Kensington Student Accommodation Wins APSAA 2025 Sustainability Excellence Award

Kensington Student Accommodation is a 650-bed, purpose-built student accommodation facility developed by Cedar Pacific in partnership with UniLodge. The project exemplifies our commitment to design excellence, sustainability, and resident wellbeing, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targeting a 5 Star Green Star Buildings rating, a benchmark of Australian Excellence in sustainable design, construction, and operational performance.

From the outset, our design approach integrated environmental responsibility, operational efficiency, and the creation of vibrant, connected student communities. This was achieved through a holistic application of sustainable strategies:

Energy Use & Efficiency (SDG 7 & 13)

The building is modelled to achieve significant reductions in operational energy consumption under the Reference Building Pathway. Integration of CIM’s PEAK Platform, monitoring over 5,000 sensors, enables real-time fault detection, optimisation, and system tuning. This smart infrastructure has delivered an 82% operational efficiency score, reducing emissions and supporting clean energy objectives.

Operational Excellence & Sustainable Communities (SDG 11)

With over 3,000 operational rules, the PEAK Platform triggers alerts for proactive system adjustments, ensuring peak performance and consistent comfort for residents. This digital backbone supports long-term environmental performance and fosters sustainable urban living.

Materials & Waste Management (SDG 12)

In line with Green Star principles, the project specified responsibly sourced Good and Best Practice Products, while actively avoiding banned or highly toxic materials. Construction and demolition waste diversion strategies achieved high recovery rates, and embedded fault detection systems ensure ongoing resource efficiency and extended asset lifespan.

Indoor Environmental Quality (SDG 11)

Our design prioritises acoustic performance, air quality, natural light, and pollution control to support resident health and wellbeing, meeting and exceeding Green Star performance requirements for healthy indoor environments.

Water Efficiency (SDG 6)

Water-efficient fixtures and recycled water systems reduce potable water consumption, supporting the precinct’s long-term water sustainability.

Transport & Urban Connectivity (SDG 11)

The building’s location and planning promote walkability, public transport access, and proximity to local amenities, encouraging low-carbon lifestyles for students.

Climate Action & Resilience (SDG 13)

We incorporated strategies to offset demolition impacts and address climate risks, ensuring resilience in line with Green Star adaptation guidelines.

Project Drivers & Outcomes

Securing Green Finance
A key project milestone was enabling Cedar Pacific’s first green loan with SMBC, a $101 million facility directly tied to environmental performance outcomes. This sustainable finance framework underpinned our design and delivery approach, including 90% construction waste diversion, renewable energy procurement from day one, and future alignment with Climate Active certification.

Optimising Operational Performance
Through the integration of the PEAK Platform, the building benefits from continuous monitoring, rapid fault resolution, and optimised system performance, ensuring high efficiency from the first day of operation and providing the foundation for further improvements.

Achieving Sustainability Benchmarks
The project is designed to achieve a 5 Star Green Star Buildings rating, embedding sustainability across all key metrics: energy, water, materials, emissions, and indoor environment quality.

Enhancing the Resident Experience
Student wellbeing was central to the design vision. Indoor comfort, environmental quality, and access to shared green spaces are integral to the architectural outcome, supported by technology that ensures comfort through rapid issue detection.

Reducing Operational Costs
Smart analytics and proactive maintenance reduce inefficiencies, minimise utility costs, extend system life, and deliver long-term value for both residents and investors.