The commercial building at Nishi has been awarded the Australian Institute of Architects ACT Chapter Award for Sustainability, and a six star as-built rating.

The largest array of solar panels of any office building in Australia cover the roof and shading louvres on the north facade of the building, with power from those panels returned to the grid. The building uses natural ventilation to supplement and at times replace efficient displacement air conditioning systems.

The primary facade shading system, made of sustainable blackbutt timber, allows the glazing to provide a high level of light transmission, reducing internal lighting energy needs and includes more than 90 planter boxes to further temper the internal environment by incorporating biodiversity. Nishi also recycles and reuses black water.

More than just an office building, Nishi is a mixed-use building combining a large floorplate commercial office, 200 apartments with an 8 stars NatHERS rating, a 70-key hotel, cinema complex, retail and food and beverage uses.

At the 2016 World Architecture Festival, Nishi was hailed as one of the best mixed-use buildings in the world, demonstrating that design and sustainability harmonise.