Green Star Buildings is a sustainability rating tool for new buildings and major refurbishments, developed to measure veritable standards for better, healthier, and more environmentally responsible buildings.

Green Buildings Council of Australia Chief Executive Davina Rooney said the new Green Star Buildings rating tool has elevated the benchmark for sustainable development, and developer Mirvac and the wider project team have risen to meet this new benchmark in green certification, achieving a “new standard in sustainability”.

The previous standard, the “Green Star – Design and as Built” certification was superseded in 2021. Despite construction on Heritage Lanes commencing five years ago, the design has succeeded in a achieving the highest rating according to the newest measure in sustainability. 

“Their unwavering commitment to sustainability has ensured that Heritage Lanes is now one of Australia’s smartest and most sustainable office buildings,” says Rooney.

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

“It’s thanks to the efforts of Mirvac and the AECOM consulting team that through considered construction processes and efficient systems, this building could achieve this feat in responsible design,” says Lee.

Materials were locally sourced and manufactured to reduce transportation, and 90 percent of construction waste was recycled to divert from landfill. The building is also fitted with features including rainwater harvesting and solar energy generation.

“Drawing inspiration from the quintessential Queensland vernacular, Heritage Lanes features operable louvres and windows that invite in the cooling breeze, providing natural cross-ventilation on breathable levels,” continues Lee. “With landscape architecture by ASPECT Studios, native landscaped terraces and atrium deliver on access greenery, air quality, and achieve maximum natural light.”

Woods Bagot Global Design Leader Domenic Alvaro says Heritage Lanes raises the bar for sustainable developments, the design team embracing the challenges of reduced embodied carbon and net-zero operation.

“Heritage Lanes sets an example that efficient and environmentally responsible design needn’t come at the expense of beauty,” says Alvaro. “This intelligent and responsive building utilises legible biophilic principles in the workplace, considering the wellness of the end user alongside its impact on the environment.”

At 35 levels, Heritage Lanes is developer Mirvac’s first large-scale net-zero in operation office development, setting a new standard for responsible developments, powered entirely by renewable electricity.

Mirvac General Manager (Commercial and Mixed-Use Developments) Simon Healy said the certification demonstrates Mirvac’s commitment to pushing boundaries and creating sustainable, innovative, and future-proofed buildings that contribute to their environment.

“We were committed to achieving quality outcomes for both the project and the city,” says Healy.

Heritage Lanes features state-of-the-art smart building technology collects more than 90 billion data points daily, making it one of Australia’s most intelligent and responsive buildings. 

Alongside a 6-star Green Star Buildings rating, Heritage Lanes also achieves a 5.5-star NABERS Energy rating (base building); a 4.5-star NABERS Water (whole building) rating; and a Platinum Core and Shell Well rating.

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