Elenberg Fraser has transformed a 120-year-old railway shed into a five star Green Star office building for Melbourne.

The $60 milllion refurbishment of the heritage-listed Railway Goods Shed North includes a grey water system, rainwater harvesting and under-floor ventilation to help cut energy and water resources.

Interior office fit outs are being provided by BVN Architects.

Design has been “a delicate process of weaving the new in with the old”, managing director of developer Equiset, Lorenz Grollo, told Architecture & Design. “There were a raft of challenges, such as dealing with contaminated soil and heritage issues but we worked through it,” he said.

Getting the building through planning involved a lot of support from VicUrban. That VicUrban is one of the anchor tenants “helped”, according to Grollo.

More than 350 construction jobs will be created over the course of construction of the 11,100sqm Collins Street project.

“Docklands is currently home to the greatest number of 5 Star Green Star accredited office developments within an Australian commercial precinct,” Victorian planning minister Justin Madden said.

“With existing buildings making up the majority of Victoria's commercial building stock, demonstrating how complex refurbishments can be delivered will make a significant difference to the long term sustainability of Victoria’s built environment,” he said.

VicUrban CEO Pru Sanderson said it was particularly important for VicUrban to demonstrate leadership with this project by housing its new home at the site.

“We wanted to use the opportunity of finding a new home to demonstrate to industry how an historic building can provide the right home at the right cost,” Sanderson said.

Tony Arnel the Building Commissioner and Plumbing Industry Commissioner, and Chair of the Green Building Council of Australia said the refurbishment of the 1889 building is an important step forward for the ecologically sustainable design.

“This is a first for Victoria, and one of only a handful of heritage-listed buildings around Australia to achieve a Green Star rating,” Arnel said.

Madden said that when the building is completed later this year, it will become home to three Government authorities: VicUrban, the Building Commission and the Plumbing Industry Commission.

Images © Elenberg Fraser

Gemma Battenbough

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