Announcement
Materials & Mineral Sciences MM Building and The Plasso
University of South Australia
Mawson Lakes
Campus
- Australian Institute of Architects South Australian Chapter- Jack McConnell Award for Public Architecture 2012
- Master Builders Association South Australia -Excellence in a Commercial/Industrial Building $20M - $50M awarded to Hansen Yuncken
- Master Builders Association South Australia - Excellence in Structural Work awarded to Bianco Precast
- Australian Institute of Building -2012 South Australian Professional Excellence Award
- Australian Institute of Building - 2012 National Professional Excellence High Commendation
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"The MM Building is intended to be a catalyst for innovative learning and
teaching and high quality research in the materials and minerals science and
engineering hub located at Mawson Lakes. The building facilitates the
engagement between undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students,
higher degree research students, leading researchers and industry
stakeholders in a flexible, open and creative space aimed at stimulating
innovation in relevant areas. The building will ensure the delivery of
contemporary practice-based education programs and internationally
significant research" University of South Australia's Project Vision
Statement for MM Building and The Plasso
The University of South Australia set an ambitious brief to create a new
landmark building at the physical and philosophical centre of the Mineral
and Materials research hub at the Mawson Lakes Campus. The intent of the MM
Building is to underpin a nexus between learning, research and industry in
view of propelling this aspect of science well into the future. The Plasso
is a unique and complimentary landscaped area that strongly integrates this
new building into the fabric of the Mawson Lakes Campus.
The 7,300m 2 building will accommodate 55 academic staff and 45 HDR students, representing both the Mawson Institute and The Wark, and will include an experiential learning studio for use by 120 honours level students. The collocation of these groups is in part focussed around the new Minerals and Materials degree to be offered by UniSA in 2012.
Intended to promote knowledge transfer, the building will offer a range
of spaces where industry representatives and researchers can come together
in small collaborative settings or in a large theatre setting designed for
optimum engagement across a diverse group of researchers and integration
with a global research network through advanced information and
communication technologies.
The building comprises a range of laboratory facilities in a unique
combination with a series of experiential learning spaces. The Cell Therapy
Suite will be certified by the Therapeutic Goods Association.
The building is on target to achieve a 5 Star Design Rating under the
Greenstar Education Tool. In addition to this the university has set a
maximum carbon emission target of 80 to 85kg of CO2/m2. The building layout,
orientation, facade treatment, material selection, and building
services design are all critical to achieving these goals. The building
services design utilises chilled beams, active mass cooling and fabric socks
to deliver supply air to the laboratory spaces. UniSA are cognisant of the
imperative for efficient water use and the building incorporates rain water
harvesting and grey water technologies.
The design response has been informed by a robust examination of the project brief and vision set by UniSA, coupled with specific reference to the campus and locality. The design of this project is informed by and responsive to a series of themes set from the earliest stage.