Solar skin complete at CBUS Property’s 435 Bourke Street

Detailed summary

The Fifth Estate - It was a “challenging project” involving technical smarts and a lot of early collaboration but at last the much vaunted solar “skin” on the facade of Cbus…

It was a “challenging project” involving technical smarts and a lot of early collaboration but at last the much vaunted solar “skin” on the facade of Cbus Property’s 435 Bourke Street in Melbourne has been completed.

The building now boasts a facade covered with 2679 square metres of a building integrated photovoltaic systems spanning the tower’s facade, crown and rooftop. It comprises 1391 integrated solar panels with a peak capacity of 375 kilowatts. The developer claims it will be one of the world’s first large scale solar facade in a commercial office tower.

The solar skin which sits within the building envelope will generate renewable electricity while also providing passive shading in selected areas. CBUS Property said this was part of an emerging movement to combine on site renewable energy with elements of architectural design.

Modelling showed the facade will generate up to 20 per cent of the building’s base electricity requirements on site and the rest supplied through an offsite renewable energy arrangement. The building is targeting a 6 Star Green Star rating.

Collaborators on the project, which is close to practical completion, are architects Bates Smart and builder Multiplex, BG&E Engineers, amid a list of other specialist project partners.

Cbus Property chief executive Chris Kakoufas said this was a “defining moment for sustainable commercial development in Australia.

“Successfully installing 435 Bourke Street’s solar skin is a significant achievement for our project team and partners, not to mention a tangible demonstration of how innovation and sustainability can be embraced to enhance a building’s performance while contributing to its architectural identity.”

He added that the facade will reduce operational costs for tenants and emissions from grid consumption “while creating a distinctive visual identity for the tower”.

Multiplex regional managing director for Victoria and South Australia, Ross Snowball, said installing the solar skin had been “one of…

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