Case Study
Waitakere Civic Centre, Auckland New Zealand
(photo above)
Louvretec is commited to sustainability and improving the environmental performance of buildings. Below is an extract from an independent environmental assessment carried out in 2008 on the award winning Waitakere Council Civic Centre.
Louvretec 300mm and 600mm Maxi Louvres were custom designed to be a stand out visual feature on this stunning building and also a key passive element in the centre's outstanding environmental performance.
"The Waitakere Civic Centre represents the benchmark in sustainable design for government offices in NZ. The building predates the NZGBC greenstar scheme but incorporates all the features of the rating scheme expected in a 5 star building.
Louvretec louves control the sunlight entering the WCC administration block and are critical to the success of the green building philosophy. Thermal mass and daylight control are key ESD (ecologically sustainable design) features made possible through effective external shade.
Louvretec supplied the external louvres on the centre's administration block which were designed to provide excellent control of direct sunlight during working hours between 21st September and 21st March. During the day the louvres allow good natural lighting while controlling glare.
The system is an intergral part of making displacement HVAC (climate control) a success as the floor slab acts as shaded thermal mass during summer."
Extract from environmental report by
Neil Purdie; BE Mech Nons MIPENZ
Head of Mechanical, Connell-Wagner Consultants Ltd
Member of the New Zealand Green Building Council rantings committee, Member of the New Zealand committee for revising Energy Efficiency (Small Building Envelope).