Curtin University’s new 19,000m² laboratory and teaching building will target exemplar environmental performance and 6* Greenstar sustainability accreditation.

The new university building, B316 Sciences, will provide 19,000m² of laboratory and teaching space, promoting visual connectivity with a highly transparent glazed facade. We worked closely with Grimshaw Architects to provide facade engineering services for the new building envelope. The thermal performance and daylight is tailored for the adjacent spaces and the differing requirements of workplace, laboratories, breakout zones and circulation.

A key feature of the architecture is the solar shading strategy. It uses a systemised approach to the support structure and modularity of the shading elements to allow for an optimised shading strategy for each bay by adjusting depth, density and coverage of the elements. This means the system provides optimum daylight and visual comfort, views and transparency while being specific to the orientation, and overshadowing of each facade.

The facade and building form are intended to invite the public realm into the building, creating a permeable zone of the building. With a strong hierarchy of building forms and components, the facade forms a central part of the architectural language, environmental performance and operation of the project.

Location
Perth, Australia

Client
Curtin University

Architect
Grimshaw Architects