It’s not only clients that are raving about the facility; the MCEC’s facility mangers are also extremely happy, as the building’s technology allows it to flex easily with demand, while the building users guide, developed to Green Star standards, has ensured that all team members have an informed and consistent approach towards building usage.
To maintain optimum performance and deliver the best environmental outcomes, the facility management team is constantly tweaking the building’s central plant and building systems. In order to understand the impact of these changes, Plenary Group collects data on all of the facility’s operations to establish a baseline from which it can drive improvements. They will have enough data by 2011 to produce a reliable baseline which will help to deliver optimal operational performance across the Centre’s entire events calendar.
At present, the biggest sustainability issue facing the team has been the Centre’s overwhelming popularity. With the schedule booked solid for the next five years, the team has rarely had the chance to utilise the set-back conditions which reduce energy consumption when not in use. Nevertheless, this is without doubt a challenge that every major centre around the world would love to encounter.
GREEN ENHANCES PRESTIGE
A range of international reports have found that green buildings are more likely to attract grants, awards, subsidies and other incentives that demonstrate environmental stewardship, increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The MCEC’s innovation and ingenuity has been rewarded with dozens of awards, including the 2010 Victorian Architecture Medal, the prestigious Banksia Foundation Built Environment Award 2009, the 2010 Australian Construction Achievement Award, as well as recognition by the Design Institute of Australia for its contribution to Victoria’s next generation of public amenity.
20:20 HINDSIGHT