Fiji Public Service Association
CM Architects were appointed by the Fiji Public Service Association to design their new flagship Nadi mixed use development. This new 4 storey mixed use development will be a quality investment reflecting the high aspirations of the association and be an iconic project that will age well over the next 50 years and be a sound financial investment.
The timing for this project is important as the Martintar district is experiencing growth and change. The Nadi City Council has advised that due to the flooding of Nadi town centre, the council are encouraging development in the Martintar area instead.
Project Team
This development proposes 5556m2 of retail, restaurants and residential apartments that will take advantage of the site location and complement the existing businesses in the area. The ground floor has been raised 1m above road level to reduce the risk of damage caused by flash flooding or road drainage blockages and this also provides an entry area for landscaping and some kiosk tenancies at the front of the building.
A sub-basement car park is proposed that will provide shaded parking for 61 cars with a further 17 shaded staff and apartment parking provided at the rear to ensure the success of the development and easy access in and out for customers and tenants. This is one of the first basement car parks to be built in Nadi and maximises the ground floor area for people not cars while providing the essential car parking required for any successful development.
The architectural design will project a contemporary Fiji with the development futureproofing itself with maximum flexibility for tenant changes over the years and services and facilities to adapt to the changes in technology that are to come.
The design is setting a new benchmark in tropical architecture with an open air central atrium providing natural light and ventilation to the development while protecting the building from the harsher climatic elements with solar protection to the glazing and large overhangs for shading.
This is a building that works with nature and the environment and will attract tenants and customers through good design. All levels have open air terraces to provide spaces to enjoy the natural breezes and views across to Nadi Bay, the Sleeping Giant mountain to the North and the Koroyanitu heritage park mountains to the North east.
The 16 apartments have generous sized living areas and balconies with contemporary kitchens and bathrooms and large sliding stacking doors to take advantage of the sea breezes and reduce reliability on AC.
All terraces incorporate planters for greenery and the whole frontage of the development will have additional shade with lush vertical greenery adding to the attractiveness of the terrace spaces.
The building incorporates green building initiatives including solar pv roof panels, water efficient fittings, high performance glazing and higher than standard roof insulation.
There is also an opportunity for this development to be the first ‘EDGE’ certified sustainable building in Fiji.
The international Finance Corporation (IFC), working with the World Bank, has developed a green building certification system for developing nations called EDGE.
Certification can be achieved if the building saves more than 20% energy, water and
embodied energy of materials from a base case building model. This FPSA building has undertaken an initial assessment with the EDGE system and the design achieves the following:-
25% energy savings
29% water savings
34% material savings
This is an exciting development for Nadi and also Fiji architecture and design and
reinforces Fiji’s commitment to reducing green house gases and responding to climate change.
FPSA is leading the way with this development.
This project is an exemplar for tropical commercial architecture in Fji with deep overhangs shading the shopfront glazing and a central open air atrium to bring natural light and ventilation to all of the retail spaces and reducing the reliance of Air conditioning and hence one of the largest uses of electricity for the building.