Calder Stewart Development and Studio D4, the development partnership responsible for the 5 Star Green Star InnoV8 building in Christchurch, have delivered another sustainable showcase building, with Kathmandu’s new HQ, Papa Kainga, awarded a 5 Star Green Star Design rating this month by the New Zealand Green Building Council.
Also located in Christchurch’s Innovation Precinct, the 4650-square-metre, three-level building was officially opened in June this year and is a base for around 180 Kathmandu staff.
The end investor in the development is Tuam Street East, and the company is leasing it under an exclusive long-term agreement.
Co-director of Studio D4 Paul Naylor said choosing to get a Green Star rating was an “easy decision”, due to the value the independent verification of sustainability has for both tenants and future purchasers.
“A smart long-term investment is one that’s attractive to tenants, while costing less to run and maintain, and a Green Star building ticks both those boxes,” Mr Naylor said.
“We aimed to set a high standard with the Papa Kainga and InnoV8 buildings, and we’re very pleased with the results.”
Papa Kainga was designed by AQUA, and its sustainability features include a high-performance double-glazed façade, automated blinds that respond to the sun in order to maximise daylight while managing heat levels, and a highly efficient ventilation system that brings in outdoor air at a rate 50 per cent above NZ Building Code requirements.
The building also had an integrated fitout design to reduce construction waste, and 90 per cent of construction waste still generated was diverted from landfill.
Both FSC-certified timber and recycled timber from buildings destroyed in the Christchurch earthquakes were used, as well as low VOC-floor coverings including rubber floors made from recycled tyres, PVC-free pipework, low-flow water fittings, LED lighting and occupant detector systems to reduce lighting energy use. To encourage low-carbon transport, it has facilities for fuel-efficient and carpool car parking, and also cyclist facilities.
Kathmandu’s general manager marketing, online and international Paul Stern said the new HQ builds on the company’s commitment to sustainability.
As detailed in the company’s 2015 sustainability report, this commitment includes how its products are manufactured and reducing the company’s operational footprint in terms of waste and greenhouse gas emissions. It has also worked with the Green Building Council of Australia to develop its own Sustainable Store Standard, which it aims to make available to other retailers.
“We recognise that how businesses are run has a major impact on the environment, and it was important that we moved into a building with a strong sustainability ethos,” Mr Stern said.
“The attention to reducing waste in all areas of the building is better for the environment and our running costs, so it’s a win-win situation. We’re excited about our new home.”
NZGBC chief executive Alex Cutler said consumers were increasingly looking for evidence of corporate responsibility from companies.
“We’re delighted to see that Kathmandu’s comprehensive sustainability strategy is extended to the buildings they occupy, both here and in Australia,” Ms Cutler said.
“We’d love to see more market-leading buildings in the innovation precinct, and indeed all across Christchurch. The city deserves it.”