Learning Innovation Building, University of Queensland

The design process intentionally maintains and improves ‘hidden’ or secondary pedestrian links to surrounding spaces and buildings. Public courtyard space adds to an existing sequence of external spaces within the campus, including the Great Court.

Views of the campus, river, eastern suburbs and the Green Bridge are available from the upper levels of the scheme. Openings in the external envelope have been positioned to frame external views and maximise daylighting to the interior of the building.

The intended approach is to achieve a sensitive design to surrounding heritage buildings, pedestrian links and campus activity. As a result, the external form is complex and reacts to the shape of the surrounding buildings. A number of the facades are highly transparent to display internal activities to the wider campus.

The four-storey educational facility provides accommodation for three university departments. The spaces provided include experimental seminar/teaching spaces, office/administration spaces, meeting/boardrooms, media editing suites and staff support facilities. A studio or atelier space termed the ‘Innovation Laboratory’ forms the focus for various department-specific activities. A three-storey high void space links the horizontal floor plates vertically, improving the internal environment and contributing to the building's overall efficiency.