With_Architecture Studio

Date Published: 08/2017

With_Architecture Studio (previously Donaldson and Warn) was established in 1985. Operating from Perth, Western Australia, it is a mid-sized design studio with close to 20 employees.

With an impressive portfolio of built projects, the practice has established a reputation for creativity and contemporary design. With_Architecture Studio enjoys national and international recognition for design excellence and has received more than 40 awards, including two George Temple Poole Awards, the highest honour for architecture in Western Australia.

With_Architecture Studio has signed Architects Declare and is one of hundreds of Australian firms recognising the climate and biodiversity emergency and calling for change.

Projects and Services

With_Architecture Studio's expertise spans institutional and civic projects, commercial developments, education buildings, learning environments and campus planning, hospitality and tourism, multi-residential architecture, arts buildings, heritage adaptation, urban design, master planning and development guidelines.

Services include:

• Master planning and urban design
• Architecture.
• Feasibility studies.
• Space audits and space planning.
• Interior design.
• Green building consultancy services.

Climate Active Certification for a Sustainable Architecture Practice

With_Architecture Studio has a strong commitment to sustainable development. Working with Pangolin Associates, the practice achieved the Australian Government's Climate Active carbon neutral certification in early 2017 (then known as NCOS). Certification dates from July 2016.

Pangolin Associates completed the greenhouse gas assessment and assisted with the Climate Active Public Disclosure Summary, carbon offset advice and carbon credit procurement to offset emissions that could not be eliminated from business activities.

To offset residual emissions, With_Architecture Studio selected the Western Australian conservation project, the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor. Pangolin's trusted partner, GPP Audit, then provided the independent verification services required to complete the certification process.

Choosing a Carbon Offset Project

After developing an emissions reduction strategy, With_Architecture Studio worked with Pangolin to determine how best to offset remaining emissions. The team voted to support the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor. The project aligned strongly with the practice's values, supporting a Western Australian initiative while also creating local and Indigenous employment opportunities.

Workplace Sustainability Actions

Prior to undertaking its carbon footprint assessment and achieving Climate Active certification, With_Architecture Studio had already implemented a range of sustainability initiatives focused on reducing paper use, waste and energy consumption.

Digital Alternatives

Management encourages staff to minimise printing and use digital mark-up programs wherever possible. Tablets are used to access drawings, images and documents, while a paperless billing system further reduces paper consumption.

Paper Use

Printing procedures are carefully managed. A3 and A4 sheets printed on one side are collected and reused on the reverse side. Clear signage at the printer outlines the process.

When With_Architecture Studio rebranded, the firm repurposed outdated stationery into notebooks for occasions where paper use was unavoidable.

Waste Reduction

The practice operates a comprehensive recycling program to avoid sending e-waste to landfill. Most retired IT equipment is donated through a Rotary Club initiative supporting the Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Remaining e-waste is recycled through TechCollect.

Energy Efficiency

With_Architecture Studio follows a policy of turning computers off overnight and on weekends. Staff are encouraged to use the HVAC system only when required and to do so efficiently.

In 2017, the practice relocated to new premises on William Street in Perth. The office features energy-efficient LED lighting and a layout designed to maximise natural daylight.

Since certification, With_Architecture Studio has reduced emissions by 16%.

Staff Transport

Due to the office's location relative to Perth's main train station, employee commuting remains a significant source of emissions. To encourage cycling and active transport, the practice installed shower facilities fitted with water-efficient fixtures.

Awareness and Education

Sustainability procedures form part of the quality assurance induction process for new employees and are regularly reinforced across the business.

Sustainable Development Beyond the Studio

The practice's commitment to sustainability extends beyond its own operations and into project delivery.

With_Architecture Studio (then Donaldson and Warn) achieved Australia's first Green Star Multi Unit Residential rating (4 Star) from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

The practice has also achieved a 4 Star Green Star equivalent rating for all recent education projects and was the first organisation to achieve a 5 Star Green Star Communities rating for the Greater Curtin Masterplan.

Benefits of Action

While 2017 marked the first comprehensive third-party carbon footprint assessment, With_Architecture Studio had been measuring its own paper, waste and energy consumption since FY2014-15.

These efforts delivered measurable results. Between FY2014-15 and FY2015-16:

• Energy consumption decreased by 9%.
• Paper consumption decreased by 18%.

Future Plans

Future plans include transitioning to renewable energy sources and continuing to strengthen the practice's sustainability performance through:

• Increased recycling and waste reduction.
• Reduced paper consumption and procurement of carbon neutral paper products.
• More efficient energy use.
• Increased use of public transport, cycling and walking for commuting and business travel.