PROJECT FILES: The Bob Marshman Building, completed in July 2024, is Australia’s first certified Passivhaus Plus training facility, which is no doubt why it was featured at the Australian Passivhaus Association’s THRIVE conference this year.
This is innovative due to the building’s subtropical context, where Passivhaus certification is not as commonly applied in cooler, less humid climates.
The Passivhaus certification requires an extremely airtight building envelope with significant amounts of thermal insulation, thermally broken windows and a sophisticated heat recovery ventilation system, which reduces the cooling energy required. The building design incorporates the five elements of Passivhaus, including the thermally broken windows, an adequate ventilation strategy, and achieves air tightness, eliminates thermal bridges and has appropriate thermal insulation. Additionally, subtropical design principles such as orientation, rainwater collection and passive design strategies were key to the project’s design from the early concept stages.
Brisbane’s Construction Training Centre (CTC) approached Deicke Richards to deliver a new training facility on the campus’s visually prominent yet underutilised vacant site.
The CTC established strong sustainability ambitions for the project to be built as a living laboratory and a pathfinder exemplar demonstrating how high performing, carbon neutral buildings constructed with traditional building materials could become the new norm within the construction industry. An early cost analysis was undertaken between a traditional construction approach and the Passivhaus pathway, determining long-term energy cost savings when proceeding with Passivhaus. Apart from the ambitious sustainability targets and the need for future flexibility between training spaces and offices, the brief for the training facility was quite open.
The architectural response explored emergent passive thermal design principles, sustainability, and the impacts of these on construction education pathways. The building consists of a simple cruciform floor plan which provides good permeability, light filled corridors and helps flexibility for different breakups of tenants. At the heart of the plan is a kitchen and outdoor recreation space with views towards the creek.
Due to its integration of Passivhaus in a subtropical climate, there were many challenges faced by the design team, including the detailing of the continuous airtight barrier to achieve the building’s airtightness at 0.6 @ 50 Pascal air changes an hour that must be met under the certification.
The membrane had to be detailed on the outside to reduce condensation due to the humid climate. Consideration was given to how each building material interfaced with the membrane, including a thermal break between external and internal slabs, using only screws for the CFC rainscreen battens, and ensuring that the brick ties were thermally broken and did not punctuate the membrane. Other issues included how the airtight barrier would continue around the building eaves, which are a design element critical to shading in subtropical climates.
To minimise the chance of leaks by wrapping the membrane around the eaves, this was resolved through detailing the roof to create a flat surface for the airtight barrier, and a secondary framing system to ensure the membrane could wrap down the external wall. The building was designed to have a timber stud frame and roof structure due to being more sustainable, as well as to minimise thermal bridging. To resolve the complex detailing challenges, the client CTC, architect Deicke Richards, the project manager John Gaskin, the environmental consultant Ecolateral, the contractor Hutchinson Builders, fire engineer Walkerbai, and the engineering services consultants BEC Engineering worked together collaboratively to resolve these complex issues applying the shared enthusiasm to deliver a pioneering learning environment within the Queensland context.
The building’s learning environments offer superior indoor air quality through the sophisticated heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system, supplying a continual intake of fresh air. This results in very low CO2 levels within the building. The humidity and high occupancy rates within the training rooms were addressed through the implementation of dehumidifiers. Additionally, low VOC and low formaldehyde products were used throughout to accommodate the toxin free requirement, and indoor air quality is continually monitored through air quality monitors throughout the building. The HRV, coupled with airtightness and double insulation, promotes a high degree of thermal comfort in the learning environment. The double insulation also provides benefits in the form of the building being very quiet. The external noise from the adjacent road is minimised, and the background noise is eliminated. The training facility also feels very calming and has positive effects on students experiencing stress and anxiety during examination periods.
There were several sustainable design selections implemented in the project, that contribute to lowering its overall carbon footprint, maintenance and deconstruction and add another learning layer to the Living Laboratory concept. These include the emphasis placed on Australian made, locally manufactured, robust, and easy to maintain materials with lower embodied carbon. Circularity was stressed with cradle-to-cradle focused selections with high recycled content and opportunities for end-of-lifecycle reuse and recycle. Some examples of the rigorous material selection process included bricks with recycled content from Cross River Rail sites made in Brisbane, SEQ grown and locally processed hoop pine for plywood joinery, kitchen benchtop made by Five Mile Radius from concrete and aggregate salvaged from construction sites, eco plasterboard and Australian made recyclable carpet tiles with recycled fishing nets content and post-consumer PET recycled pinboards.
Low toxicity of building products was critical in the selection process and included consideration of VOCs in paints, sealants, adhesives and formaldehyde content in cabinetry and plywood joinery. All appliances were specified in early documentation stages and input into the passive house planning package to ensure that the energy consumption did not affect the Passivhaus operation. All fixtures and fittings were selected to be hard wearing, low maintenance and, water and energy saving where applicable.
Other passive design strategies included solar panels, EV chargers and rainwater systems for use in the amenities. The building is effectively airtight at 0.6 air changes an hour at 50 pascals of pressure and eliminates thermal bridges to ensure energy conservation. The total carbon footprint of the project was 141,810 kilograms of CO2, and the construction part of the building reached net zero in October 2024 (about 3 months after completion) through on-site renewables. The building is a demonstrated exemplar of how buildings can be adjusted to climate change.
A life cycle analysis undertaken by WSP found a 24 per cent reduction in carbon emissions compared to a traditional building approach. To further support CTC’s vision for the building as a living laboratory, the building itself acts as an educator and trainer through QR codes placed around the building that describe the various environmental and Passivhaus elements to its occupants.
The project’s sustainability targets and certifications did not impact on time or money, finishing on time and under budget. This is replicable, especially as it offers a solution to passive heating and cooling where a hot and humid climate is a challenge. The success of the project is due to the whole consultant team as well as the sustainability ambitious client whose drive to build better and mantra of “inform, challenge and excite” was the driving force behind the project. The training centre is highly energy efficient, quiet, climatically controlled and boasting superior air quality. It is proof that Passivhaus certified learning environments in subtropical climates are not only a possible but also highly desirable, value adding propositions.
The details
- Client: Construction Training Centre – Phil Diver, Denis Drum
- Architecture: Deicke Richards – Dominika Richards, Cameron Davies, Tim Zieth, Michael Shannon
- Project manager: John Gaskin – John Gaskin, Tim Collins, Luke Gaskin
- PassivHaus consultant: Ecolateral – John Moynihan
- Passivhaus certifier: Detail Green – Luc Plowman
- Landscape: Vee Design – David Hatherly, Lucy Cooper
- Civil, structural and building services (Mech, Elec, Hydr): BEC – David Halpin, John Tuxworth, Ellis Wilson, Susanne Norbaeck, Alex Prasek, Glen Ward
- Fire engineering: WalkerBai – Michael Greenwood, Tristan Goode, Alexandra Leschuk
- QS and cost planning: Steele Wrobel – Ben Foster
- Building certifier: Certis – Wayne Hoadley
- Contractor: Hutchinson Builders – Alexander Swann
Project Team
- Client: Construction Training Centre – Phil Diver, Denis Drum
- Architecture: Deicke Richards – Dominika Richards, Cameron Davies, Tim Zieth, Michael Shannon
- Project manager: John Gaskin- John Gaskin, Tim Collins, Luke Gaskin
- PassivHaus consulting: Ecolateral – John Moynihan
- Passivhaus certifier: Detail Green – Luc Plowman
- Landscape: Vee Design – David Hatherly, Lucy Cooper
- Civil, structural and building Services (Mech, Elec, Hydr) : BEC – David Halpin, John Tuxworth, Ellis Wilson, Susanne Norbaeck, Alex Prasek, Glen Ward
- Fire Engineering: WalkerBai – Michael Greenwood, Tristan Goode, Alexandra Leschuk
- QS and cost planning: Steele Wrobel – Ben Foster
- Building certifier: Certis – Wayne Hoadley
- Contractor: Hutchinson Builders – Alexander Swann
Lighting
The project incorporated energy efficient lighting including:
- Eagle Lighting Pondero 16983-402 non- dimmable pendants.
- Fagerhult Pleiad G4 EL-CKL-1008-000 dimmable downlights.
- Eagle lighting 600 x 600 Multi-lume rethink recessed dimmable (IP20) and non-dimmable (IP44) luminaires (FG-24100-20031 and FG-99639-0)
- Clevertronics emergency lights.
The design also incorporated Phillips feature pendant lighting 3D printed from old CDs and DVDs within the central corridor space (GN410 T102).
Fittings and fixtures
The key innovative and sustainably selected Fixtures and fittings included:
- Dishwasher: LG 15 Place QuadWash, XD3A25MB, 4 Stars energy rating, 5.5 Water star rating.
- Fridge: Hisense, 417L Bottom Mount PureFlat Refrigerator, HRBM418D, 7 Stars energy rating.
- Microwave: Panasonic, 32L Inverter Sensor Microwave, NN-ST67JSQPQ, 4.5 star energy rating.
- Kitchenette Tap: Caroma, 96194C5A, WELS 5 Star rating.
- Amenities Tap and hand dryer combination: Dyson Airblade Wash+Dry WD04, basin mount.
- Urinals: Cube 0.8L Electronic Urinal Series II, 678800W, WELS 6 Star rating. 0.8L flush, Fully automatic smart flush mode minimises water usage. GermGard antimicrobial protection. Compatible with harvested rainwater. Filter recommended to be installed to protect inlet valve, refer hydraulic engineer.
- Opal Cleanflush Easy Height Wall Faced Close Coupled Suite with Double Flap White Seat, 985300W, WELS 4 Star rating, Clean flush technology – more hygienic. Compatible with harvested rainwater. Filter recommended to be installed to protect inlet valve, refer hydraulic engineer.
- Caroma Care 400 Connector Suite with Backrest includes Caravelle Care Single Flap Seat – Anthracite Grey, 987900BAG, WELS 4 Star rating. Compatible with harvested rainwater. Filter recommended to be installed to protect inlet valve, refer hydraulic engineer.
- 2x Tritium 153 EV Chargers installed within the carpark.
- Red Earth Solar systems.
- Steibel Eltron mechanical ventilation systems.
- Drinking Water Fountains – Aquabubbler.
- Instant boiling and filtered water – Billi Sahara.
- Mobile phone induction chargers.
- QR Codes were installed throughout the building’s interior in order to communicate the building’s Passivhaus and sustainable initiatives to the building occupants and enhance its Living Laboratory learning concept.
Finishes
Detailed examples of sustainably selected finishes included:
- Holcim EcoPact Zero Concrete for both the external (exposed aggregate) and internal (polished concrete within common areas) with Low VOC, clear penetrating sealant with natural surface finish (CCS Street Scape). This product is certified, carbon neutral, ready mix concrete which enables about 70 per cent carbon reduction from standard concrete.
- Plastic fibre reinforced concrete (PFRC) to the external paths (broom finished) to remove steel reinforcing.
- Proclima Airtight membrane.
- Brickworks Mineral Contours extruded Bricks. Percentage of clay from salvaged infrastructure sites (around 5 per cent material from Cross River Rail Sites). This range is also locally manufactured and minimises transport related carbon. Deicke Richards also applied to Brickworks for the product to be supplied as carbon neutral, which was approved.
- Equitone Natura CFC Cladding – No harmful gas emissions, durable, fully recyclable, low ongoing maintenance as no need for painting.
- Metal roof sheeting and wall cladding – Lysaght Zenith Longline 305, Australian made, long lasting committed to CHG emissions reduction and net zero target by 2050.
- Reynaers thermally broken double glazed windows and doors.
- Tarkett iQ Toro SC Static control Vinyl, Phthalate-free, ReStart take-back and recycle program, durability, 25.5 per cent Recycled content, very low VOC.
- Interface Composure Colours 100 per cent solution died nylon, recycled content 17-61 per cent, Australian made, 75 per cent of energy used in manufacturing is from renewable resources, Recycling through Re-entry program, Carbon neutral Floors program.
- Dulux Enviro2 paint throughout – Very low VOCs, EPD and Global Green Tag certified, Global Green Tag Health Rate certified, Buyback program for unused paint.
- Austral Ply premium interior hoop pine – E0 Formaldehyde rating, made in Tennyson (very local), manufactured from Queensland plantation grown hoop pine (HQ Plantation FSC and Responsible Wood certified).
- Australian sustainable hardwoods, GoodWood DAR Feature battens and timber veneer: Sustainably harvested, Responsible Wood Certification, PEFC certification, Environment Iso 14001 and OHS ISO 45001 Certified.
- Woven Image Echo Panel Acoustic panelling: made from 60 per cent post consumer recycled PETs, 100 per cent recyclable, very low VOCs, EDP and Global Green Tag certified, Global Green Tag Health Rate certified, Red List free, Declare labelled.
- Armstrong Acoustic ceiling tiles: Fine fissured 1200 x 600 x 16mm. Prelude 24mm Grid – Board square lay-in 3570, Certified low VOC, 32 per cent recycled content, sound absorbing, Global Green Tag Level A, Certified low VOC, Activ’Air technology for cleaner air, sound absorbing.
- Supawood Supa acoustic- Natural timber veneer (Victorian Ash), Minimal formaldehyde content, Low VOC and E0, Hoop pine veneer FSC, PEFC, and Responsible Forestry certified, Green Tag certified Acoustic backing designed and manufactured in Bathurst from 100 per cent Australian materials.
- Five Mile Radius Waste terrazzo kitchen benchtop: Made locally in Brisbane entirely from construction waste (waste concrete and recycled aggregate).
- Laminex decorated MDF MR E0 Kitchen Joinery: Australian fibre and woodchips to AFS and PEFC certification, low VOC levels, low toxicity, made in Australia from the majority of Australian components, certified under Global Green Tag standard, Greenstar, LEED, Earthcheck and WELL Credentials.
- Laminex Compact laminate toilet partitions: Australian made, antimicrobial, stain, impact and scratch resistant, Green Guard certification.
- Woven Image Epoch 100 per cent certified wool fabric to seating nooks: Australian made, Low Voc, Green tag certified, no stain treatments or added chemicals.
- Corian wash planes to amenities: Easy to repair or recondition through its lifespan, 20 per cent recycled content, does not contain any of the materials on the red list, low chemical emissions content. Sheet material is imported, however product itself can be made in Australia.
