Defence Minister opens green Uni building

The official opening of the University's 6 Star Green Star building: (from left) Professor Peter Dowd, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences; Darren Bilsborough, Green Building Council of Australia; The Honourable Stephen Smith, Minister for Defence; Professor James McWha,Vice-Chancellor and President; and the Honourable Robert Hill, Chancellor of the University

The official opening of the University's 6 Star Green Star building: (from left) Professor Peter Dowd, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences; Darren Bilsborough, Green Building Council of Australia; The Honourable Stephen Smith, Minister for Defence; Professor James McWha,Vice-Chancellor and President; and the Honourable Robert Hill, Chancellor of the University
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Opening the University's 6 Star Green Star Building

Opening the University's 6 Star Green Star Building
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Friday, 4 March 2011

The University of Adelaide's new $100 million environmentally sustainable building has been officially opened today by the Hon. Stephen Smith, Minister for Defence.

The new building is Australia's first 6 Star Green Star education building. During the opening ceremony, the Green Building Council of Australia presented the University with the official 6 Star Green Star certificate.

The nine level, state-of-the-art building houses staff and students from the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences. It caters for the significant growth in student numbers in the Faculty - up more than 30% since 2006 - and the changing needs of students and staff.

"This building is the flagship of the University's $400 million Building Life Impact campus development program," said University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor James McWha.

"The unprecedented growth in the mining, technology and defence industries in Australia has created a high demand for quality graduates in engineering and technology disciplines. This new building is helping the University of Adelaide provide essential skilled graduates for the state and nation. It's also assisting the University to remain at the forefront of teaching and research in engineering, computer science and mathematics.

"We are extremely proud to be able to provide these outstanding facilities for our staff and students and, at the same time, be recognised for our environmentally sustainable design leadership."

The building contains more than 11,000 square metres of teaching and research spaces, social and study areas for students, a cafe, computer labs, an exhibition area, administrative offices spaces and 24-hour, seven-days-a-week access to major resources and support facilities.

It achieved this world-leading rating under the Green Building Council of Australia's Green Star - Education v1 Tool, which assesses the environmental attributes of new and refurbished education facilities in Australia.

Environmental features include: thermal chimneys; active slab technology (hydronic cooling loops within the concrete floor) combined with an under-floor air distribution system utilising fresh air ventilation; an inflated roof membrane providing insulation and light penetration at the same time over the exhibition space; rainwater collection for use within the building; a programmable lighting system; an energy-saving Tri Generation Plant (electricity, heating and cooling) and a digital Building Management System to reduce energy consumption.

The sustainable technologies are also used as a teaching tool for students. The building's environmental performance is monitored through the Building Management System, with the data to be available to students in real time via a central media wall, which will display information about energy use efficiency and the performance of structural elements.

The building was designed by DesignInc (principal consultant and architect) and was constructed by Hindmarsh.

 

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