Commonwealth Games headquarters a gold medal success

Commonwealth Games headquarters a gold medal successBy recycling a vacant TAFE building, the new headquarters for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) show why sport and sustainability are a winning combination.The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will be the biggest multi-sport event in Australia this decade, attracting more than 6,600 athletes and team officials from 70 nations, as well as 15,000 volunteers and 1.5 million spectators.Such an event is years in the making, and GOLDOC needed a facility which would grow as its workforce expanded from in 2014 to more than 1,000 employees when the opening ceremony commences on 4 April 2018.The project has 4 Star Green Star rating for its interior fitout – a rating which Green Building Council of Australia chief executive officer Romilly Madew says was achieved on a tight budget and a “reduce, reuse and recycle philosophy”.Recycled materials feature throughout – including wall panelling behind the reception desk, made from the floor of a basketball court being demolished in Brisbane, reused work stations and refreshed carpet tiles.More than 360 indoor plants in the tenancy improve the air quality of the office today, and will be used to decorate the rooms in the athletes’ village during the Games.A running track at the entryway of the building is another clever twist, signalling GOLDOC’s focus on the sporting event and active living.An industry-leading recycling scheme includes 12 colour-coded waste streams. Staff collect everything from organic waste, coffee pods and soft plastics to broken glass and crockery, which will be used for an art project. GOLDOC also launched a re-usable coffee cup initiative, and the local café provides a discount for using reusable cups.Jay Adderley, GOLDOC’s catering, cleaning and waste manager, says the results have been very positive “People are recycling more and implementing more streams at home as well. This will also assist us with our streams at Games-time as staff will be familiar with the various options available.”GOLDOC is working hard to eliminate physical barriers to participation in the Games, and was awarded a Green Star Innovation point for its accessibility initiatives. Modifications to the space – such as removing the curb to the visitor’s carpark to create level access to the front entrance, upgrading accessible parking spaces and providing hearing loop systems in major meeting rooms – are just three examples of this.Similarly, a Reconciliation Action Plan, the first of its kind to be delivered by a major event in Australia, outlines the practical actions the organisers will take to build strong relationships and respect between Indigenous and other Australians. GOLDOC Chairman Peter Beattie says he hopes the office will “inspire other organisations and the community to make smart, sustainable choices.”