“We wanted to create an environment that was really collaborative and where people were pumped up about coming into work, and also to include important local Mana Whenua themes to ensure we create an inclusive environment.”
“We wanted to create an environment that was really collaborative and where people were pumped up about coming into work, and also to include important local Mana Whenua themes to ensure we create an inclusive environment.”
Sustainable Design & Construction
Most modern construction and design firms make some effort towards building sustainably, to reduce carbon emissions, align with government targets, and appeal to investors and buyers.
This can mean starting with responsibly-sourced, renewable materials, minimising waste during construction, and recycling materials removed during an upgrade or rebuild. Features like wastewater recycling, passive heating and cooling, and automated lighting, heating and utilities help optimise energy use and minimise impact over the life of the building. Depending on the build, innovative tools like solar panels, rainwater harvesting and green roofing can push sustainability even further – helping reduce water waste and storing carbon.
Like cultural sustainability, environmental sustainability should be considered and integrated from the beginning – that’s how it works at Expedite. The goal is to minimise the impact on the environment at the building stage and in the long term.
Reshaping commercial construction
ESG factors used to be seen as fringe issues in the commercial property market. Over the past decades, this has shifted, with more and more investors, buyers and tenants actively seeking properties that reflect these values. Companies in the industry have followed, looking for ways to embed sustainability and ethics into their builds.
Expedite has always been ahead of the pack in sustainability. We have been committed to diverse, culturally-responsive practices for a long time, engaging with Māori and Pasifika communities, working with green building associations, and weaving our values into everything we do. It starts with proactive planning to help us identify potential impacts and optimising resource use with our Lean Delivery method.
Our sustainable commitments include:
- Amotai membership – helps us connect with Māori and Pasifika businesses.
- New Zealand Green Building Council membership – illustrates our commitment to environmental stewardship.
- Sustainable, ethical sourcing – choosing materials and equipment that are produced ethically, with minimal impact on people or the environment
- Carbon neutrality – equipment and vehicles use biofuels or renewable energy as much as possible.
- Recycling and reuse – reuse and repurpose materials during renovation or upgrade projects, and recycle packaging and other building waste.
- Resource efficiency – through optimisation of building materials, energy-efficient practices and renewable energy use
- Water conservation – efficient water use on building sites and minimising pollution risk
- Local sourcing – by choosing local providers, we reduce transport emissions and support the local economy.
“Our collaboration with Expedite was absolutely critical to the delivery of this project. The expertise they brought… their project management skills, and the experience they’ve had across many projects was critical to us.”
“Our collaboration with Expedite was absolutely critical to the delivery of this project. The expertise they brought… their project management skills, and the experience they’ve had across many projects was critical to us.”
Sustainability Case Study:
WSP Tāmaki Makaurau Office
We recently worked with WSP, an architectural and design firm, to refurbish their Westhaven office. It’s a fitting example of cultural integration and sustainable design – as well as our collaborative, human-centred approach. Built to embody ‘Te Mauri o te Wai’ – the life force of water – the project centres Mana Whenua in its elements and design.
Design that lives in the landscape
Cultural integration was embedded in every part of the WSP project. The result is a layout that feels fluid and open, encouraging a natural flow of people around the space. Materials and textures were chosen to evoke the clarity and purity of water, with a focus on natural materials. Details and motifs drawn from local Mana Whenua anchor the space in a cultural context, making it feel like part of the landscape.
Sustainability in everything
With a design that strongly connects to the natural environment, sustainability made sense for the WSP office update. The first step was a Carbon Calculator, which we used to assess the potential carbon footprint for the project and find areas for improvement.
These improvements included reusing, donating and recycling materials from the previous fit-out to extend their life and minimise waste. One example: old carpets were donated to WSP staff to reuse. We used natural and renewable materials throughout the build, reducing the impact even further.
This laser focus on sustainability aligns with Expedite’s values – and WSP’s. The company is committed to reducing market-based greenhouse emissions 60% by 2030, and minimising the impact of its office project is one piece of the puzzle.
