CASE STUDIES

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An 'Inside Out' Shopping Centre

Asset: Rouse Hill Town Centre
Category: Asset Case Studies
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Rouse Hill Town Centre is Australias first regional retail centre to demonstrate a comprehensive approach to world class
social and environmental sustainability. It has pioneered a new approach to retail development and is underpinned by a
range of sustainability initiatives.
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the town centre design is the concept of turning a typical shopping centre box inside
out to create a series of open streets. In its first year of operation the town centre achieved a 34% reduction in energy use
as compared to the average NSW retail centre of equivalent size.
This was achieved through:

Buildings being positioned to maximise light and airflow, reducing the need for excessive heating and cooling
Open streets providing 100% natural ventilation
Large, highly efficient central plant which services all tenants, including majors
Tenant controlled air-conditioning with "user pays" operation
Energy efficient lighting throughout
Passive solar design using the sun to warm and light buildings and streets
Use of trees and shading devices (operated by the sophisticated Building Management System) to increase
comfort in warm, windy or wet conditions
Maximum use of daylight in common areas, reducing artificial lighting requirements
Rouse Hill Town Centre is part of the The New Rouse Hill, a master planned community delivered by a joint venture between
Lend Lease and The GPT Group, in partnership with Landcom and the NSW Department of Planning. The New Rouse Hill
consists of approximately 120 hectares of land located along Windsor Road in the Baulkham Hills Local Government Area.
Officially opened in March 2008, Rouse Hill Town Centre is owned and managed by GPT. Rouse Hill Town Centre features
3,500 sqm of office space a component of which is dedicated to community groups and over 65,000 sqm of retail space
including.

A sustainable community vision:The Development partners vision for the project was the creation of a Sustainable Community. In defining this vision GPT
set out to identify a relevant measure which encapsulated all of the elements of sustainability into a single indicator, with the
Ecological Footprint adopted.
The Ecological Footprint is a measure of how much of the Earths productive land is required to create and operate a built
asset and considers in its formulation the elements of:

Energy
Biodiversity
Transport
Materials
Carbon footprint
Water
Tenant fitout.
Enhancement of community sustainability was also a critical part of the project vision, with the community engaged to
accurately represent the local region throughout the centre with elements such as the following forming a fundamental part
of the overall outcome:
The Town Square

A market place for community events

The town library
A transit centre
Low cost office space for community groups
A community learning centre
A child education walk and an environmental learning trail.
Additionally the centre provides spaces for events and activities for the community to participate in and enjoy, such as:

Street parades
Fashion parades
Open air cinema.
The Green Travel Coordinator onsite also runs a series of healthy lifestyle events that include cycling, running and walking
activities.
Cultural traditions of past inhabitants, both European and Indigenous, are celebrated in the architecture and signage.

40% energy reduction target:Key aspects for achieving an energy reduction target of 40% (compared to an average shopping centre) include:

Passive design with no roof over malls, providing daylight and natural ventilation to all mall areas
Intelligent building systems for operable elements within the building to respond to prevailing external conditions
ESD marker incorporating wind turbines and solar PV
Use of landscaping to enhance comfort conditions to mall areas
All lighting best-in-class efficiency with motion and daylight sensing to all areas
LED used for the majority of signage
100% of tenants on central air conditioning with mixed mode capability
Extensive energy and water metering

60% water reduction target:Important aspects for achieving the water reduction target of 60% (compared to an average shopping centre) include:

Integrated stormwater treatment incorporating bio-swales to purify water before discharge to the environment
Rainwater collection and recycling system supplying 25% of centre requirements
Central chilled water plant with high efficiency cooling towers
All tapware flow and time controlled with waterless urinals
Waterless woks
Fire test water captured and recycled
Integrated leak detection and metering system

Supporting Biodiversity:Biodiversity at Rouse Hill Town Centre has been enhanced via:

Site cut and fill minimised

Over 130,000 plants replaced, with more than 80% native and endemic to the site
Onsite worm farming
Stormwater grates designed to educate people about where the water flows to
Gross pollutant traps filter stormwater before re-entering natural waterways
Rainwater collection tank used to filter water and maintain the environmental flows returning to Caddies Creek

Materials used for construction:Efforts to minimise the environmental impact of the construction materials used included:

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39% of all materials with recycled content, equal to 51,000 tonnes of avoided CO2
Materials with recycled content include;
100% of the non-structural concrete is 50% recycled
100% of the sub-base aggregate used in roads 100% recycled
Footpaths/kerbs contain recycled concrete
Structural concrete contains fly ash up to 25%
Steel reinforcement ranges from 85% up to 100% recycled
Roof sheeting is 15-20% recycled content
Aluminium louvres - 20-30% recycled
Reused styrofoam inside planters
Certified timber used

Waste Reduction:Rouse Hill Town Centre waste management and recycling outcomes have included:

Public place bins for waste and recycling

Requirements for waste and recycling for tenants
Liquid oil/grease waste is recycled
Waste sorted - reused, recycled or disposed of in a responsible manner

Tenants fundamentally involved:All tenants at Rouse Hill Town Centre have been fundamentally involved in reducing the overall environmental footprint of
the development. Key aspects include:

Green leases requiring minimum water and energy conservation measures

GPT developed an eco-design training program for leasing agents, design managers and shop fitters
Eco-footprint calculation required before design approved
Shopfronts and A/C control
Building Code of Australia Section J compliance
Staff to register for green travel plan
User pay tenant air-conditioning

Green Travel
GPT has developed a Green Travel Plan to facilitate more energy efficient travel to the centre for tenants and staff. A green
Travel Club has been established which as of December 2009 had recruited 1005 members, or 33% of 3,000 staff.
Green Travel Club members commit to an intention to take an alternative mode of transport other than a car to and/or from
the centre at least one day per week, with some other key points being:

Project target for 20% single vehicle trip mode shift to alternative forms by 2017
Bus transit station on Transit-way at centre
Apartments in and around town centre, for walkability access
Integrated network of foot/cycle paths, with the centre on the Windsor-Parramatta cycle path
150 cycle accommodation (lockers/racks)
Showers for staff members

GPT Getting to Work Program

In September 2009 Rouse Hill Town Centre partnered with North West Disability Services in their Transition to Work
program providing a work experience placement opportunity.
North West Disability Services (NWDS) Transition to work is a two year program that supports school leavers with a

disability to develop skills that will assist them to move into employment, vocational education and training, or higher
education.
Individuals participating in the above programs are assisted to establish their own Person Centered Plans and activities
focused to achieve individual goals. A high emphasis is placed on skill development in a supportive and safe environment.
Work experience is sought to meet each persons goals and interests.
Cameron Turner is a young man with a disability and a participant in the NWDS Transition to Work program. Cameron was
selected as an ideal candidate for a four week work experience program with the Rouse Hill Town Centre maintenance
team.
Throughout the work experience program Cameron was mentored by the maintenance team, assisting him develop work
skills and adjusting to a real life work situation. They also developed a great friendship.
It certainly was enjoyable mentoring Cameron in the basic day to day operation of the town centre. Cameron was very
enthusiastic when it came to learning new skills and also excelled when he was asked to perform several light duties on his
own. On behalf of the Maintenance Team it was a pleasure having the assistance of Cameron for the four weeks he was
with us.
Craig Cassar Maintenance Manager
Rouse Hill Town Centres generous support of Cameron has enabled him to develop essential skills that will support a
working career. Since Cameron has completed his placement in the maintenance team Cameron has received employment
at a local McDonalds Restaurant. Rouse Hill Town Centres commitment to social integration and the empowerment of
people with a disability has enhanced the way NWDS is able to support our clients attempting to gain employment.
Deborah Mills Chief Executive Officer, North West Disability Services
- See more at: http://www.gpt.com.au/News-Media/Case-Studies/An-Inside-Out-Shopping-Centre#sthash.Gashwx9s.dpuf