The Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC
Australia’s first “Living” Certified Building
The Brick Pit is proud to be the specified recycled brick supplier for Australia’s first “Living” Certified Building – one of only 24 buildings in the world to have achieved this certification at the time.
The University of Wollongong’s Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC) achieved full marks under the world’s toughest sustainability standard for buildings, the Living Building Challenge (LBC). The certification process has been a long and difficult journey and the result confirms the SBRC as arguably the most sustainable building in Australia.
The Living Building Challenge, administered by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), certifies projects that meet ambitious green building performance standards across a framework of seven categories including energy use, site utilisation, health and happiness, equity, beauty, water and materials used.
“Living” Certified buildings are those that have met stringent criteria across all seven categories. There are only 24 buildings in the world that have achieved this and are considered Living Certified. This exclusive list now includes the SBRC.
Living Certification under the LBC means the SBRC building is the:
- 1st Living Certified Building in Australia
- 24th Living Certified project in the world
- 3rd Living Certified project outside the United States
- 1st project in Australia to achieve any level of LBC certification
The SBRC is a haven for research and industry collaborations with the goal to make all buildings sustainable. The building itself is a demonstration of the value of the research the SBRC team carries out. It also has 6-Star Green Star certification and the building includes 468 solar panels to support net zero energy, an onsite rainwater system to enable net zero water performance, and uses environmentally safe and reused building materials. View the video of this exciting project below courtesy of Architects, Cox Architecture.
Situated at the Innovation Campus at the University of Wollongong, the centre’s Exhibition Foyer is open to the public during work hours. It is hoped people will explore the building and gardens, and be inspired to design their homes using similar principles.
Visit the following links for additional information:
- Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC)
- International Living Future Institute
- The Living Future Institute of Australia
Project Information
- Architect: Cox Architecture
- Builder: Lendlease
- Recycled Bricks: The Brick Pit
Awards
- Milo Dunphy Award for Sustainable Architecture, AIA NSW 2015
- State Commendation for Education Architecture, AIA NSW 2015
- Finalist, Timber Design Awards, 2014
- Excellence in Construction of Tertiary Buildings, Master Builders Association 2013
- Excellence in Construction for Energy & Resource Efficiency, Master Builders Association 2013
