Advanced Engineering Building

The University of Queensland’s Engineering Faculty wanted a building that would encourage teachers, students and research staff to work across disciplines to solve complex problems. They also wanted a place that would set UQ apart and boost its global engineering status.

We gave the university a building that’s a cutting-edge, sustainable engineering learning tool. We included a range of ground-breaking features to create an open, collaborative learning environment built around an atrium allowing students to access all levels and to interact and collaborate with staff, researchers and visitors.

The innovative design puts the structure of the building on show, giving students a ​‘live learning’ environment.

We deliberately exposed concrete, steel and timber components, and the structural loads and stresses can also be monitored in real time.

The AEB makes the most of the unique sub-tropical Queensland climate to be as energy and water efficient as possible. Features include systems to pre-cool the building’s air, multi-mode ventilation systems and extensive external shading. The building displays its self-managed energy output, water consumption and waste production on screens around the building.

Our use of local mixed hardwoods underpinned our sustainability initiatives and led to the most striking feature of the building – the auditorium’s exposed 220-tonne timber truss roof. Using timber instead of steel was an ambitious move that created an ambient, acoustically-sound environment to further transform the student learning experience.