BNZ tops off offices with Green Star rating

Innovative design and waste minimisation helped BNZ achieve a 5 Green Star Office Interiors rating for the two newest floors of its central Auckland office.

When BNZ expanded its eight-floor tenancy in the Deloitte Building (at 80 Queen St) to floors 9 and 10, it undertook a Green Star Interiors fitout to ensure the new space was energy and water efficient, with an environment that supports team-working.

Throughout the fitout, BNZ either reused or recycled 97% of construction and demolition waste, exceeding Green Star benchmarks.

The floors are flexible workspaces, meaning no one has an assigned desk and people can work anywhere depending on the task they are doing. There are shared collaboration spaces in the premium corners of the buildings, which benefit from natural light and external views.

Jo Monaghan, BNZ Workplace Design Manager, says this helps people use space more efficiently, leading to lower energy consumption per employee. 

“The aim of the project was to look at how we could create a new way of working which was flexible and efficient and gave the highest-quality spaces to the staff. Pre and post occupancy surveys show that they feel the new spaces are more closely aligned to the BNZ brand and culture and they feel more productive in them. This demonstrates the success of the project, which is contributed to by both the quality of the internal environment and the design.”

BNZ has a strong record of providing Green Star-rated interiors for staff. The bank’s fit-out of the Harbour Quays Building in Wellington was the first 6 Green Star Office Interiors rating (the highest possible, denoting world leadership). Its fit-out of Quay Park One in Auckland also achieved a 5 Green Star Office Interiors rating.

NZ Green Building Council chief executive Alex Cutler says BNZ will reap the rewards of its commitment to sustainable offices, from cost savings to the positive impact on staff wellbeing.

“The value of Green Star for an office fitout is that it provides a sound framework and independent validation that you’ve achieved a high-quality environment for staff,” Ms Cutler says. 

“Paying close attention to light levels, air quality, energy use and healthy material choices all bring tangible benefits for occupants’ health, wellbeing and productivity. And as BNZ’s research shows, they’re reaping the benefits through staff satisfaction.”

Other features of BNZ’s fitout include:

• lighting design and workspace planning that maximises daylight and external views;
• reconfiguration of existing lighting and HVAC system, including installing presence sensors;
• extensive greenery to improve internal air quality and enhance connection to the outdoors;
• reuse of ceiling tiles, carpets, lighting and blinds;
• selecting low-VOC and environmentally certified materials and furniture;
• energy-efficient appliances and water-efficient fitting; and 
• recycling programme through which waste is measured and reduced.

BNZ also achieved a 5 Green Star Interiors rating for its tenancy on floors 1-­8 of the Deloitte Building. The building at 80 Queen Street, owned by Sabina Ltd, also holds a 5 Green Star Office Design and Built rating.