This Adelaide project demonstrates how innovative material technology meets the needs of a changing built environment using a concrete mix with more than 30% reduction in CO₂.
According to CIA Gold Member, Holcim, the new headquarters of the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) is a leading example of how performance-focused design and low-carbon materials can shape the next generation of community infrastructure.
The project team set out to achieve a 5 Star Green Star Buildings rating, the guidelines of which require at least a 20% reduction of embodied carbon across the building while maintaining high early strength, durability and long-term performance.
The SASI building was the first South Australian project to use ECOPactActive in combination with ECOPact across the entire structure. Supplied by Holcim, the concrete mix was specifically calibrated to the engineering and sustainability goals of the project.
“In practical terms, the ECOPact Active mix reduced the carbon intensity of the post-tensioned concrete from approximately 340 kg CO₂/m³ to around 270 kg CO₂/m³, without compromising workability or finish quality,” Holcim revealed.
“Exposed columns, stair cores and other elements requiring tight tolerances achieved high-quality results.”
The structural engineer was KBR and architecture firm, Cox Architecture. The SASI project was funded by the Government of South Australia and UniSA.
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia, at the helm since December 2013, and our weekly news writer since 2016. Focused on concrete and construction for more than 11 years, her expertise in this field forms part of a journalism career spanning three decades. To get in touch please email desi@corbettcomms.com