Environmental sustainability, in all stages of
the architectural and construction process and facility management,
is becoming part of the mainstream thinking of institutional and
commercial building in Australia.
As organisations continue to develop policies
and guidelines for Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD)
in the delivery of their projects, it is necessary for architects
to respond with systems designed to manage the integration of ESD
principles at all stages of the design and construction process.
FMSA is committed to providing integrated sustainable
outcomes for the built environment. This means using design as a
bridge between human needs, culture and ecology. For the client
this provides:
- statutory compliance with ESD legislation
- streamlined planning processes
- real savings in life cycle and running costs
- reduced operational and maintenance costs
The development of sound ESD strategies for the
design, construction, operation and management of buildings requires
the evaluation of expected environmental outcomes against the real
costs associated with sustainable building practice. FMSA is a leader
in the field of implementation of ESD principles and new methodologies,
which have been developed for the more efficient use of energy and
water resources and minimization of waste in building design. FMSA
recently won an award in the ESD Housing Competition sponsored by
the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
Many of the principles relating to water conservation,
natural ventilation, induction heating and cooling and various methods
of water recycling have been implemented in recent projects such
as the Wesley College, Chum Creek Outdoor Education Centre, housing
for the elderly at Victory Boulevard, Ashburton for the Office of
Housing and the Latrobe Valley District Courts and Police Services
Complex.
FMSA constructed the ‘Eco-House’
a public educational resource project in ESD located in the St Kilda
Botanic Gardens. FMSA is a member of the Alternative Energy Association
(ATA), the Sustainable Energy Foundation (SEF), Energy Smart Business
(Sustainable Energy Authority) and Waste Wise Business (Eco Recycle
Victoria).
|