QUT Peter Coaldrake Education Precinct
Kelvin Grove Campus, Brisbane
The design for the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Education Precinct by Wilson Architects and Henning Larsen Architects, Architects in Association, is a model for educational precincts internationally.
The $94.4 million, six level Faculty of Education building at QUT’s Kelvin Grove Campus in Brisbane also houses the Oodgeroo Unit, QUT’s centre for activities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education studies and research.
John Thong, Director of Wilson Architects, said the Education Precinct Building achieved QUT’s objectives for a memorable, state of the art, sustainable and connected facility that offered new teaching and learning opportunities in a stimulating environment, with staff workspaces that meet the needs of contemporary academia.
Staff Work Space
The staff workspaces for the Faculty of Education and the Oodgeroo Unit on Level 3 were designed in accordance with QUT’s Workspace Planning Policy, guided by the four principles of Openness and Transparency, Function and Variety, Flexibility and Efficiency, and Sustainability.
The flexible and open workspaces comprise of a variety of function-based individual and group work zones, fostering greater collaboration and exchange between staff, students and other University stakeholders.
This approach provides a greater level of amenity and choice to staff and supports a diverse range of end-user functional requirements. It provides more flexible and efficient spaces that can readily respond to organisational change and is more sustainable by reducing organisational costs and excess material wastage.
The design provides for an integrated mix of work environments in office ‘neighbourhoods’ that combine the collaborative, accessible and transparent aspirations of contemporary academia with the need for quiet reflection, security and personal space.
Ready access to different-sized meeting rooms, social-learning areas and lounges provide staff with a broad choice of work and collaborative environments beyond their allocated workspace.
Good visual access to natural daylight and landscape, acoustic control, privacy and the provision of adequate storage areas was a design priority for the new workplace.
Shared resource spaces
Shared resource spaces, which occupy the inner planning zone of the floor plate, include meeting rooms for educators and students, academic meeting rooms, Conference rooms for up to 15 people, hot desks for sessional staff, shared kitchen area for informal meetings as well as storage spaces, utility and chat rooms.
Peer to Peer and Research space
The teacher-student relationship is a partnership of learning. Peer to peer spaces is located in close proximity to the academic workspaces to foster greater interactions between students and the Faculty of Education personnel, promising a new and exciting interface between students and staff. The project delivered a student-led / staff-assisted model of extended learning, allowing for personalised interactions to improve the student experience and extend supported learning.
Oodgerooo Unit
In addition to the QUT Workspace Planning Policy requirements, the design of the Oodgeroo Unit required consideration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural aspects.
While it is well integrated into the general building community, the Unit provides a culturally safe and comfortable sanctuary with space for 20 staff, including sessional academic staff, alumni and visiting academics. Acknowledging the need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to welcome visitors to their land as a mark of respect, the outdoor area has shared garden space with native plants, yarning circle and a fire pit for smoking ceremonies.
Completed
2019
Client
Queensland University of Technology
Partners
Wilson Architects + Henning Larsen Architects in Association
Key Personnel
John Thong, Michael Herse, Hamilton Wilson, Luke Gavioli, Daniel Tsang, Annie Yen, Sophie Lorenz, Georgina Russell, Sarah Mahon, Ilka Salisbury, Jenny Yang, John Harrison, Lia Kim, Maddie Zahos, Michelle Duval, Alex Quah-Smith
Awards
2021 ALIA Library Design Awards Highly Commended (Academic Libraries)
2020 AIA QLD Jennifer Taylor Award for Educational Architecture
2020 AIA QLD Award for Interior Architecture
2020 AIA QLD Award for Sustainable Architecture
2020 AIA Brisbane Regional John Dalton Award for Building of the Year
2020 AIA Brisbane Regional Commendation (Educational Architecture)
2020 AIA Brisbane Regional Commendation (Interior Architecture)
2020 AILA (Australian Institute of Landscape Architects) QLD Landscape Architecture Award for Health and Education Landscape
2019 A4LE Queensland Chapter Awards, Overall Award Winner
2019 A4LE Queensland Chapter Awards, New Constructions / New Individual Facility over AU $8 Million