Investa

Investa’s Ark wins Urban Taskforce of Australia 2010 Excellence Award for Development of the Year

Sydney: Investa Property Group's recently completed (Q1, 2010) Ark development at 40 Mount Street, North Sydney has won the Urban Taskforce of Australia 2010 Excellence Award for Development of the Year.

This accolade acknowledges development projects that achieve the best outcomes in terms of client requirements as well as environment, business and community considerations. The award recognises the crucial role of the developer in making a new development an outstanding success.

Investa's General Manager Developments, Tina Tang, comments: "From the outset it was Investa's goal to deliver, in partnership with council and our consultant teams, a landmark, sustainable building that met the needs of the public, tenants and owners.”

Ms Tang adds: “Being awarded the Development of the Year for Ark validates our vision to create a development which embraces tomorrow’s environmental sustainability, design and technology as the core to an inspirational workplace. Ark will set a new benchmark and change the perception and expectation of buildings in North Sydney."

Chris Johnson, chairman of the Urban Taskforce’s panel of judges, commented on Investa Property Group's Ark building: "The Ark office building sets a new approach to architectural form, with its dramatic folded shapes, that can be seen by people flowing from North Sydney station.”

Mr Johnson continues: "The building excels in environmental performance, with a six star green star rating. It uses tri-generation as a single energy source and rainwater is collected and recycled as grey-water. The development includes a strong commitment to public art with a dramatic painting on the foyer ceiling by Aboriginal artist Freddie Timms and an amusing reinterpretation of the wires from the old telephone exchange."

Occupancy at Ark is now 88% to anchor tenant Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA), Vodafone Hutchinson Australia (VHA), Australian Worldwide Exploration (AWE) and global serviced offices group Regus recently taking an upper floor.

Ark has been awarded a 6 Star Green Star – Office Design v2 Certified Rating, which represents ‘World Leadership’ in environmentally sustainable design and has been designed to achieve a 5 Star NABERS Energy rating. It was designed by Rice Daubney and built by Thiess.

This award is considered an outstanding achievement that pays tribute to the integrated effort of many departments at Investa: development, marketing, property management, finance and facilities management.

On time completion of Ark also demonstrates Investa's ability to deliver developments through one of the most difficult economic climates experienced in recent times, whilst maintaining the integrity and overall vision of the development.

This award is the second that Investa Property Group has received this week. It was also awarded ‘Commercial Property Sustainability Award’ at the 2010 Green Globe Awards.

About Ark, 40 Mount Street
Ark is a striking new landmark A–grade office building in the heart of North Sydney comprising 28,500m2 over 21 levels. Embracing tomorrow’s environmental sustainability, design and technology as the core to an inspirational workplace, Ark truly is a new generation office tower for a new generation of business.

Ark will include two highly significant works of public art – a painting on the foyer ceiling by Aboriginal artist Freddie Timms and a sculpture sited directly on street level by Hany Armanious and Mary Teague.

Ark’s green features include:
• Tri-generation power supply
• Grey-water recycling system,
• Efficient lighting and controls,
• Natural light from three sides (side services core)
• Parking and charging bays for electric and hybrid pool cars,
• Cycling facilities (including bike racks, lockers and showers),
• A 3D Building Information Model (BIM) which combines all of the design as-built information about the architecture, services and fit outs in the building. This allows for both efficient construction and operation, and is leading technology in the industry.
• Part of Investa’s EcoSpace initiative that brings together a range of inclusions that lift a tenancy’s environmental and commercial performance

investa.com.au/ark