UQ Brisbane City
BVN
Agency: BVN
Client: The University of Queensland
Three key space types were identified: Teaching Suites, Creative Suites, and a series of unique Engagement Spaces. Collectively they provide both informal and formal teaching and learning environments at varying scales, from individual to group and large format. On the ground floor, ‘The Atrium’ is the key Engagement space and is the building’s heart, hosting alumni events and fostering social life. It is defined by two key spaces: the Main Lounge and the Long Room. The Long Room provides a welcoming space for individuals to work independently or collaboratively, while the Main Lounge offers a premium environment for networking, casual work, and events. Well suited to the large, open floor plates of the tower, the Teaching Suites are highly functional and flexible spaces, designed as a platform to support various schools of the University, and teaching modes. Each floor of the tower shares a common planning approach, and by collecting all teaching spaces an efficient and consistent execution can be achieved. Varying in scale and AV-capability, smaller scale, intimate and bookable Creative Suites support the Teaching Suites for 6-person working groups to break out to, or small-scale industry seminars. The public realm connecting the various suites is rich in texture, colour, and delight, and provides settings that promote conversations and knowledge sharing. These social spaces also support the suites for events and conferences. A floor-based servicing strategy was adopted to minimise intervention with the heritage fabric, and an associative approach to material selections celebrates the stories of the buildings. Acknowledging the need for modern amenity and technology for a 21st century teaching and learning environment, a series of contemporary metalwork insertions throughout provide conditioned air, AV, power, data, whiteboards, and lighting. The insertions are bronze & brass, making reference to the highly significant and identifiable dome. Bronze elements are structural, hardworking, and functional, while more decorative, ornate, and tactile elements are brass, just as in the dome. Floor inlays, bespoke furniture pieces and rug patterning are also informed by the dome's geometry and Maltese Cross motifs. Historically, Araucaria Cunninghamii, or ‘Hoop Pine’, were said to "tower into the sky" on this site. The cones became prompts for the design of custom lighting, with reference made through perforated shrouds of streetlights, lamps, and pendants. These feature lights are supported by purpose designed task lighting and ample natural light which floods into the rooms through large windows and glazed facades.