By Katrina Ganin

William McCormack Place, a six-star rated government building in Cairns, North Queensland, was fully completed in July last year.

Created in a two-stage process the building is a demonstration of how effective a new construction can be in terms of simultaneously saving money, meeting accomodation needs and remaining 'green'.

Stage one of the complex will accomodate Department of Communities (Housing, Child Safety and Sport and Recreation) and Department of Public Works (Smart Service Queensland).

This stage of William McCormack Place was the construction of 4560 metres squared of government office accomodation. This project was completed on time and on budget and was officially opened in 2002.

William McCormack Place stage one was the first large commercial office building in Australia to achieve the maximum five-star ABGR rating under the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating scheme (now NABERS Office Energy). MORE>>

Read the full report: Public building reaches for the stars [PDF]