The Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC) was the first building in Australia fully accredited under the Living Building Challenge (LBC), as well as being the lllawarra's first six-star Green Star Building. The LBC is arguably the highest built environment sustainability accreditation in the world today with its ambition to encourage buildings to be net zero energy and water, to connect readily with the natural environment, and provide comfortable and restorative places to live and work.
Located on the University of Wollonging's Innovation Campus, the SBRC not only embodies sustainable design, but is a 'living' laboratory for improving building and material design and operation, where researchers and students develop, prototype and test sustainable building technologies and tools for residential and commercial applications.
The 'high-bay' roof is divided into two discrete sections using COLORBOND steel in the colour Surfmist and COLORBOND Coolmax steel. These materials were chosen for their high solar reflectance (low absorptance) and ability to improve the thermal performance of a building.
The building also meets the high standards demanded by the material and waste requirements of the LBC with the BlueScope materials used being manufactured locally and incorporating recycled content. BlueScope is also committed to responsible/sustainable sourcing practices that create, protect and build long term environmental, social and economic value.
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is available for COLORBOND steel which indentifies the environmental impact of the product over its lifecycle. To obtain a copy, please visit steel.com.au. And to find out more information about specifying and building with BlueScope products, please visit steelselect.com.au or call our technical team on 1800 753 658.