An important value within the MCG philosophy is their commitment to sustainable building design. Their aspirations are directed towards the establishment of individual sustainability profiles for each project, promoting a strong ‘sustainability’ ethic. Every team member’s ambition is to discover a positive balance between economic viability, social benefit and minimal environmental impact, which would in turn offer the best possible value to the client, the community and the planet.

By applying certain values and policies they can minimise and continuously reduce the negative environmental impact which architecture can often have on its surroundings. In addition, the company are always conscious that they must endeavour to surpass the design expectations applied by strict compliance with all relevant legal requirements, codes of practice and regulations.

Those values and policies include: Minimizing site impact; minimise the use of energy through passive solar design principles; reduce water use and plan for water harvesting and management of waste water; re-use and recycle materials; minimise mechanical air-conditioning through consciously designed natural ventilation; specify products, utilise only suppliers who meet strict environmental and ethical criteria; consider long-term sustainability of materials and resources; utilise locally sourced, products and materials, where available: apply flexibility in design layout to accommodate future use and growth for long-term sustainability and careful waste management.

Michel Greenhalgh is a registered Green Smart Professional; Accreditation No 307. He recently returned from Europe where he was investigating and researching new technologies and practices to bring back to Australia to implement in projects. Through his expertise in this area the design team maintains an environmental awareness and endeavour to engage best practice in sustainability of the built form.

MCG personnel have sustainable building experience over a range of project types and climatic environments both in Australia and abroad. That breadth of experience, much of which was in Europe, where the regulations are more stringent than Australia, has built a strong foundation for dealing with Australia’s varying environment.