Lendlease completed construction of the third and final tower of International Towers at Barangaroo in Sydney in June 2016. The 50-storey tower will accommodate 11,000 workers and is reportedly Australia’s largest and most sustainable office building.

Barangaroo is a suburb located on Darling Harbour, near the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

In a detailed report on the development, Lendlease states ‘The impacts of climate change in Australia are already upon us. More frequent and intense storms, heatwaves, bushfires and other extreme weather events are impacting our natural and built environment. These climate change impacts are likely to increase in the future and pose a greater risk to communities with potential damage to housing and infrastructure and threats to public safety including loss of life. The developments we design and build today have to adapt to future climate events.’

Climate change adaptation elements in the design of the buildings and their surroundings include:
• tree planting, street awnings and drinking water fountains and access to regular public amenities, in response to projected increases in the number of hot days.
• recommending high solar reflectance for the materials at the waterfront and boardwalk
• stormwater infrastructure upgrades, surface regrading works and the installation of new inlet pits to capture storm water flow from the adjacent catchment, in response to the likely increased intensity of downpours.
• A black-water treatment plant enabling all wastewater generated within the precinct to be recycled, in response to future rainfall reductions and water shortages.
• Storm water outlets into the harbour set at heights according to an estimated 2100 sea-level rise.
• Construction of the building’s ground level at a height that allows for sea level rise expected by 2100.

What measures are in place in your building to adapt to climate change?
What additional steps could Lendlease take with this building to adapt to climate change?