Australian hearing solution innovator Cochlear Limited is introducing latest green solutions in the upcoming opening of its new global headquarters in Sydney’s northern suburbs - integrating its research, manufacture and distribution centres into one modern facility. 

Engineering advisory Hyder was the consultancy of choice for the project, providing design services from concept to construction to meet Cochlear’s distinct vision of a modern, yet functional facility.

“This was a challenging project as we had to come up with innovative solutions to meet our client’s specialised tenant requirements, while keeping up with latest sustainability trends,” said Garry Wall, Hyder’s Director of Building Services.    

Spreading over 23,000 square metres inside the Macquarie University Campus in North Ryde, the new building will house the company’s corporate offices, as well as its research, development, testing, clean-room manufacture, warehouse and distribution functions. Cochlear will be the first company of its size in the country to integrate all its operations into one building. 

In almost 30 years, Cochlear has provided hearing solutions to over 200,000 people in more than 100 countries around the world.

Hyder designed the building to meet a minimum energy efficiency rating of 4 stars (Best Practice) according to GreenStar (Green Building Council of Australia) and 5 stars (Best Building Practice) according to standards set out by NABERS (National Australia Built Environment Rating System).  The six-floor building was also graded A by the PCS (Property Council of Australia).

GreenStar ratings assess the environmental potential of buildings based on design information and management processes, while NABERS scales assess energy consumption within buildings, rating their measured operational impacts on the environment.

Achieving the NABERS target marks a key milestone not only for the Cochlear facility but for Hyder, as it underlines the company’s continuing efforts to enhance functionality while reducing operational costs.

A noted innovation includes Hyder’s design and development of a ‘High-Performance Boost' Variable Air Volume (VAV) air conditioning system, which offers advantages over traditional VAV systems and achieves the near energy efficiency of a chilled beam system at a fraction of the cost. Key benefits include:

§  Easy maintenance, operation and control (based on VAV technology)

§  5 Star NABERS energy

§  Inexpensive tenancy fit-out achieved to general areas by relocating diffusers and adjusting/ adding VAV boxes

§  Capacity to cater for high tenant heat or equipment loads (such as required for manufacturing or boardrooms)

§  HP Boost system replaced the need for a condenser water system to serve meeting rooms (this saved considerable fit-out costs)

§  Fewer roof top air handling units required which reduced overall plantroom size

§  Smaller plant room sizes facilitating the integration of Stage 2 plant without compromising the bulk on the roof

§  Capital cost savings for the air conditioning system and building works generally.

Table 1: potential spatial savings using traditional VAV as basis of comparison