sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY AND ADAPTIVE REUSE
PAUA Architects has been designing sustainable buildings since before it became a buzz-word.
DESIGN AND
MATERIALS
Sustainable architectural design, materials, and technologies typically make a building more energy and resource efficient, reducing the ongoing operating costs of a building, such as lighting, heating & cooling, and water usage.
They also make a building healthier, more comfortable, and more enjoyable to live or work in, leading to positive effects on productivity and wellbeing.
Differences in capital costs between environmentally sustainable design and technologies, and a more traditional, minimum-code building have reduced over time, and when incorporated in a new build from the outset the difference can now be minor.
In NZ, engineered timber technologies such as LVL and CLT have been a catalyst for rethinking commercial construction, enabling us to reduce reliance on steel and concrete for structural elements.
adaptive reuse
As we consider how to reduce our collective carbon footprint, it is important not just that new buildings are designed with sustainability in mind, but that we consider the best ways to retrofit existing buildings, with a view to making them more efficient.
From a carbon point of view, preserving our existing buildings and making sure they are fit-for-future is a powerful action, as we have already emitted the carbon associated with their construction.
FEATURED SUSTAINABLE DESIGN PROJECTS
These are a small selection of projects which showcase sustainable design and technologies:clean energy centre
Taupō, Waikato
Fusing high energy performance with beautiful craftsmanship, the NZCEC is a showcase for clean energy, industry collaboration, and innovation.
SPORTS EDUCATION CENTRE
WAIKATO DIOCESAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Designed to 4 Green Star equivalence, the Sports Education Centre incorporates a range of sustainable design principles, materials, and technologies to minimise environmental impact and conserve energy and water use.
the living room
ENVIRO-CLASSROOM AT HUKANUI PRIMARY SCHOOL
A truly eco-classroom, the students were involved hands on in the design, discussions about sustainable materials, and even in the construction.
testimonials
"Throughout the design and briefing process, [PAUA] Architects have demonstrated a high level of professionalism, offering expertise based on sound research, with an understanding of the latest trends and environmental initiatives… They offered contributions to design that demonstrated flair, options and creativity, yet always referred back to the student's original ideas."Michelle White | Environmental Education Co-ordinator, Hukanui Primary School
learn
more
Download our free sustainable architecture e-book to learn more about some of the sustainability strategies we use in our client’ work.