Environmentally sustainable design

Since its inception, Studio Pacific has always had a commitment to Environmentally Sustainable Design. In 1995, Studio Pacific director Evzen Novak edited the NZIA Bulletin on the Environment, initiating the Studio's early research into ESD. For many years we simply incorporated ESD principles into our buildings and interiors projects without any particular attention being drawn to them.

The establishment of the New Zealand Green Building Council in 2005 represented the introduction of a formal rating system for sustainable architecture in New Zealand. In the same year, we designed New Zealand’s first Green Star Rated Building, the Meridian Building on Wellington’s waterfront; completed in 2007, it is still recognised as one of New Zealand’s most advanced green buildings.

We continue to incorporate a strong and detailed set of ESD principles into every project we do and we are always actively engaged in looking for new and innovative sustainable technologies. However there are several aspects of our practice in which we are leaders in the field in terms of sustainability: infrastructure, workplace design, heritage and education and housing. Our awards for ESD include:

NZGBC 5 Green Stars (Meridian Building, Wellington)

NZGBC 5 Green Stars (Customhouse Building, Wellington)

NZGBC 5 Green Stars (Aorangi House, Wellington)

NZIA New Zealand Architecture Award for Sustainability 2012 (MOTAT Aviation Display Hall, Auckland)

NZ Wood Timber Design Sustainability Award 2011 (MOTAT Aviation Display Hall, Auckland)

NZIA Wellington Architecture Award for Sustainability 2011 (MOTAT Aviation Display Hall, Auckland)

NZIA Wellington Architecture Award for Sustainable Architecture 2009 (Aorangi House, Wellington)

Sustainable Business Network New Zealand - NZI Sustainable Design and Innovation Award 2008 (Meridian Building, Wellington)

ACENZ - INNOVATE NZ Gold Award of Excellence 2008 (Meridian Building, Wellington)

Property Council New Zealand Excellence Award 2008 Green Building Award (Meridian Building, Wellington)

Property Council New Zealand Excellence Award 2008 Green Building Award (Aorangi House, Wellington)

We were also finalists in the Small Business Trailblazer section of the Sustainable Business Network Awards 2008.

Much of our current research is focused on sustainability and includes an ongoing project examining the thermal performance of a selection of recent Studio Pacific residential projects using modelling software AccuRateNZ, which is discussed in more detail in our Research section.