Sydney Water office with sustainable features

Water and energy efficiencies and recycling

The NSW government has moved 1400 jobs to Parramatta with the official opening of Sydney Water's headquarters in May. The building at One Smith Street, Parramatta (built and owned by Brookfield Multiplex), was designed to achieve a 5-star green rating.

Water Minister Phil Costa said Sydney Water had moved from an ageing CDB office block to a modern, water- and energy-efficient office building. “This is a fitting headquarters for Sydney Water and an excellent example of an environmentally sustainable workplace,” he said.

The building is designed to use 75% less drinking water than a standard office building and reduce carbon emissions by about 30%. Using less water reduces the flow of wastewater to the sewerage system by up to 90%.

An on-site water recycling plant provides recycled water for toilet flushing and cooling towers. A 100,000 L rainwater tank provides additional water for toilets and cooling towers. Solar panels supplement hot water requirements. The building also includes water-efficient toilets, showers and taps, and water and energy use is monitored to ensure ongoing efficient use of the building.

A chilled beam air-conditioning system is used instead of conventional air conditioning, which reduces energy use. It works by running chilled water through cooling elements in the ceiling. Rising warm air is cooled by chilled beams and then descends, due to natural convection. The glass facade controls the amount of heat entering the building without reducing natural light.

Wherever possible, construction materials used were made from renewable sources or have a high recycled content and were produced with minimal greenhouse gas production and ozone depletion.

Located next to public transport, the building has showers, bike racks and other facilities to encourage staff to commute in a more sustainable way.