JCU redevelopment on track for an award

James Cook University’s $85M “The Science Place” redevelopment is on track to be the first building in Queensland to be awarded a prestigious US environmental ranking.
The project has set an extraordinary benchmark for recycling: 96 percent of the 7500 tonnes of scrap from the demolition of three 1970s-era buildings has been recycled.

This means the project is eligible for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification under the US Green Building Council’s rating program.
LEED is an internationally recognised certification program and The Science Place project is now set to become the first project in Queensland to achieve a LEED rating of any type.
JCU’s Hilary Kavanagh, Director, Estate Office, said Townsville demolition company Markwell Group played a significant part in the success of the five month demolition.
The company was initially set an 80 percent recycling target. But even faced with a mix of materials including concrete, scrap metals and aluminum sections, copper pipes, structural steel and reinforcement, loose furniture and miscellaneous waste including paper, plastic and cardboard, it realised the target could be exceeded.
Mr Kavanagh said The Science Place project will be the largest ever construction project for JCU and deliver a 12,000m2 state-of-the-art science teaching and research facility, which will change the way science is taught in North Queensland.
The Science Place will consolidate all undergraduate teaching and research education for the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and science-based subjects from the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences. The Science Place at JCU will transform the way in which rural, regional and remote students experience science education.
The project is co-funded by the Commonwealth Government, CSIRO and JCU, and is expected to be operational for Semester 1, 2017. For further information, visit JCU’s The Science Place website at http://thescienceplace.jcu.edu.au/
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