Part of the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), UTS Central is a vibrant student hub and faculty space at the heart of the University’s city campus. The 17-story building is home to the new library, study and teaching spaces, the high-tech Hive Superlab and a publicly accessible food court.
Due to its location on the fringe of the Central Business District (CBD) in Sydney there were significant limitations on space and opportunity for the campus to spread and grow horizontally, this was the driving force behind the concept to establish a new ‘vertical campus’. Our innovative structural solution was critical its success. The use of raking columns to minimize transfer structure created expansive column-free spaces through detailed coordination of the existing and new structure. This allows the University to use the floor plates for multiple modes and the flexibility for adaptation as teaching and learning needs evolve over time.
This vertical campus philosophy also required significant engineering solutions and innovations to deliver a building structure capable of providing the integrated learning environments. The structure also had to stand out and project its presence within a precinct of Sydney famed for its strong architectural design. These requirements presented significant structural engineering challenges.
Awarded 5-stars by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), UTS Central incorporates several energy-saving measures that ensure it’s a green building. These include custom-made automatic sunshades, adjustable louvre blinds within a closed-cavity façade on all upper levels and a plastic-free food court where all single-use plastic items have been eliminated and replaced with reusable, recyclable and compostable alternatives.
We also facilitated the inclusion of a district cooling connection which sources cooling thermal energy via underground pipes below Broadway from Central Park. This connection means an almost three percent reduction in UTS’s greenhouse gas emissions (over 1,000 tonnes a year).
Not only does UTS Central bring striking architectural variety to its precinct, it will also act as a benchmark project within the region attracting more visitors and students to the surrounding area and succeeding in delivering a truly future-ready educational environment.
Client
University Technology Sydney
Services
- Structures
- Civil engineering
