Bradfield ‘first building’ shows the way to green future

Building a sustainable and resilient future for Western Sydney from the ground up, Bradfield’s first building sets a strong precedent for future development in Australia’s first new city in 100 years. 

With deep respect for the environment and Dharug Country, the building responds to the challenges facing our planet today through innovative design choices that minimise energy consumption, manage heat and reduce waste.

From the very core, the first building’s modular design makes it adaptable to future changes, allowing components to be disassembled, reconfigured or reused as Bradfield evolves.

Bradfield is located next to Western Sydney Airport and the aerotropolis.

The large roof structure enables water harvesting, solar energy generation and shading to the façades below, as well as supporting 14,000 biodiverse native low-maintenance plants adapted to Western Sydney’s heat. Combined, these elements ensure the building operates efficiently and reduces heat absorption.

In the central atrium, 16 rammed earth wall panels provide a strong connection to the surrounding Cumberland Plain while helping to maintain a constant internal temperature through high thermal mass.

 Constructed on site from raw earth materials, at end of life the walls can be broken back down and reused.

Natural ventilation can also be used to cool the building by opening the atrium and façade panels to the breeze.

During hot summer nights, air can be purged through the chimney stacks, effectively cooling the building and reducing reliance on mechanical systems.

Bradfield City Centre is one of the biggest economic development projects ever undertaken in Australia.

Ambitious targets have been set to enable a vibrant, modern city with exceptional sustainability and resilience to flourish.

Over 30 percent of Bradfield will be dedicated open space, with an average 40 percent tree canopy cover throughout the city.

Sustainable development controls include passive thermal features in buildings, cooling urban design measures through thoughtful street and building orientation, use of cool materials in public realm design and mandatory green roofs.

“We’ve made ambitious commitments to sustainability and resilience in the new Bradfield City Centre and in building a stronger future for Western Sydney,’’ says

Bradfield Development Authority CEO Ken Morrison.

“The First Building is designed to address climate impacts now and into the future and sets an incredible benchmark for future development in Australia’s first new city in 100 years.” 

Liz Westgarth is managing director at Hassell and principal in charge of the project.

“As Bradfield City Centre takes shape, the first building is a bold statement about how we can design for a sustainable and resilient future, ensuring the longevity of our buildings through design adaptability and circularity,’’ she says.

“The first building proves that you can innovate, that you can create something extraordinary for a public, government project. It’s time to move forward, to embrace new ideas and to show that sustainability and great design belong together.

“And the first building at Bradfield is our proof.”

First building sustainability facts:

• 1300sqm Green Roof with biodiverse planting of 14,000 native plants, enhancing the building’s thermal performance by blocking solar radiation on the roof and providing insulation.
• Roof top planting helps enhance local biodiversity and reduces temperatures hitting the roof by as much as 20 degrees.
• 180kW solar PV on rooftop with 460kWh battery on-site to power the building and efficiently manage power needs.
• Mass timber design with low embodied carbon. The prefabricated timber structure was fixed together on site.
• Building designed for disassembly and can be disassembled at the end of building use. The structure can be taken apart or relocated to a different site or components re-purposed for a different use/building type.
• Rammed earth panels made of locally sourced materials are low in embodied carbon and have good thermal mass properties.
• Wide eaves shade the building, reduce heat ingress and reduce energy consumption.
• In-ground 150kL rainwater tank collects rainwater harvested from the large roof structure. Rainwater is stored, treated and reused on-site for landscape irrigation and grey water use.
• Native landscaping of predominantly local endemic species, supporting and enhancing local biodiversity
• Use of “green” concrete, using 40% less Portland cement than standard concrete mixes.
• Two rapid EV chargers on site.