Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney, Australia

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Design & Construction

Design

The Trust engaged Root Projects Australia Pty Ltd and a consultant team to assist with the development of the Australian PlantBank through the articulation of a business case and concept designs.

Once funding was secured a project team lead by Thinc Projects Australia assisted the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust to assemble a lead design team to design and implement PlantBank. The architectural team, lead by BVN Architecture, have developed detailed designs that have been approved for construction by the relevant authorities.

Sustainability Impacts and Design

Careful consideration has been given to the location of PlantBank within the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan. Functional, technical and environmental issues were examined before identifying the preferred site. The conclusions drawn from the preliminary investigative studies suggest that rather than having a detrimental effect on the environment, the development on the preferred site could result in a positive environmental impact through the rehabilitation and regeneration of Cumberland Plain Woodland as part of this project.

The building design has been briefed to actively incorporate the principles of ecologically sustainable design as far as possible and will include a series of innovative solutions. The solutions include:

  • An intelligent building management control system to monitor consumption of gas, water and electricity.
  • A thermal labyrinth to pre-cool ambient air by up to 7.6 oC prior to it reaching the chiller plant.
  • A 100 kL underground rain water tank recylcing water to the toilets.
  • A passive design, integrated with the building management control system, to minimise use of airconditioning throughout the building (excluding the science laboratories).
  • Low maintenance construction materials including a stainless steel and concrete exterior which also acts as a fire protection mechanism due to the buildings proximity to the critically endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland immediately to the north of the building.

Design and construction program

A detailed program for the project has been developed and is available on request. Key activities and their timing include:

Procurement of an external Project Manager Complete
Procurement of the Design Team Complete
Preparation of Schematic Design Complete
Design Development & DA Approval Complete
Contract Documentation Complete
Main Contract Tender and Award Complete
Main Works Construction Commenced January 2012
Relocation and Occupation mid 2013

 

Mount Annan PlantBank concept
Design concept as developed for the Business Case submission (Lahznimmo Architects)

PlantBank
Current concept design by BVN Architecture

 Daucus glochidiatus fruit illustration
Fruit of Daucus glochidiatus

 

  

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