Great building projects don’t choose between past and future, they honour both. The recent transformation of UniLodge Auckland, shows how thoughtful design and specification can protect a building’s heritage while delivering the performance, sustainability, and livability expected of modern student accommodation.
Ashton Mitchell Architects approached the project with clear intent: retain the architectural character, while quietly upgrading the building’s environmental and operational performance. Rather than treating sustainability as an add-on, it was embedded in the design decisions from the start.
Achieving a 5 Green Star Design & As-Built rating is no small task and by gaining this status, it highlights how a series of deliberate design choices, focused on environmental responsibility and long-term operational efficiency, can have a substantial impact:
- High-performance façade and thermal envelope reducing energy demand.
- Efficient mechanical, electrical and hydraulic systems designed for long-term operational savings.
- Water-saving fixtures and infrastructure improving building efficiency.
- Low-carbon, responsibly sourced materials reducing embodied environmental impact.
- Healthy indoor environmental quality, supporting resident wellbeing.
In a building with hundreds of daily occupants, small specification decisions add up quickly and washrooms are a great example. Traditional paper towel systems create an endless cycle of waste, restocking and maintenance; none of which align with the sustainable heart of this project. To maintain sustainability, Supreme Dri Bubble hand dryers were specified.
Drying hands in just 12 seconds, with a Quiet Mark accreditation to boot, the Supreme Dri Bubble boasts high performance and energy efficiency. Including a multi-layer air purification system, with a HEPA filter, plasma ion generator and UV-C lamp, this is a hygiene champion to suit the 18 storey titan. Add a 5-year warranty and a simple ‘Click and Connect’ system for easy installation and maintenance, and it’s a specification that makes sense; environmentally, operationally, and architecturally.
The Unilodge Auckland Central redevelopment shows how sustainability ambitions can be translated into practical design decisions. Heritage retained, performance improved, and a building that will operate efficiently long after the ribbon cutting.