Judge's comments:

This design exemplifies Arup's commitment to a better world through its innovative and holistic approach to sustainability, blending purposeful engineering and thoughtful design within a heritage context to achieve the ambitious Living Building Challenge certification.

Description:

Reflecting their purpose to shape a better world, Arup’s new workplace is on track to becoming the most sustainable office in New Zealand.

Global specialist engineering firm, Arup, who’s portfolio includes the Sydney Opera House, and the iconic Gherkin in London, set out with a goal to create one of the most sustainable workplaces in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Arup’s new workplace is housed within Cooper and Company’s Hayman Kronfield Building, a Category 2 listed-heritage building in the Britomart Precinct, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

The workplace pushes the boundaries of sustainable design and construction by targeting the world’s most stringent sustainability accreditation, the Living Building Challenge. Living Buildings are regenerative and positive, requiring a progressive and thoughtful approach to design and construction to achieve net positive carbon, water, and waste targets. It is an accreditation that raises the benchmark.

Working in partnership with Mana Whenua, Dane Tumahai and Paora Puru of Te Manu Taupua Ltd, the workplace centers around connection to New Zealand’s cultural heritage. In particular connecting the people of Arup with the community and with the land.

To achieve Living Building Challenge certification, the project team followed sustainable and regenerative building practices. Key highlights include 99% of waste diverted from landfill, 90% of materials are free of toxic ingredients and 50% of materials are sourced locally within New Zealand.