Rouse Hill Town Centre

Sydney, Australia

Rouse Hill Centre is a visionary retail complex, combining the world’s best practice sustainable initiatives and setting a new benchmark in regional shopping centres in Australia.

Unusually, the centre is divided into quadrants with the town square at the centre crossroads. Around 85% of the complex is unenclosed, but a diversity of roofs, skylights and awnings handle the sun, wind and rain expertly. Cundall was engaged to provide sunlight, daylight and wind modelling. Passive solar design was utilised to warm and light both buildings and streets. The centre is expected to have a 25% lower environmental impact than the standard regional shopping complex.

Key sustainability initiatives included:

• over 130,000 tonnes of recycled materials used in construction, significantly reducing the embodied energy of the site
• rainwater captured in a large tank for use in toilets, gardens and washing; the rainwater expected to supply approximately 20% of the centre’s water needs
• throughout the centre, movable awnings, windows and screen shades can protect against sunshine or allow it in, as well as provide fresh air to occupants