The University of New South Wales (UNSW) wanted a modern multi-use facility with adaptable laboratory spaces that would support collaboration and discovery. The Science and Engineering Building (SEB) provides a variety of spaces and is the finishing touch to the physical sciences precinct at UNSW’s Kensington campus. The ten-storey SEB offers ultra-modern research facilities, science laboratories, classrooms and performance spaces to the Schools of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Arts and Media.
We collaborated with UNSW and Multiplex, delivering multidisciplinary engineering from the feasibility phase through to construction. Post-build, we migrated laboratories and studios from existing campus buildings to the new SEB and monitored energy use of the building to inform and improve its sustainability rating. One key project requirement was balancing energy efficiency and flexibility for future uses of space and equipment. The project team delivered a total solution: laboratory spaces that can be modified, a sustainable building design and integration with campus-wide systems.
Designed by Grimshaw Architects, the SEB features large internal atria and highly connected spaces, designed to encourage users to come together to collaborate, innovate, transform and contribute positively to society. The building has a flexible laboratory core with modules arranged around a central service corridor, providing several entry points to the laboratories. The adaptability of the laboratory spaces to be reconfigured with minimal disruption will support UNSW’s ongoing research and teaching programme.
Preparing the site for the campus of the future
We developed an early works package to demolish several buildings including a substation. This required multiple diversions of services and a strategy for minimising shutdowns to existing buildings in the lower campus precinct.
Working with stakeholders at the outset led us to design a cost-effective solution that integrated into existing campus-wide systems, including the building management system that controls and monitors the buildings’ mechanical and electrical systems.
We designed modular laboratory spaces, consistent with precinct-wide facilities and engineered a combination of manifold and dedicated fume cupboards to balance energy efficiency and flexibility of space for future use. Connecting multiple fume hoods to a common exhaust duct (manifold) reduces operational costs by using and replacing less components and allows for more flexible design changes in the laboratory.
Designing a sustainable building
We engineered the building’s layout, central plant and equipment to contribute to the SEB’s high operating efficiency. Photovoltaic cells, high performing window glazing and the use of bore water for non-potable services are key initiatives to improve the building’s sustainability.
In addition, we were able to define precinct-wide efficiencies through the installation of a combined chilled-water plant for the new SEB and the existing Roundhouse building.
We continued to monitor the energy performance of the SEB and model potential improvements in line with benchmarks to help the university achieve its sustainability targets.
Modernising multipurpose performance spaces
Located in the basement, the Creative Practice Lab, Io Myers Studio and Studio One hosts performances, video screenings, film shoots, cross-media installation works and rehearsals.
Our theatre and audio-visual consulting specialists designed improvements for the studios including the introduction of foyer screens, paging systems and improved acoustics to ensure a seamless experience for patrons and stagehands.
For the Io Myers Studio we advised on an active architecture system, or acoustic enhancement system, to increase the natural reverberation time of the studio space to support a wide range of uses, such as chamber and jazz music, amplified music, theatre and spoken word. Longer reverberation times are preferred for classical music performances and shorter reverberation times are preferred for theatre to promote speech intelligibility.
Home to advanced technical instruments
There is over 7,000 m2 of wet chemistry laboratory space and 10,000 m2 of office, breakout and non-laboratory teaching space. The Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre – which houses major instrumentation and advanced scientific tools for electron microscopy – is a world-class research facility within the SEB.
Images © Multiplex
Research facilities at the Science and Engineering Building
An engineer testing the fume cupboard extraction system
Transient areas opposite classrooms
Multiplex
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