Sustainability: a reason to convert rather than demolish

The Alba was a challenge and triumph for our design team

In a ground-breaking architectural endeavour, our design team has transformed Australian Unity’s old head office into our world-class senior living community, The Alba. Overcoming numerous challenges, including compliance hurdles and accessibility issues, the project has caught the attention of the wider industry.

The conversion process demanded great attention to detail, with a lack of established guidelines for refurbishing existing structures adding to the complexity. Despite these hurdles, our team’s unconventional approach bore fruit in more ways than one.

Notably, the project defied economics, with a square metre cost of just $6,300, compared to $6,700 for a complete demolition and reconstruction. However, the real triumph lies in the lessened impact on the environment. By retaining the existing structure, the project conserved 3.379 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Had our team opted for a new build, carbon emissions would have surged to 5.192 million tonnes.

Creating The Alba this way is a testament to the innovation, care and thoughtfulness that lies at the heart of Australian Unity’s Better Together® design principles, while working toward a more sustainable future.

Want to find out more about The Alba? Get in touch with us today!