The Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation building in Wanniassa has become the first operational building in the Territory to achieve a certified five-star rating under the Green Star Buildings v1.0 tool.
Green Star is an internationally recognised Australian sustainability rating and certification system.
The Green Star Buildings v1.0 tool assesses actual performance across construction and operation, making this certification a robust indicator of real-world sustainability outcomes.
The building achieved its 5-star rating through a combination of forward-thinking design and construction practices, including:
- All-electric building services, supported by the ACT's 100 per cent renewable electricity contracts
- Performance window glazing and highly efficient lighting, electrical and mechanical systems
- A 47.56kW solar PV system generating renewable energy on site, which is enough to power around 10 average Canberra homes each year.
- A 1,700L rainwater tank for water-efficient toilet flushing - roughly 28 full laundry loads worth of water saved every time it rains.
- A climate-resilient approach that considers future extremes in temperature, rainfall and bushfires.
During construction, the project also delivered strong environmental outcomes:
- 95 per cent of construction waste diverted from landfill, with 125 tonnes recycled - the equivalent of more than 500 standard wheelie bins of material.
- A 15 per cent reduction in upfront carbon emissions, achieved by construction methodology that enabled:
- Using 74 tonnes less concrete
- Reducing reinforcing steel by 12 tonnes and structural steel by 14 tonnes
- Cutting Portland cement content in concrete mixes by 30 per cent.
Over the building's 60-year design life, it is expected to deliver a 49 per cent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions thanks to low-carbon material choices, efficient systems, and long-lasting structural design. This reduction is roughly equivalent to planting 40,000 trees or taking 250 cars off the road for a year.
This project also reflects the ACT Government's commitment to developing culturally safe spaces, with design elements shaped by the needs and aspirations of the Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation.
This aligns with the ACT Government's initiative to delivering infrastructure that is inclusive, sustainable and community led as captured in the Planning Act 2023 and the ACT Sustainable Buildings Pathway.
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Public Service Rachel Stephen-Smith:
"The Government is proud to have delivered a new home for Gugan Gulwan that meets its needs as a growing organisation, providing a warm and culturally appropriate space for their clients.
"This building was designed in partnership with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community with the aspiration of achieving a 5-star Green Building certification.
"Today's announcement confirms that we have not only delivered a beautiful and unique new building for a much loved local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, but we have demonstrated how to deliver the climate conscious infrastructure Canberrans expect."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water Suzanne Orr:
"The ACT Government is proud to have partnered with Gugan Gulwan to design and deliver their new home.
"The building is a great example of a purpose-built facility that is both culturally led and sustainable providing an ongoing connection to Country through artwork and storytelling as well as a central gathering place for people to come together while at the same time treading as lightly on the environment as possible."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Children, Youth and Families, Michael Pettersson:
"Gugan Gulwan plays an important role in supporting children, young people and their families in the ACT. The thoughtful and sustainable design of this new space will provide a foundation for even stronger connections, services and outcomes for generations to come."
