Bushfire salvaged timber has played a key role to help the Government Services Office development in Dandenong, Victoria has achieve the highest sustainability rating available.

Hassell designed the building, which is part of the VicUrban-led Revitalising Central Dandenong urban renewal initiative, co-locates four different state government departments into a single, purpose-built workplace.

Grocon, the developer and builder on the project, suggested an initiative to use bushfire affected timber — sourced from trees destroyed during the 2009 Victorian bushfires — which the architects say has perhaps cemented the project as a benchmark for sustainable design.

The timber species is Victoria Ash and it was sourced from trees destroyed during the bushfires around the Kinglake area. While the outside of the trees were burnt, the timber inside was useable.

All of the timber cladding (pictured) was sourced from bushfire affected timber.

Among sustainable design merits contributing to the 6 Star Green Star Office Design rating is the introduction of a patterned frit element to the external glazing of the building. It acts as a veil to reduce thermal heat load and solar glare while still allowing natural daylight to permeate the building’s interior.

The project features more than 14,000m2 of PCA A-Grade open-plan office space that is linked through naturally ventilated pocket atria, and a landscaped roof terrace for communal use by staff and visitors.

An underfloor air distribution system provides healthy indoor air quality for staff and is far less energy intensive than traditional mechanical ventilation systems.

Along with the 6 Star rating, it is also designed to achieve a 4.5 Star NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) base building rating and fitout ratings of 5 Star Green Star and 5 Star NABERS.

Government Services Office is due for completion at the end of 2011 and is expected to become a recognisable icon of the “new Dandenong”.

Architecture & Design Team

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