ISIS Head Office Victoria

A founding member company of the Green Building Council of Australia, the national fitout and refurbishment contractor made an early commitment to use its own office space to demonstrate that a 5 Star Green Star - Interiors v1.1 fitout can be delivered cost-effectively and to a high standard of quality. 

ISIS’ Melbourne office, located over two-storeys in a 25-year-old commercial office building, demonstrates that sustainable fitouts align directly with corporate values and play a key role in boosting staff satisfaction.

Gerard McMahon, Group Executive - Operations, People and Sustainability at ISIS, explains that sustainability is standard practice at ISIS and as such the ISIS board has set a 5 Star Green Star minimum for its new offices around Australia.

As a result, ISIS has been awarded Green Star ratings not only for its Melbourne office, but also in Sydney and Adelaide.  The company’s Darwin and Perth offices are also targeting 5 Star Green Star certification, while Canberra is targeting a 6 Star rating.

“We believe that sustainability will be ‘business as usual’ in the near future and wanted to demonstrate our commitment,” McMahon says.

“Targeting Green Star in our offices has provided us with the detailed experience and knowledge we need to better assist our clients to achieve their own Green Star and sustainability goals.”

“What’s more, as Green Star focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of building occupants through better indoor environmental quality, it aligns with one of our key corporate values – that people are our greatest asset,” McMahon explains.

With this in mind, particular attention was paid to the Green Star Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) credits as these directly contribute to occupant satisfaction and maximise the potential for improved productivity through daylight, fresh air and CO2 monitoring. 

The approach ISIS has taken has paid off. ISIS undertook pre- and post-occupancy assessments to measure occupant satisfaction and confirm if the design intent was achieved.  The ISIS post occupancy study found an improvement in all categories of occupant satisfaction, with an overall office satisfaction score of 92 per cent. 

When asked about the cost of the project, Tass Roufos, ISIS’ General Manager, Victoria responds that in terms of materials and design, Green Star had a minimal impact.  The greatest cost impact related to consultants fees at the design stage and preparation of the Green Star submission.  Overall, he says the Green Star process resulted in an additional cost of less than five per cent, as costs are partially balanced by the dematerialisation that typically occurs on a Green Star project.

Staff enjoyment and satisfaction A pre-occupancy survey of staff satisfaction in ISIS’ former office found that just 27 per cent of people were satisfied with the office. A post-occupancy survey undertaken 12 months after moving in has seen this shoot up to 92 per cent, a notable increase. Aside from the increase in daylight and external views, the pre- and post-occupancy studies have revealed a decrease in formaldehyde and VOC concentrations in the new office’s air quality. This was achieved through the installation of high durability carpets manufactured under the ISO 14001 EMS system.

“The overall performance of the air quality and thermal comfort has exceeded my expectations.  Staff rarely complain about the air-conditioning, which is a big change from our old office,” Roufos says.

Staff facilities such as changerooms and a gym have also been provided, and staff are encouraged to exercise at whatever time suits their schedules.

ISIS’ Head of Sustainability, Riccardo Rizzi, is thrilled with the result. “It shows that aligning good design and sustainability makes an office a more enjoyable place to work and improves staff satisfaction.”

The benefits of the Green Star rating more than outweigh the costs, says McMahon. “The increase in staff satisfaction has been worth the five per cent alone.  However, when we factor in the credibility of the third-party assessment process, the marketing benefits and association with the Green Star brand, it’s clear that it was money well spent.”

Materials Green Star provided a clear pathway for ISIS’ team to consider the different environmental aspects that contribute to an office refurbishment, Gerard McMahon explains.  “Our offices are now energy efficient, have good recycling facilities, maximise daylight, incorporate sustainable timber and are enjoyable places to work,” he says.

Riccardo Rizzi says that all furniture, fixtures and fittings were selected on the basis of their environmental credentials.  “The majority of items are third-party certified and durable with warranty periods exceeding 10 years. We also gave preference to materials that are PVC free, with low-VOC and low-formaldehyde emissions.”

Indoor Environment Quality Gerard McMahon explains that as a tenant it made sense to give greatest attention to IEQ and materials. “These are the aspects over which we had greatest control. Improving environmental performance in these areas also contributes directly to improved air quality and ultimately benefits our staff.”

The extensive use of indoor plants was controversial at the design stage, as opinion was divided on their aesthetic appeal and practicality.  However, once in place the indoor plants and the large green wall have proven to be very popular and also easy to maintain.

Energy Energy consumption also received significant attention to help future proof the office by reducing tenancy operational costs. Installation of energy-efficient fixtures, fittings and equipment reduced operational energy costs for the tenancy, in the context of the size, staff and functionality of the space.

The team also has some advice for others considering a Green Star rating.  For Tass Roufos, setting aside enough time to incorporate different ideas and get the design right is crucial. “We needed to allocate extra time to the design phase. It was the right call, as you can’t change the design once it’s built.  Allowing a bit more time at the beginning to consider Green Star and sustainability is a lesson we are applying to our other fitouts.”