Afterthoughts

Places of interest during the UTA Fort Worth Center’s Sustainability Course in New Zealand & Australia.

Auckland:

The Iron Bank would make an excellent choice for the Sustainability course as it focuses on a mixed use building with a focus on “environmentally-sustainable design”. The system in place for the robotic car stacking design showcased is a recurring theme in several possible sights and can prove to be an innovative design with population dense areas within the United States.

Geyser Building is the first Green Star Office certified green building. Although currently under construction it affords the opportunity to see a design in progress and it’s possible affects on future construction projects.

Waiheke Island:

Waiheke Island is receiving a considerable amount of press with a recent project called the Lite House Show Home. The intrigue of this show home is due in part by the considerable measures the design company has put into the making of “New Zealand’s most sustainable mixed use building” With the opportunity to tour this facility, students and faculty will have the ability to ask pertinent questions and understand the current trends in sustainable development.

Te Whau Winery affords an excellent look at sustainable practices within New Zealand’s viticulture movement. This winery is considered on of the founding members of the movement whose future prospects include a conversion to organic and Biodynamic wine production

Rotorua:

As within the US sustainable development movement, hotels are taking a direct approach with reaching out to the budding “green” clientele. The Millennium Hotel, a Qualmark Enviro-Gold Accredited business, will allow for a general understanding of New Zealand’s hotel marketing strategy and implementation methods.

As with the Millennium Hotel, other businesses such as the Rotorua Aquatic Centre are trying to capitalize and lead the new “green” businesses in New Zealand. This type of “green” business is infrequently seen in the US and would provide a unique opportunity for students to see cutting edge design and question if such businesses are possible within stateside marketplaces.

Queenstown:

During this coursework it would be fascinating to compare New Zealand’s educational  advancements with sustainable education. Otago Polytechnic has created a school specifically for this purpose. The educational benefits for students currently enrolled in the UTA Fort Worth Center’s program would be greatly enhanced by understanding the current curriculum.

Sydney:

30 The Bond is perhaps one of the most interesting building design viewing opportunities for students within this sustainability program. The building is considered a leader in innovation with sustainable design and implementation. Its chilled beam technology is a point of interest. It also serves as the first 5 star Green Star office located in Australia.

Sydney also provides an excellent opportunity to understand sustainability practices within the food and hospitality services. Grazing and Sean’s Panaroma offer a new take on the “slow” food movement which has recently taken storm in America. These restaurants focus on not only organic ingredients but on growing or sourcing the ingredients within a hundred miles of their businesses.