Melton City Council: Melton Library and Learning Hub
Posted under: The Melton Library and Learning Hub is an iconic building showcasing Melton City Council’s leadership in sustainable facility development. The Melton Library and Learning Hub is an integrated piece of community infrastructure that provides access to library and children’s services, education, employment and business opportunities in an airy, light-filled space. The environmentally sustainable design principles that have been incorporated into the building are state-of-the-art, the first 5 Star Green Star Public Building in Australia. It includes extensive use of sustainable building materials, efficient design to minimise heating, cooling and lighting costs and the collection and reuse of rainwater.
Project Description
Project Overview and Objectives:
The Melton Library and Learning Hub (MLLH) project has delivered a state-of-the-art library and learning facility within the City of Melton, one of Australia’s fastest growing municipalities. It has been designed and built to the Green Building Council of Australia’s 5-Star Green Star standard for Public Buildings, a first for Australia. Melton City Council has delivered an integrated facility offering expanded library services; access to children’s health services; learning spaces; support for business and an integrated social enterprise (cafe) offering ongoing employment and training opportunities. Developing a multi-use facility that draws on key relationships was a critical outcome for Council when developing the MLLH. Current service providers using the facility include University of Ballarat, Djerriwarrh Education and Employment Services, Melton Brimbank Community and Legal Aid and YouthNow, to name a few.
Project Outcomes:
The Melton Library and Learning Hub has delivered on its intended goals. Melton City Council believes that we have delivered one of the most sustainable pieces of community infrastructure ever undertaken in Australia. The completed project has delivered the following measurable outcomes for the community:
- 5-Star Green Star rating for design has been achieved and we are well on the way to achieving the same for As-built.
- Increased Library patronage by 60%.
- Significant increase in Maternal and Child Health Services patronage.
- Carbon reduction: 45% less greenhouse gas emissions, 40% less electricity, 60% less gas
- Innovative waste element:
- Recycling: Plastic, aluminium, glass, etc
- Paper is recycled separately so there is less handling in the recycle process.
- Organic waste is re-used via a Bokashi fermentation process.
- Waste to landfill is kept to an absolute minimum.
Conducting informative tours to other Council and organisations that seek to follow the innovative standards set by the Melton Library and Learning Hub.
Innovative / Distinguishing features of the project or service highlighting best practice engineering principles and technologies:
The MLLH is one of the most outstanding and sustainable buildings in Australia, boasting excellent environmentally sustainable design features:
- underfloor air distribution system
- ventilation mixed mode (mechanical and natural)
- night purge skylights
- use of FSC timber throughout the main structure
- use of e-crete in structural pre-cast panels (a first in Australia)
- digital automatic lighting system
- solar thermal collectors for hot water (7,809wh/yr)
- 80 photovoltaic cell panels (10,400wh/yr)
- high-efficiency condensing boilers
- efficient air-cooled chillers.
As a result:
- 45% less greenhouse gas emissions
- 40% less electricity
- 60% less gas
- 40% of the interior fixtures made from recycled materials
- 92% of the old library demolition waste recycled
- 80% of the new library construction waste recycled.
Benefit to the community of the project or service:
The MLLH has positively impacted the Melton community in a number of ways:
- a noticeable increase in civic pride
- educational benefits through guided tours for students (16 groups to end October) and other organisations (25 tours to end September).
Compared to the previous library located on the same site, the MLLH has experienced a significant increase in patronage:
- memberships: from 15,000 to 21,000 per month (40%).
- Loans: from 28,000 to 35,000 per month (25%).
- Visitation: from 15,000 to 26,000 per month (60%).
- Operating hours: by 14 hours per week (28%).
- 2.5 EFT library staff.
Program and project management & Costs/Benefits associated with the Project:
The effectiveness of the Melton Library and Learning Hub project has been evaluated in a number of areas. Firstly the project was delivered on time and on budget which is a significant achievement for a project of this size. However, the two keys areas that have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative are:
- the Environmentally Sustainable Design elements of the building which are clearly beyond question
- the level of community acceptance and patronage of the facility which has increased substantially since the facility has been opened.
The MLLH is groundbreaking in its environmentally sustainable design. To achieve this, many barriers had to be overcome including:
- low number of accredited suppliers for the following trades:
- pre-cast panels
- timber structure
- facade and glazing
- furniture
- raised access flooring
- gaining Council support for increased investment for a highly sustainable building
- construction difficulties in using e-crete.
The MLLH was built at a cost of approximately $20million with generous support from the State and Federal Governments. It is estimated that over 15,000 staff hours have gone into completing the project. An economic benefit analysis indicated the MLLH will:
- Contribute to regional outputs by generating $4 to $8 return per dollar invested.
- Create approximately 31 jobs.
- Diversify the region’s industry base.
- Contribute to new investment in the region.
Individual/Team Contribution
As with any project of this size, many individuals were involved in its delivery. In the early phases, there was considerable work to gain support for the high level of Environmentally Sustainable Design and in particular the decision to pursue 5 Star Green Star accreditation. Four individuals were instrumental in pursuing this decision:
- Leigh Ryall, Capital Projects Coordinator
- Michael Scholtes, Manager of Learning Communities
- Adam Boyle, Manager of Community Services
- Adrian Murphy, Coordinator of Environmental Services
The project manager for the project was Leigh Ryall and it has been through Leigh’s tireless efforts that Melton City Council has been able to deliver a truly sustainable outcome with the Melton Library and Learning Hub.The contributions of the team through Leigh’s leadership included:
- coordination of the Project Control Group through all stages of the implementation
- development of the design brief to procure the design team
- coordination of procurement processes to engage the design team, early works contractor and main contractor
- management of the design team through all stages of the project
- financial responsibility for the entire project.
- coordination of 18 separate business units within Council during the design phase, demolition phase and the construction phase.
- gained support of Council’s Executive team to pursue the ambitious goal of achieving a 5 Star Green Star design accreditation
- provided assistance to the design team in submitting the design application to achieve a 5 Star Green Star Rating accreditation.
General Comments
The Melton Library and Learning Hub is a state-of-the-art community learning and meeting place anchored by library services. It provides opportunities for broad engagement and activity; a place to feel welcomed, meet friends and relax; learn and develop; meet current and future community needs and enhance civic pride. Melton City Council is proud of its achievement of attaining Australian best practice by building the first 5 Star Green Star Public Building in Australia. The building is described by the Australian Timber Industry as the most sustainable timber building in Australia. The building incorporates the latest sustainable features available including extensive use of sustainable building materials, the first building in Australia to extensively use E-Crete in lieu of cement based concrete, efficient design that minimises the use of heating, cooling and lighting, onsite rain collection and reuse, solar power generation and drought tolerant local flora landscaping. As a sustainable building built for energy and water efficiency, operation and maintenance costs savings and reduced greenhouse emissions will be realised over its life. Melton City Council has not only invested in a building that showcases sustainability but has leveraged off this by developing a community education and environmental advocacy element to the buildings Environmentally Sustainable Design features with continuous reporting and public display of energy consumption, emissions, water use and power generation as well as being a strong exemplar of sustainable and responsible building standards for future construction within the City of Melton, upholding Council’s Greenhouse Action Plan commitment to Environmental Sustainability.