UQ has engaged KIRK in the Lake and Amphitheatre Renewal project - a space to enhance the campus experience through collegial engagement and creative expression. The revitalisation project is underway and has recently entered the construction phase.
The Pavilion is conceived as both a place of quiet contemplation, engaging with UQ’s natural campus assets, and an exciting performance space.
We chose soft forms for the design, to suit the set and setting of the performance space. The design also incorporates the environmental context in which the performers and UQ School of Music will be immersed.
The design considers UQ's Indigenous Design Framework, which prioritises low-impact natural materials and sensitivity to context and place. As a companion piece to the award-winning AEB at UQ, the Pavilion will utilise the same modern building technology: mass-engineered timber (MET).
Prefabricated timber has a number of benefits for time sensitive projects like this. To coincide with the revitalisation of the Lakes and Amphitheatre, the structure will be fabricated off-site and then erected quickly. Using MET for the performance structure was a natural choice, considering the time constraints and the overall setting.
Mass-engineered timber is proliferating exponentially at a pivotal time in the construction industry around the globe. Not only is it a more efficient modern building technology, but requires less labour on-site, is much safer to install, and doesn't require complex technical expertise to erect buildings correctly.
Research has highlighted the tangible benefits of timber in construction and fit outs, not only for wellbeing, but also our physical and psychological health.
Engineered timber and other biobased materials continue to be at the forefront of our architectural approach – carbon capture must exceed the carbon footprint in building design.
Some details on materials used include:
For a deeper dive into the contextual response, design inspiration, and materials, just follow this link: UQ Pavilion - Prefabricated Timber
