Finally ... Bass Coast councillors and senior staff celebrate Berninneit's Passivhaus certification following Wednesday's council meeting.
By Catherine Watson
PHILLIP Island’s community, arts and cultural hub has become just the second Passivhaus-certified public building in the world combining a professional theatre, library, gallery and museum under one roof.
Bass Coast Shire Council announced this week that Berninneit has been awarded Passivhaus Classic certification by the Passive House Institute in Germany.
The standard aims to minimise heating and cooling needs through highly efficient building design.
PHILLIP Island’s community, arts and cultural hub has become just the second Passivhaus-certified public building in the world combining a professional theatre, library, gallery and museum under one roof.
Bass Coast Shire Council announced this week that Berninneit has been awarded Passivhaus Classic certification by the Passive House Institute in Germany.
The standard aims to minimise heating and cooling needs through highly efficient building design.
At $32 million, Berninneit is by far the largest capital project the council has undertaken.
The building, which opened in late 2023, was designed by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects and built by McCorkell Constructions. It has previously received awards for its architecture and sustainability.
The long delay in certification has been the subject of repeated questions from residents at council meetings.
The council said achieving Passivhaus certification for a public building of Berninneit's scale and complexity was particularly noteworthy.
Unlike residential buildings, public buildings experience higher visitor numbers, varying occupancy levels and more intensive day-to-day use, making certification more challenging to achieve.
Certification focuses on insulation, airtightness, ventilation and energy efficiency. The council says the design will reduce energy costs over the life of the building.
Bass Coast Mayor Brett Tessari said the certification reflected the council's long-term commitment to sustainability.
"Council made a deliberate decision to invest in a building that would deliver long-term sustainability benefits, reduce operating costs and provide a comfortable, welcoming space for the community year-round. This certification confirms that vision has been realised."
Australian Passivhaus Association CEO Stalin Chakrabarty said the council had demonstrated that public buildings could be designed to put people first while also reducing energy use and long-term operating costs.
"Berninneit is more than an award-winning building—it is an investment in the health, comfort and wellbeing of the Bass Coast community for generations to come.
“We hope this inspires other councils to create healthier, more resilient public spaces for their communities.”
The building, which opened in late 2023, was designed by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects and built by McCorkell Constructions. It has previously received awards for its architecture and sustainability.
The long delay in certification has been the subject of repeated questions from residents at council meetings.
The council said achieving Passivhaus certification for a public building of Berninneit's scale and complexity was particularly noteworthy.
Unlike residential buildings, public buildings experience higher visitor numbers, varying occupancy levels and more intensive day-to-day use, making certification more challenging to achieve.
Certification focuses on insulation, airtightness, ventilation and energy efficiency. The council says the design will reduce energy costs over the life of the building.
Bass Coast Mayor Brett Tessari said the certification reflected the council's long-term commitment to sustainability.
"Council made a deliberate decision to invest in a building that would deliver long-term sustainability benefits, reduce operating costs and provide a comfortable, welcoming space for the community year-round. This certification confirms that vision has been realised."
Australian Passivhaus Association CEO Stalin Chakrabarty said the council had demonstrated that public buildings could be designed to put people first while also reducing energy use and long-term operating costs.
"Berninneit is more than an award-winning building—it is an investment in the health, comfort and wellbeing of the Bass Coast community for generations to come.
“We hope this inspires other councils to create healthier, more resilient public spaces for their communities.”