Auckland's first six Green Star-rated building is just about to open its doors.
Office dwellers of the future won't have the pasty fluorescent-light tan and the physiognomies adapted to breathing only air conditioned climates. The office buildings of the future will use natural light and cleverly ventilated air flow to bring workers closer to the rhythms of the day and make them happier and healthier.
After 14 years of on-and-off planning and development, a new building in Parnell promises to be an example of the future of environmentally conscious commercial development. The Geyser building on Parnell road is Auckland's first 6 Green Star rated eco building and represents a milestone for sustainable architecture and a benchmark for the industry.
"It's a huge leap forward for Parnell, but it's a huge leap forward for the whole country," says Marco Creemers, Samson Corporation general manager, who oversaw the new development. "It's a common sense thing really; you're spending so much money on a big asset, you want to make sure that it's going to be here for a long time and that it's going to be really efficient."
Mr Creemers says the buildings offer tenants a stylish space that will have only one-third of the overheads. Environmentally-friendly design elements like the courtyard for natural light, the solar panels for hot water and the natural ventilation to replace air-conditioning promise to make the space a more affordable choice in the long term.