Closing the Loop building project announced

Building company Brookfield Multiplex and consultancies Hassell and Aecom have partnered with the Cooperative Research Centre for Low-Carbon Living (CRCLCL) in a three-year project to develop buildings that have a positive impact on people’s health, wellbeing and productivity, and improve their environmental performance.

The Closing the Loop project will connect the wealth of evidence that exists for high-performance buildings with front-end decision-makers through better business case analysis, professional education, practical tools and guidelines. According to the CEO of CRCLCL, Scientia Professor Deo Prasad AO, the project “will allow us to use our current knowledge to have a practical impact on people and the environment”.

The project will take over 25 years of research, currently buried in journals and papers, to create tangible practical tools for the design and construction industries. Over four stages, it will review existing literature and identify gaps; research business decision-making; create case studies; test and trial the findings and their operation in the real world; and finally develop tools and strategies for the industry, including design guides, user manuals, performance measures and assessment tools.

“Ultimately, our focus is on creating long-term change that not only reduces the impact of our environmental footprint but leads to far-reaching and long-lasting social and financial benefits to all,” Professor Prasad said.