Brisbane's Willawong bus depot wins top gong

Brisbane City Council’s Willawong bus depot has taken out the state's highest sustainable architecture award at this year’s Australian Institute of Architecture Queensland Awards.

The $44.5 million facility was awarded the Harry S Marks Award for Sustainable Architecture last week.

Public and Active Transport Chairman Margaret de Wit said winning the award reaffirmed council’s commitment to delivering projects designed and constructed to the highest environmental standards.

“The Willawong bus depot sets a benchmark in environmentally sustainable design and it is very rewarding to receive formal recognition for council’s state-of-the-art planning and design initiatives,” de Wit said.

Cr de Wit said the state-of-the-art depot had facilities for up to 400 employees and provided bus parking, maintenance and refuelling facilities for 200 of council’s 1000-strong bus fleet.

One of the major features of the depot is an integrated water management system that has the potential to save 22 million litres a year.

Stormwater from surrounding wetlands is used for underground irrigation, while treated roof water is used to wash down buses and flush toilets.

Launched in April 2009, some of the other features include: solar reflectivity and shading, passive cooling and heating, natural ventilation, energy optimisation and sustainable material selection used for the construction of the buildings.

Cr de Wit congratulated more than 80 professionals from Council’s Brisbane Infrastructure - City Design team who collaborated on the depot’s ground-breaking sustainable design achievements.

The submission now progresses to the Australian Institute of Architecture National Awards in Canberra later this year.