Griffith University received $21million towards building the country’s first zero-emission and self-powering teaching and researching building driven by sustainable energy and with hydrogen metal hydride storage. The $40million Sir Samuel Griffith Building was made possible with funding from the Federal Government’s Education Investment Fund.
This building, which generates its own power supply, is a model for remote communities that are ‘off-grid’ and cannot access power in Australia. It is also a pilot for applying this safe sustainable power supply in urban settings. The Sir Samuel Griffith Centre is a 6 Star Green Star rated building located on the Nathan Campus bus circuit. The building is powered principally by solar power, backed up by hydrogen technology.
This 6 Star Green Star building was completed in June 2013 and is a remarkably innovative building by any standard. It integrates business, engineering and environmental science disciplines around the concept of sustainability.
MDA Consulting engineers were engaged as Green Star Accredited Professionals to deliver a success-plus Green Star outcome for a Design As-Built education rating for Sir Samuel Griffith Centre, in all the applicable environmental categories. MDA were involved in all stages of the project, providing guidance and support by participating in meetings, ESD workshops, promoting and executing the incorporation of Green Star provisions from design through to practical completion of the project, reviewing all documentation for compliance with Green Star, and were responsible for the preparation and execution of the Green Star certification submissions.
In 2015, The Sir Samuel Griffith Centre Nathan Campus was awarded a rating of 85 Green Star As Built Rating Points. MDA’s ESD division controlled the whole process by compiling and formulating all required information and data to achieve this outstanding result.