Westall Library and Community Hub

Project Overview

The Westall Library and Community Hub is a multipurpose municipal infrastructure asset co-located within the Westall Primary School and Westall Secondary College precinct in Clayton South. Commissioned by the Kingston City Council, the Hub serves as an integrated civic anchor providing a contemporary public library, comprehensive children’s services—including a kindergarten, supported playgroups, and maternal and child health consultation suites—as well as facilities for community education, health, welfare, and social support services.

Co-Perform was engaged to deliver comprehensive ESD (Ecologically Sustainable Development) consulting and engineering services, embedding high-performance sustainability principles into this critical institutional facility.

Sustainable Design & Green Star Framework

A core objective of the technical brief was to establish a highly sustainable public asset without the administrative overhead of formal third-party certification. Co-Perform managed the environmental engineering process to align strictly with the Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA) 4-Star Green Star framework, conducting a rigorous self-assessed “equivalent rating” process. This methodology ensured that all material selections, indoor environmental quality benchmarks, and waste management strategies met verified best-practice benchmarks.

Passive Architecture & Indoor Environmental Quality

To optimise occupant comfort and reduce reliance on artificial systems, Co-Perform’s engineering inputs focused heavily on passive design elements:

• Daylight Harvesting: Architectural layouts and window placements were simulated and engineered to secure high levels of natural daylight access, improving psychological outcomes for library and childcare users while lowering electrical lighting loads.
• Thermal Envelope Optimisation: Detailed insulation, glazing specifications, and thermal mass exposure were calculated to stabilise internal temperatures. This included strategic management of exposed concrete slabs, custom shading infrastructure, and high-performance blinds.
• Natural Ventilation: The building fabric incorporates controlled natural ventilation pathways to deliver fresh ambient air, lowering mechanical fan energy and improving indoor air quality.

Energy Efficiency & Carbon Reduction

Through the pairing of advanced passive architecture with highly efficient mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic equipment, the facility achieves a verified 30% to 40% reduction in operational energy consumption compared to a standard baseline building. This significant reduction assists Kingston City Council in minimising lifecycle utility expenditures and meeting localised carbon abatement targets.

Current Status

Construction of the facility is fully complete, and the Hub is now operational, serving as a highly efficient, health-centric community asset for the Clayton South municipality.