The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has recognised the City of Parramatta’s iconic PHIVE building, awarding it with a 6-Star Green Star rating for its world-leading sustainable design and construction.
The GBCA 6-Star certification represents world leadership and is the highest sustainability rating for a building awarded by a third-party assessment panel of experts in Australia.
PHIVE is the only council building in New South Wales to receive the 6-Star Green Star rating, and only the fourth in Australia.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor, Pierre Esber, said that PHIVE had been designed with a 6-Star rating in mind.
“We are committed to designing and building infrastructure for our community that is not only world-class but smart and sustainable,” Mayor Esber said.
“PHIVE was designed with a focus on environmental performance including a roof façade system made up of 548 individual skylight modules, solar collectors and water harvesting allowing the building to be net zero carbon from day one.
“It also incorporates a unique smart mixed-mode ventilation system with giant automated louvres permitting fresh air to circulate through PHIVE that are linked to the Bureau of Meteorology and two local weather sensors to ensure optimal building performance while maintaining visitor comfort.”
Mayor Esber said that Council was committed to reducing carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2038.
“Parramatta Square – where PHIVE is located – last year became the first Council public domain in Australia to achieve carbon neutral certification.
“We also became the first council in Western Sydney and one of three in New South Wales to achieve climate active carbon neutral certification throughout the LGA last year, so it’s proof we are tackling one of the biggest challenges of our generation head-on.”
PHIVE was named the 2022 Project of the Year and Community Project at the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue’s Boomtown! 2022 Property & Infrastructure Awards, and a global finalist in 2023’s Public Library of the Year award at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) general conference and assembly.
“We are proud of everything PHIVE has achieved and the building’s official 6-Star Green Star is another reason why we value this iconic community and civic hub.”