Sustainability Report
Custom Certificates
Embodied carbon
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Adaptive Reuse: The core strategy for reducing embodied carbon was the integration and retention of the existing heritage church façade and the existing Playhouse Theatre structure. By grafting a new building onto an existing one, HASSELL significantly reduced the need for entirely new construction and demolition waste.
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Material Choice: The project utilized Glass-Reinforced Concrete (GRC) for parts of the façade. One source specifically highlights GRC's role in the later Phase 3 (by ARM Architecture, completed 2023) as having a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional concrete, which suggests a focus on material choice across the precinct. For the HASSELL phase, a perforated metal mesh screen was also used for the foyer ceiling.
Operational Emissions / Energy
The use of highly transparent glass for the foyer areas and a translucent channel-glazed volume for the dance studios was designed to maximize light and allow the building to "glow at night." While this is primarily an aesthetic and experiential choice, maximizing natural light typically helps reduce daytime electric lighting demands.
Service and maintenance emissions
The selection of durable materials, such as GRC and metal mesh, suggests a focus on longevity, which inherently reduces the need for frequent replacement (and thus reduces maintenance-related embodied carbon). The building had to remain operational during construction, suggesting maintenance accessibility was a critical planning factor.
Afterlife
The structure is conceived as a modular ‘kit of parts’ using prefabricated mass timber components mechanically fixed and bolted. This enables disassembly, adaptation, and reuse, responding to the evolving needs of the new city, eliminating demolition waste and preserving material value. Guided by First Nations cultural research and design agency Djinjama, the design is deeply embedded in Dharug Country, honouring and respecting the building’s location on the Cumberland Plain and the ephemeral waterways of Wianamatta. The result is a building that contributes to a regenerative urban future, supporting biodiversity, reducing energy demand, and honouring Country through materials and design language. The First Building not only supports its own sustainable performance, but also importantly sets a high benchmark for future buildings in the emerging city.
