defining success measures, and developing a range of sustainability targets in collaboration with the project team.

“I find it fitting that Bond University’s new Sustainable Development building should not only set benchmarks for the quality provision of sustainable teaching and learning environments, but also become exemplar for it own sustainable design’ comments Cathy Crawley Arup Sustainability Leader in Australia.

“The development is highly deserving of this latest accolade, and I’m pleased to see it build on the recognition the school has already achieved in Australia” Cathy continues. “The Bond University Mirvac School of Sustainable Development truly embodies the concept of sustainable development and we applaud the University on its vision and commitment to this project.”

The school will provide the location for Australia’s first tertiary program to formally recognise long term sustainability as integral in a range of new degrees in urban planning, design, development and strategic assessment. It will allow students and stakeholders to explore the practical application of sustainability theory in areas such as water, energy, waste, materials, social development, ecology and transport.

For more information visit the Mirvac School of Sustainable Development website.

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Contacts

Sarah Booij
108 Wickham Street
Fortitude Valley
Brisbane, 4006
Australia

T+61 (0)7 3023 6141

F+61 (0)7 3023 6023

Eaustralasia.press@arup.com

  • Bond University Mirvac School of Sustainable Development. © Jensen Photography

    The building generates 40% of its peak power using solar cells and wind turbines.

  • Bond University Mirvac School of Sustainable Development. © Jensen Photography

    Mirvac is one of the world's greenest education buildings.