GOSNELLS CIVIC COMPLEX "THE AGONIS"

The Agonis designed using sustainable development philosophy.

The Agonis was opened by the Premier of WA, Dr Geoff Gallop, on 24 November 2004. When the City of Gosnells began planning its new civic complex, The Agonis, it wanted to showcase its commitment to demonstrating leadership in environmental excellence and sustainable development. The City also entered a commitment agreement to design, construct and maintain a building that would perform at 4.5 stars under the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating scheme.

Even before building commenced, the City of Gosnells was well on the way to achieving its objectives. The demolition tender for the existing 35-year-old facility called for extensive recycling of demolition materials. An impressive 94% of materials from the demolition of the original Centre were recycled.

Housed within The Agonis is a range of community facilities, including a Knowledge Centre/Library, Civic Hall, Lotteries House and Gosnells Centre for Business Development. The City of Gosnells' Environment Co-ordinator, Wayne van Lieven, said it was imperative that the building design addressed the varying energy requirements created by each different area.

"The design was driven by a sustainable development philosophy," Mr van Lieven said.

"Financial savings were a secondary consideration, although payback periods were used to rank potential initiatives in the early stages of design. We also undertook a life cycle assessment of the materials we were going to use and looked at how much energy and what types of materials were needed to produce and maintain them."

The concrete, for example, included BG cement which is made up of 30 per cent recycled blast furnace slag. As production of one tonne of cement produces one tonne of greenhouse gases, the benefit to the environment through the use of this product is significant.

The project's Environmental and Energy Consultant, Mike Rickard from Kellogg Brown & Root, said they applied a systematic approach to identifying various energy needs and energy saving alternatives.

"We did not approach this project with a 'business as usual' attitude. We needed to think outside the square. The building and building services have been set up so that the greenhouse emissions will meet the committed Australian Building Greenhouse Rating," he said.

Energy efficient design objectives

-	Achieve optimum passive solar performance.
-	Minimise operational energy consumption.
-	Investigate renewable energy opportunities.
-	Address water conservation and wastewater management.
-	Incorporate construction and fit-out materials in a safe and energy efficient manner.
-	Achieve a high quality building environment.

Exterior

Designed by Woodhead International, the building orientation and façade were selected according to passive solar design principles. With a predominantly north-south orientation, the building will be able to take advantage of the winter sun for natural light and heating benefits and a central courtyard allows natural light to filter into office areas.

The Knowledge Centre/Library will take up half of the eastern façade. Double glazing, tinted glass and deep eaves will assist in shading this area from the heat of the morning sun. Large numbers of advanced-grown trees will also help to shade the building, particularly the northern façade. The expected cost saving in reduced heating and air-conditioner use is $3,800 per year.

Further protection from the outside temperature will be ensured through wall insulation added to all external walls. The expected saving is $1,800 per year.

Lighting

A highly efficient lighting system, based on single tube fluorescent luminaries and coupled with daylight compensation control, will be implemented that will produce a 43 per cent reduction in annual operating costs. In addition, movement detectors will be installed to automatically switch off lights in areas that are not occupied.

Building Management System

Mr van Lieven said the building service systems will be controlled by a computer-based Building Management System.

“This ensures optimum start/stop sequencing and timed scheduling arrangements as well as allowing monitoring of the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems. This aids diagnosis of plant operations, set points, run times etc – all of which impact on energy consumption,” he added.

A heat recovery-style variable refrigerant volume air-conditioning system will be installed with an expected cost saving of $8,500 per annum when compared to the reverse cycle split system version used in the original Civic Centre. Another advantage is that the new system will be able to simultaneously heat one area of the building while cooling another. This is enhanced by its ability to draw in and transfer air from rooms with a higher temperature to those rooms in need of further heating.

Controlled switching of appliances such as water heaters and boiling water units via the Building Management System will result in potential energy savings of an additional $1,800 per annum.

Car park ventilation

To meet energy performance objectives, a performance-based, ‘engineered' solution has been adopted for the undercroft car park. Natural ventilation openings, which promoted cross ventilation, will be strategically placed around the car park. This will eliminate the need for mechanical ventilation which will return a substantial energy saving.

Lessons Learned

The commitment to produce a green building with a 4.5 star Australian Building Greenhouse Rating whole building rating has generated positive exposure for the City of Gosnells and demonstrated leadership in relatively uncharted waters. It has also provided the opportunity to confirm the City's commitment to sustainable development.

“Success in this project provides a sound basis from which the design approach to any such future project will be measured. We have learned many lessons, in particular how much of a challenge such a project is for all involved,” Mr van Lieven said.

Senior Program Officer at the Sustainable Energy Development Office, Patrick Smith, said that “when compared to an average new building that performs at a 3 star Australian Building Greenhouse Rating, the new Civic Centre will result in a greenhouse saving of around 140,000 kg CO₂ per year.”


“The City of Gosnells wants others to know that, given commitment and support, sustainable building design, construction and operation can be obtainable, right now.”

Patricia Morris AM JP
Mayor, City of Gosnells