The Living Building Challenge is an international performance standard for building projects of all scales, and calls for the completion of projects that operate as cleanly and efficiently as the natural world in which they are built. Waterfront Auckland is looking to step up to that challenge.
"It's a commitment to good design and excellence in building quality, and these are the key ingredients for ensuring that people can occupy a space in the most healthy and sustainable way," explains John Dalzell, Waterfront Auckland CEO.
To achieve certification under the programme, projects must satisfy performance requirements organised under headings of Site, Water, Energy, Health, Materials, Equity and Beauty. One such requirement is a net zero of energy, waste and water over the first 12 months of occupancy. More than just a set of requirements to be adhered to, the Challenge is a design philosophy and an educational tool for the development of cities around the world.
To date, six international buildings have been certified under the scheme, one of which is New Zealand's Te Uru Taumatua, which serves as the headquarters for Tuhoe.
Waterfront Auckland met with Jason McLennan, Executive Director of the Living Building Challenge, and last year collaborated to host a workshop on the program. Now, the Waterfront development project is keeping the Challenge at the heart of its efforts, and is set to produce a number of Living Buildings. Part of the development - a block of mews housing being constructed in partnership with real estate developer Willis Bond - is set to get the Living Building treatment.
"Internationally, this is where the market is moving," explains Dalzell. "In terms of creating more sustainable apartments and office space, it's about starting to measure them across a broad spectrum of sustainability build criteria, but also deeper than that - measuring them across all aspects of health and wellbeing as well."