CASE STUDIES

Investa prides itself on the quality of office accommodation it provides to tenants. It is important that we set the right example with our own office space.

At our new head office in Sydney, Investa has created a landmark fitout from environmental and social perspectives. The office is 30% more energy efficient than the level required to achieve a 5-Star Tenancy rating under the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating (ABGR) and it is only the second office in Australia to achieve a 5-Star Green Star - Office Interiors rating in recognition of the office's broader sustainability credentials, including healthier indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and low construction impacts.

Staff not only receive a sense of satisfaction from working in an innovative and environmentally responsible workspace, they're also healthier. Following is a list of only some of the innovative features incorporated into the new fitout:

• outside air supply volumes have been increased to 50% more than a typical office to give people fresher air (using the supplementary supply normally dedicated to meeting rooms);
• none of the paints emitted harmful fumes - nor will they off-gas harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into the work environment;
• there are no toxic chemicals in any of the joinery substrates;
• PVC was virtually eliminated;
• the office chairs and workstations are highly ergonomic and can all be taken back and dismantled for recycling by their manufacturers at end of life;
• the office waste management system is state-of-the-art including convenient compartmentalised rubbish bins;
• the rubber flooring is recycled and stone flooring was manufactured from waste quarry rubble;
• there is a specially selected pot plant for every person in the office to help filter the air;
• the work station screens are made from recycled PET bottles.

We endeavoured to make sure that the selection of every material and piece of equipment used in the office took into account its effect on the natural environment and the workplace, be it the supplier's factory, the construction site or the place where almost a quarter of our workforce spends its working week.

In August 2006 we relocated our Melbourne CBD office to 120 Collins St and have set equivalent targets for that project as well.