Our Quality & ESD Policy

Quality Policy

Nicholas & Alexander Architects is dedicated to achieving design distinction in a manner that respects the environment. Our approach is comprehensive, focusing on outcomes that are efficient in terms of energy and resources. We cater to each client’s requirements, considering factors such as location, budget, climate, and construction procurement method. We are devoted to offering solutions that are technically suitable and cost-effective, customised to the needs of each client. We are active proponents of strategies that reduce the impact of the built environment on our natural surroundings.

General ESD Policies

At Nicholas & Alexander Architects, we recognise the critical role we play in shaping a sustainable future. As architects, we understand that our decisions significantly impact the environment. We are committed to integrating environmental sustainability into every aspect of our work.

Our approaches to the design process regarding Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD), broken down into key areas:

Land Use & Ecology:

We aim to minimise the impact on the natural environment by promoting responsible land use.
We engage specialist consultants, such as landscape architects, to better integrate our designs into the natural environment.
We strive to protect and enhance local biodiversity in our project designs.
Design to minimise impact on significant flora and fauna.

Material Selection:

We prioritise the use of sustainable, recycled, and low-impact materials, with a particular emphasis on Australian materials.
We consider the full lifecycle of materials, from extraction to disposal, in our designs.
Selecting materials that are low VOC for paints, coatings, sealants carpet and low formaldehyde engineered wood products.
We nominate sustainable timber products that are certified either by FSC or AFCS.
Toxic materials avoided where possible, such as Chrome or PVC.
Design for future modifications or customisation of buildings.

Water Reuse:

We incorporate water-saving measures and rainwater harvesting systems in our designs.
We aim to reduce stormwater run off by implementing retention systems such as bio-swales, retention tanks etc.
Rainwater tanks often used to flush toilets etc.
We promote the use of raingardens which also complements the first dot point above.

Energy:

We design energy-efficient buildings, incorporating passive design principles and renewable energy systems. Where possible we adopt principles such as the use of thermal mass, building orientation for solar penetration, louvres to protect the building at the hottest parts of the day and the use of vegetation to also assist in screening the building, to name a few.
We work closely with our ESD consultants to deliver buildings that perform better and explore strategies to minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
We explore alternative energy generation such as the use of solar panels.
Artificial lighting to be energy efficient, zoned & motion activated to reduce consumption.
Our designs always encourage the use of natural ventilation where possible to reduce the need for artificial mechanic systems.

Building Management:

We strive for long-term sustainability, considering factors like durability, adaptability, and ease of maintenance.
We promote the use of smart technologies for efficient building management, through a close relationship with the services engineers.
We make sure the builder issues all operational manuals as part of the hand over so the end user can manage the building efficiently.

Waste Management:

We aim to minimise construction waste by promoting prefabrication and modular design.
We incorporate waste management strategies in our designs, such as composting facilities and recycling stations.
We work closely with our ESD consultant to develop effective waste management strategies.
Through the demolition process, at times materials can be salvaged for use in a new development. Should there be notable feature or material, we will encourage the client to consider using it.

Transport:

We encourage alternative means of transport, such as bicycles, by incorporating facilities like bicycle parking in our designs.
Where possible we aim to locate projects in close proximity to public transport to reduce the reliance on carparking.
EV parking bays with charging stations to cater to alternative fuel transport.

This ESD policy reflects our commitment to delivering projects with environmental sustainability at the forefront of our design process. We believe that as architects, we have a responsibility to lead the way in creating a sustainable built environment.