Grocon’s new Pixel building took out the Built Environment — Harmonious Man-Made Landscapes category in the 2010 awards.

The National Banksia Environmental Awards recognised the Grocon Pixel building, located in Melbourne, as the pinnacle of sustainable design and innovation — coined by the judges as “the office of the future”.

Achieving the highest Green Star score ever awarded by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), Pixel achieved a perfect score of 100 points, with 75 points being the benchmark for 6 Star Green Star. An extra five points were granted in recognition of global-leading innovation for its carbon neutrality, a vacuum toilet system that reduces water consumption to an absolute minimum and an anaerobic digestion system that extracts methane from waste which is then used as an energy source for hot water in the building.

Grocon Carlton Brewery general manager, David Waldren, said he was honoured to receive the award.

“We believe Pixel truly is the office of the future and one of the most sustainable buildings in the world,” Waldren said.

“Pixel has also recently become the first building in Australia to achieve Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) project certification, and the first commercial office building outside Britain to meet full FSC criteria.

“The standard means that all wood products used in the building have been verified as meeting FSC standards, sourced from FSC certified forests, and recycled timber”

Grocon’s Award was presented by The Laminex Group, a past winner of the Banksia Awards.

The Laminex Group marketing manager, George Bej, said: “To be awarded the highest Green Star score ever awarded by the GBCA is an outstanding achievement, and this award pays tribute to Grocon’s devotion to sustainable building practices.”

The Banksia Awards were held recently at the Sydney Town Hall. The finalists for the category, which were of an outstanding standard included Surry Hills Library and Community Centre, Mirvac Harmony 9, AGL Bogong Hydroelectric Powerstation, Hill End Ecohouse, Thiess, Rouse Hill Town Centre and the Department of Health.

To find out more about the Banksia Awards, visit www.banksiafdn.com