Ryan Residence
Small Residence
WD Architects was awarded the University of the Sunshine Coast Golden Glossy Award for Excellence in Sustainable Design for a Professional with construction cost over $350K at the Sunshine Coast Council's annual Glossy Awards ceremony on 26th June. The winning project is the Library/Resource Centre at the Noosa Pengari Steiner School in Doonan.
Funded by the Building the Education Revolution (BER) initiative of the federal government and brought in under budget by an ethical and skilled Sunshine Coast team including WD Architects, James Burrell Commercial builders and the School community, the Library/Resource Centre at Noosa Pengari Steiner School is an excellent example of sustainable building in an educational context.
Employing energy-efficient design responsive to the micro-climate of the site, sustainably-sourced timbers, low-embodied energy materials and non-toxic finishes, with universal accessibility, water-saving features, minimal impact on the surrounding bushland and plans for edible gardens later this year, this project covers all of the bases for truly sustainable building.
Designed by WD Architects to be a useful, beautiful and didactic building and built to a high standard by James Burrell Commercial, the Library/Resource Centre is an inspiring learning environment developed in an environmentally responsible and ethical manner in keeping with the principles that underpin all aspects of the school.
Lead by Gamble McKinnon Green with building concepts by WD Architects, the Maleny Community Precinct Master Plan is completed for presentation to Council. Read more about it at MySunshineCoast.com.au and on Council's website.
WD Architects have attained a prequalification (PQC) level of 3 with the Queensland Government which represents industry best practice for a continually improving quality management system in accordance with ISO 9001-2008. We will be seeking third-party accreditation of our Quality Management System in the coming months.
The new school library / resource centre designed by WD Architects and built by JBH Commercial was open for use on the first day of the new school year. The building is designed for the micro-climate by being shaped to catch prevailing breezes and employing a simple under-floor temperature regulation strategy, keeping the building cool in summer and warm in winter without the need for air conditioning. The design uses sustainably-sourced timbers, non-toxic finishes including Rockcote claycote render and Ecostyle paints, composting toilets and energy-efficient lighting.
The library / resource centre was funded by the Federal government BER program as the first stage of a larger project for the school which includes a multi-purpose hall and music/dance room which are under construction with completion scheduled for mid-August. Judging by media reports on problems with other BER projects, these buildings for the Steiner School are a rare success story with project having a high quality of design and construction in a highly sustainable manner and coming in under budget thanks to the efforts and talents of WD Architects working closely with the school community and with the good fortune of having a quality, ethical builder in JBH Commercial.
Our new office at 30 King Street, Cooran is a renovation of a early 1900's industrial building. We have used all of our favorite materials and principles in the reno including Ortech Durra straw bales, Rockcote no-VOC paints and clay render, Ecowood Danish oil, recycled timbers and cypress pine, ecoply, PVC and halogen-free electrical cable, reused furnishings, energy-efficient lighting, natural ventilation, and left what we could of the existing. We have a multi-purpose function space which will be used by Jo Turner (formerly of Noosa Living Smart) for Sustainable Design workshops on Cooran Eco Market days (1st and 3rd Saturday of each month) - schedule to be confirmed. The renos will be completed over the next month.
WD Architects has been selected to design two new buildings for the school - a performance hall and a 'state of the art' library. The projects will enhance the school's facilities while remaining faithful to the environmental ethos shared by WD Architects and the school community. Both buildings will be completed by the end of 2010.
Nicknamed "Marilyn," as she's very curvaceous, the straw bale shade structure at Yandina Permaculture Group was completed today during a clay rendering workshop run by Bob Cameron of Rockcote. The walls were built in November during a 3 day workshop run by Lance Kairl of South Australia. The project was sponsored by Rockcote, Sunshine Coast Regional Council and WD Architects. See the photos in our Public portfolio. All those who love Gaudi, say "I".
New photos by Nikki Bezel have been added to our medical portfolio.
The new Wildlife Warriors Australian Wildlife Hospital, designed by WD Architects, opened its doors on Saturday the 13th of September. The eco-friendly building is the largest dedicated wildlife hospital in the world and will be a major boost to Wildlife Warriors' conservation, education and research programs. The official opening will be held on Steve Irwin Day, November 15th, 2008. |  |
The directors of WD Architects, Andrew Webb and Chris Duffy, have completed Green Star training and are now Green Star Accredited Professionals. See the Green Building Council website for information on Green Star objectives.
