Sensational-Adelaide.com

Student accommodation tower on Waymouth St, dubbed Adelaide’s ‘ugliest’ building, is ultra energy efficient


Richard Evans, The Advertiser
August 3, 2017 9:05pm



IT might look like a post-war Soviet monolith, but residents of the campus accommodation on Waymouth St, have been told the building is ultra energy efficient.
The $32 million, and 428 bed CBD project was all about investing in environmentally sustainable design initiatives.
BSPRE investment director Nick Singleton said: “While livability and sustainability are key considerations for today’s students, we expect to create benefits through reduced operating costs by integrating technologies that significantly lower base building energy usage.”



The new student accommodation building at 231/243 Waymouth St. Picture: Simon Cross

Atira Student Living will manage the property — dubbed one of the “ugliest” — and is expected to open in February next year. Initiatives include also energy efficient heating, LED lighting and centralised gas water heating.
The building, which is opposite the Grace Emily pub on the western end of Waymouth St, is CEFC’s first venture into student accommodation anywhere in Australia and will look to set itself apart via top notch ventilation and air conditioning, water efficient taps and a 25kW rooftop solar photovoltaic system.




It might be ugly, but the new student accommodation tower on Waymouth St is super energy efficient. Picture: Simon Cross




“We looked at a number of options, the building is close to UniSA and the University of Adelaide and Adelaide has a strong focus on education with a good number of international students,” he said.
“We hope the building makes a contribution to Adelaide by providing excellent energy efficiency that will attract more students to the city.”
The purpose-built apartment complex is a joint venture investment between Blue Sky Private Real Estate (BSPRE) and Goldman Sachs, with BSPRE also the project developer.
The building was designed by national architect Hayball and has been constructed by Hindmarsh (Adelaide).
CEFC chief executive officer Ian Learmonth said the project will lift the benchmark for building standards in student accommodation and is an important step toward achieving net zero carbon buildings.
“The CEFC has a clear focus on investing in clean energy in industry sectors with the strongest potential for decarbonisation. We have committed more than $600 million to the property sector in support of market leading projects such as this one.
“With inefficient property contributing to almost a quarter of Australia’s emissions, any improvements in this area will have much broader benefits.”
CEFC has previously set up a $170 million deal to build 500 new energy efficient homes in Sydney.

rhino wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 07, 2017 12:41 pm

I wouldn't have a problem with its looks if it wasn't right outside my freakin' window!

monotonehell wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 08, 2017 12:21 pm

rhino wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 07, 2017 12:41 pm

I wouldn't have a problem with its looks if it wasn't right outside my freakin' window!

Oh Oh Oh!

NIMBY! HAHAHA!

I'm right across from Adelaidian. Not looking forward to the construction noise. But yay!

rhino wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 08, 2017 12:38 pm

Good call, but I never campaigned against it - I just think it's bloody ugly. It's outside my workplace window anyway, and I'm sure that will change

monotonehell wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 08, 2017 12:47 pm

It's one of those, only its architect would love it things. It bends aesthetic design principles just past contrast in pattern outweighing harmony in repetition. Needed some refinement before getting off the drawing board.

If this were a university project, the lecturer would be saying, "I see what you're trying to achieve. Keep trying."