Marking its 17^th year, the Sustainability Awards is Australia’s longest-running awards program dedicated to sustainable design and architecture. Held at Sydney’s Cricket Ground, this year welcomed over 250 entries across 18 categories, with a winning and highly commended project recognised for each.

“Given the urgent need for widespread change, both nationally and globally, it has never been more crucial to showcase pioneering design on a national platform,” says Architecture and Design editor and event organiser Branko Militic, “promoting the talent, innovation, and technology that will propel Australia towards achieving net-zero emissions.”

Two Woods Bagot projects were recognised among this year’s winners. Heritage Lanes at 80 Ann Street received the top award for Commercial Architecture (Large), described by the jury as “one of Australia’s most intelligent and sustainable buildings”.

Woods Bagot Global Design Leader Domenic Alvaro says Heritage Lanes raises the bar for sustainable developments, meeting design challenges with innovative solutions to reduce embodied carbon and support net-zero operation.

Heritage Lanes project leader and Woods Bagot Principal David Lee said the project’s sustainable function could be achieved through efficient services, recycling of materials, a ‘breathable’ design that maximises passive principles and capitalises on Brisbane’s subtropical climate.

Materials were also locally sourced and manufactured to reduce transportation, with 90 percent of construction waste recycled to divert from landfill. As developer Mirvac’s first large-scale net-zero office building in operation, Heritage Lanes is setting a new standard for environmentally responsible development.

Melbourne Connect received Highly Commended in the Commercial Architecture (Large) category, and also received Highly Commended for the Education and Research category. Incorporating efficient, low impact and recycled materials and passive techniques for lighting and shading, the building has been designed to support sustainable performance over its lifetime.

“Awarded two six-star Green Star ratings, a five-star NABERS energy rating, and a 4.5-star NABERS water rating, Melbourne Connect is at the frontier of world-leading, environmentally sustainable building practices,” says project leader and W-B Principal Hazel Porter. “The building fabric and systems are geared towards healthier, more sustainable operations, including the optimised façade, designed to enable significant reduction in energy consumption.” 

In addition to the awards gala, the event also included a day-long Sustainability Summit, with a program of talks covering the full breadth of sustainability topics within the built environment. Woods Bagot regional sustainability consultant Julieta Joya attended the summit, speaking on a panel that explored the use of biophilic design to create buildings that generate their own electricity.

The 2023 Sustainability Awards jury included Alex Symes (Alexander Symes Architects), Adrianna Brambillam (University of Sydney), Ben Peake (Carter Williams Architects), David Coates, Jeremy Spencer, Kate Newson (Frasers Property),  Mahalath Halperin (Mahalath Halperin Architects), Marni Reti (Kaunitz Yeung Architecture), Simon Lincoln (Make Architects) and Simone Schenkel.

Media enquiries
Isla Sutherland
Content and Communications Specialist (Australia & New Zealand)