The beauty of the big building is something to behold. Every minute detail is considered by an architect, with each piece of the puzzle forming a monolithic jigsaw. Devising a building of said size in a sustainable manner is no mean feat, and that is why the Sustainability Awards is proud to promote the expertise of such designers through the Commercial Architecture (Large) award.

To receive a nomination for the award, architectural practices must submit a Class 5, 6, 7 or 8 building used for professional and / or commercial purposes of over 500 square metres in floor size. Commercial essentially means any use from retail to office and everything in between, so the possibilities are endless.

A couple of years ago, a change to the criteria was made from budget to floor size to denote ‘Large’. What this has meant is that larger buildings created on smaller budgets can be acknowledged and be entered into the category, acknowledging the talent of a designer who has been able to stretch funds without compromising on sustainable initiatives for design excellence.

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2021’s winner of the Commercial Architecture (Large) category was Mirvac with Grimshaw Architects & Carr for their Olderfleet development. Refreshing a heritage-listed building created in the late 1800s, Olderfleet was the first building in the country to achieve a Platinum Core and Shell Precertification from the International WELL Building Institute, which recognises excellence in delivering healthy buildings and improving tenant wellbeing in a sustainable work environment. Olderfleet has been designed to achieve a 6 Star Green Star rating, 5 Star NABERS Energy rating, and 4 Star NABERS Water rating.

On board as a sponsor for the first time to support the Commercial Architecture (Large) category is Network Architectural. Formed in 2020, the company has quickly become renowned for its commitment to delivering quality façades and architectural finishes. Network Architectural is intent on remaining a sustainable enterprise from top to bottom, supplying environmentally friendly finishes to architects for buildings similar to those eligible for the Commercial Architecture (Large) category.

The Sustainability Awards returns as a live event in 2022, with the winners of all 16 categories to be announced at an event to be held in Sydney later this year. To ensure that you and your practice are considered for an award, enter the Sustainability Awards here.

Jarrod Reedie

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