Building a resilient city for the future
The development of Bradfield City is aligned with the sustainability goals established by the Bradfield Development Authority. This approach addresses the challenges of climate change and takes them as opportunities for innovation.
These objectives are detailed in the Sustainability and Resilience Strategy 2024–2028 (PDF, 11.33MB), which sets ambitious targets to develop a climate-resilient city that advances industry standards. Sustainability goals are integrated across all aspects of planning, design, and delivery for Bradfield City.
From green infrastructure to ethical supply chains, we’re creating a liveable, inclusive city that works with nature, ensuring that sustainability is not an afterthought, but embedded into the built environment and social fabric of the city.
Setting the standard for sustainability in Bradfield City and beyond
Bradfield City's commitment to sustainability is demonstrated through its comprehensive integration of environmental design features, innovative technologies, and future-focused solutions.
Our Sustainability and Resilience Strategy 2024-2028 sets ambitious targets to create a green, connected and advanced city. The Strategy focuses on system-wide changes and removes barriers to building sustainable places.
The Strategy's five themes shown in the interactive diagram below are interrelated. Every stage of designing, delivering and operating Bradfield City Centre will integrate them.
- Theme 1 – Nature Positive and resilient water systems
- Theme 2 – Adaptive, resilient, safe and well communities
- Theme 3 – More equitable access to jobs, careers and learning
- Theme 4 – Decarbonised cities striving towards net zero
- Theme 5 – Circular systems and ethical supply chains
Alongside the five themes in our Sustainability and Resilience Strategy, we apply five lenses to our work:
- First Nations’ Country.
- The communities we serve.
- Economic prosperity.
- Open and transparent governance.
- Our commitment to innovation and leadership.
These lenses shape our thinking and actions. They help us navigate complex environmental, social and economic systems, consider diverse perspectives, and find new ways to deliver solutions.
The First Building - sustainability in action
The First Building sets a precedent for future development. It features innovative design elements that minimise energy consumption, manage heat, and reduce waste.
It embodies a deep respect for the environment and a forward-thinking approach to designing places that respond to the challenges facing our planet today.
Embedded in themes from Traditional Custodians, First Building respects its location on the Cumberland Plain and the ephemeral waterways of Wianamatta or ‘Mother Place’, integrating Aboriginal Knowledges and storytelling.
A natural colour palette of materials including timber, bamboo and rammed earth reflect the building’s commitment to sustainability and connection to Traditional Custodian Country.
First Building has been awarded for its sustainable design excellence, including:
- Winner, David Oppenheim Award for Sustainability, National Architecture Awards 2025
- Winner, Excellence in Sustainability, UDIA NSW Awards for Excellence in Urban Development 2025
- Winner, Sustainability, Australian Good Design Awards 2025
- Winner, Sustainability in a Commercial Building, MBA National Awards 2025
- Winner, Sustainability, Australian Timber Design Awards 2025
- Winner, Outstanding Sustainability Project, Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue Boomtown Awards 2026
The First Building is a mass timber, modular construction. Designed to be disassmebled if required, it can be expanded upon, or even moved to another location.
The rolling hills of the Cumberland Plain provide a beautiful green backdrop to the First Building. Image by Evan Maclean.
The First Building's 1300sqm green roof features solar panels and 14,000 individual plants, keeping the building cool.
Rammed earth walls line the central atrium of the First Building, helping to keep the building cool and providing a striking entrance.