Carbon Savings Stack Up as Reimagining Hits Milestone

The transformation of a 1960s industrial precinct in Melbourne has saved the equivalent of 400 rail wagons of coal so far, according to the developer and builder.

The project is Morris Moor on a site formerly owned by Phillip Morris at 1 Cochranes Road, Moorabbin, 15km south-east of the CBD.

Spanning 6.3ha, the project has been led by Up Property, who appointed architects ClarkeHopkinsClarke and builders Kapitol Group for Building 4 of the $200-million commercial community.

According to the developer, Morris Moor “has been devised to appeal to growing businesses, with the likes of New Balance relocating its Australian headquarters to the site, which is already home to hospitality operators including Stomping Ground Brewery and Holey Moley”. 

Building 4 of the development is now complete and Kapitol Group said retaining the existing structure throughout the buildhad resulted in savings to date of 19 million kilogramsof embodied carbon.

That was supported by sustainable onsite infrastructure including a 460-solar-panel system which will generate up to 245kWp, Kapitol said.

 Kapitol Group project manager Jamie Kerr, who led the delivery of Building 4, said the demand for efficient community-focused developments was growing.

“Customers are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impacts of development and are specifically looking for sustainable options,” he said.

“Adaptive reuse presents a great opportunity in this space.”

As part of the demolition program, Kapitol Group achieved a 92 per cent recycled rate of materials, undertaking hand demolition of the existing structure. 

▲ Kapitol Group’s Jamie Kerr and Up Property’s Marcus Jankie at Building 4, Morris Moor.

Up Property general manager Marcus Jankie said the adaptation of what was once Moorabbin’s major employer had had a widespread impact.

“It would take more than 7500ha or 4000 MCG ovals, of eucalyptus forest to absorb that amount of carbon over the course of a year,” he said.

“The goal was to reuse as much of the existing building as possible. This involved retaining the structure, finishes, flooring and glazing to not only capture the invaluable and non-replicable charter of the buildings but to harness the one-off opportunity of limited environmental impact through adaptive reuse over new construction.”

Architect Gaston Nogues, associate at ClarkeHopkinsClarke, said it is an approach now driving the best placemaking worldwide.

“Adaptive reuse is great because it breathes new life into unique places, minimises embodied carbon, reduces operational carbon and construction waste, and makes construction quicker and more cost-effective,” he said.

Jankie said Morris Moor had attracted “strong interest from tenants keen to relocate their operations to a new neighbourhood that balances commerce with culture and helps them meet their ESG commitments”.

Tenants include global provider of DaaS and SaaS solutions for automotive companies, Info Media’ fourth party innovative logistics company EFM Logistics; environmentally conscious beauty manufacturer of 45 top bath and body retail brands worldwide, Hunter Amenities; flower delivery specialists LVLY’ sustainably sourced and recycled materials anti-fast fashion brand, Dakota 501; and one of the most advanced livestock monitoring solution in the world, Smart Paddock.