At SUHO, some of the most meaningful projects we work on are those that quietly make a profound difference to people’s everyday lives. Our recent collaboration with Housing Choices Australia is one such social housing initiative project, one we are incredibly proud to have supported from an Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) perspective.
Initially engaged in 2019, the project had an entire redesign before recommencing in late 2022 and finalising at the end of 2025. This project involved a mixed-use, seven-storey development located in South Australia that required careful coordination, technical expertise, and a shared commitment to delivering high-quality, comfortable, and energy-efficient residential spaces. While the specific project details remain confidential, the outcomes speak volumes about the power of thoughtful design and collaborative delivery.
A Whole-of-Building Approach to Performance
This project was a team effort within SUHO, bringing together our expertise to deliver both:
- A Section J assessment for the non-residential components, and
- A Class 2 NatHERS assessment for the residential apartments.
For the Section J component, the building achieved an exceptional combined thermal comfort result of 99.8% across all assessed spaces. This included staff areas and common rooms, ensuring that the people who work in and use these spaces experience high levels of comfort throughout the year.
The timing of the project meant compliance with NCC 2019; however, Housing Choices Australia were adamant that the development exceed this baseline. The NatHERS assessments SUHO executed across 50 residential units, and expert guidance delivered a final average rating of 7 stars, reflecting a strong commitment to reducing operational energy demand, while improving occupant comfort
Thoughtful Design Delivers Meaningful Outcomes
From an ESD perspective, results like these are never accidental. Achieving high thermal comfort and energy efficiency outcomes at this scale is a direct reflection of considered architectural design, well-resolved building fabric, and early integration of sustainability principles.
Projects like this demonstrate that when ESD is embedded into the design process, rather than treated as a compliance exercise, the benefits flow directly to the people who occupy the building. Comfortable homes, reduced energy costs, and resilient performance over time are outcomes that matter, particularly in the context of community and affordable housing.
Why This Project Matters
It is an honour for SUHO to contribute to projects that align performance excellence with social impact. Working alongside Housing Choices Australia reinforced the importance of delivering buildings that not only meet regulatory requirements but genuinely support the well-being of occupants.
Seeing a development meet and exceed national standards for energy efficiency while providing comfortable, high-quality residential spaces is exactly why we do what we do.
We’re proud of the collaborative effort behind this project and grateful for the opportunity to support outcomes that will benefit residents and building users for many years to come.
