2022-06-17
17 Jun 22

U City achieves South Australian sustainability first

Woods Bagot’s U City building for Uniting Communities’ has been declared the first building in South Australia to achieve Carbon Neutral Building Certification and a 5-star Green Star Performance Rating via the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and the Australian Government’s Climate Active Program.

The 20-storey radically mixed-use development creates an inclusive environment that invites diversity and builds a healthy and sustainable community. Environmental sustainability was at the core of Woods Bagot’s design with environmentally and socially conscious choices made at all levels.

U City is setting a new benchmark for developments in Australia, and for the community and aged care sectors in particular by being not just aware of our carbon footprint but doing as much as possible to reduce our environmental impact as we head towards a net zero future.

“We’re thrilled to be shaping a sustainable future for South Australia and play an active role in our city as one of the most sustainably carbon savvy cities in Australia ,”

Woods Bagot Director Thomas Masullo.

How was it achieved?

To become carbon neutral, the carbon offsets had been purchased and retired to cover the whole of the mixed-use U City building and Uniting Communities had provided a commitment to offset the building’s carbon emissions for 10 years.

The carbon offsets include biodiversity credits from the EcoAustralia native revegetation protection project, which covers 7,350m2 at Mount Sandy, near the Coorong, and a wind power project in Taiwan. Both projects contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

There are also regular assessments of employee and occupant satisfaction with the building’s performance, and transport surveys to raise awareness of sustainable options and to gather data for ongoing measurement.

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