About Suntech Eco-Design

Chris Reardon is principal of the multi award winning Building Design and Consultancy firm - Suntech Design. He has a long term interest in the environment (including two years of university study in ecology).This commitment to environmental issues combined with his unique and practical design skills, have produced an extensive portfolio of energy efficient buildings ranging from subtle to spectacular. Qualifications include:

registered Building Designer with twenty two years experience in the industry.
Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Design (Architecture stream) from Canberra University,
PhD candidate: Institute for Sustainable Futures (UTS) Subject: "Holistic Approaches to Sustainabilility in the Australian Building Industry. Opportunities and Implications for the Energy Sector".
Licensed Builder NSW, Registered Builder Queensland (not active);
Full member of the Building Designers Association of NSW.

Suntech projects include: individual residences; multi-residential projects; Community Health centres; pre-schools; industrial and office buildings and eco-tourism resorts. Awards:

1999 Winner: Supreme award - all categories; Residential 200-400 m²; best interior; best use of timber, BDA NSW. House in Goulburn NSW.
1999 Finalist: SEDA Building Integrated Photovoltaics Concept Design (Sustainable Environments). Mullarkey residence, Berry NSW.
1998 Winner: BDAA national Supreme Design Award: Barry's Guesthouse ecotourism project Termeil NSW south coast.
1997 Winner: Energy Efficiency BDA NSW award: Jindabyne Community Health Centre and Pre-school;
1997 Winner: Conceptual Design category: Boodgahn Ecotourism resort, Marulan NSW.
1997 Finalist: Residential 200-400 m²; Stamatellis residence, Goulburn NSW.

Suntech Design operate under the BDA Code of Ethics, quality assurance protocols and professional indemnity insurance requirements. Suntech have developed a substantial clientele of developers and businesses during the fifteen years of its operation with projects in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and the Pacific Basin.

A move into the specialty area of design and consultancy for the booming Ecotourism industry was a natural progression for Suntech Design. Having fought for environmentally sound design principles and materials in his buildings during the last 22 years, Chris has developed a unique combination of skills and cost effective techniques which allow him to design eco-sound buildings without the usual additional price tag. These were essential survival skills during an era of low environmental awareness.

Chris has always maintained a hands on approach to his design and construction industry career. He possesses (and still uses) trade standard skills in almost every facet of the construction industry. These practical skills inevitably lead to cost effective design because the project designer and detailer is aware of how all elements are built and can avoid expensive pitfalls so common in the industry.

Suntech Design continually develop and employ new technology from the leading edge of the construction industry. We specialise in sourcing, combining and designing systems to meet the needs of extreme and diverse building needs in sensitive and remote areas in the most cost effective way.

Some of the systems currently employed with great success are:

Laminated steel-EPS roof and wall panels have produced visually spectacular, thermally efficient buildings with considerable cost savings over conventional construction due to span/weight/insulation properties. Panels are currently being exported to the booming Asian market. Suntech installations were the first of their type in NSW.
Precast concrete modules capable of being factory finished with kitchens, bathrooms etc. prior to transportation to site. These units provide substantial savings on conventional construction and reduce overall construction time. This minimises construction damage to sensitive sites and provides thermal mass and tie down advantages. Additionally, with sound design, they are fire, termite, earthquake and cyclone proof!
Rammed earth construction provides low cost, eco-sound thermal mass, with high structural performance using materials found on site and produces stunning visual results with walls that literally "grow from the site". Transport costs, waste and construction damage are minimised. They have proved ideal for remote area projects.
Earth covered construction provides cost competitive, low maintenance thermally efficient solutions with minimal visual impact to sensitive sites.

To find out more about how Suntech can assist you to arrive at the best building solution for your needs, write, phone, fax or email us at the contacts listed.

Last Modified: 28 March 2000
URL:http://www.goulburn.net.au/~suntech/about.html