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.
