ANU COLLEGE OF
SCIENCE – BIOSCIENCES BUILDING, ACT
Project Overview
The ANU Biosciences Building is the first building to be completed in the $240M Colleges of Science Precinct. It houses the ANU Research School of Biology and is world class research laboratory and teaching facility. The building also includes office and amenities areas.
The site for the Biosciences Building is located adjacent the main ANU student hub and is surrounded by lecture theatres, research laboratories and a student library. The large volume of pedestrian traffc around the site was a significant safety issue that was successfully managed with no incidents occurring during the course of the work.
To ensure the building's 16 constant temperature rooms met the required operational criteria HCA and the project team developed a prototype. The prototype demonstrated that the stringent temperature control requirements (± 1° with minimal stratification) and the tight restrictions on airfow necessary to prevent damage to plant materials during the experiments, could be achieved.
Key Features
- GBCA 5 star Green Star building design
- High performance glazing with recycled timber sunshades
- Extremely complex facade elements
with a mix of digitally moulded
precast panels - Lightweight aluminium panelling with complex geometric patterns
The Hindmarsh Difference
The PC2/QC2 certification process involved extensive consultation with the building users. Hindmarsh worked in collaboration with ANU to enable the construction and commissioning of the PC2/QC2 spaces early. The 3-month PC2/QC2 certification and inspection process, originally scheduled to occur after handover, was achieved before practical completion.
A significant amount of 'specialist equipment' was installed, such as plant growth cabinets and autoclaves. This required interface with other specialist systems installed within the building, including the reserve osmosis water generation plant for the plant growth cabinets and the steam boiler for the autoclave.
ESD initiatives & targets for the Biosciences Building include a new Central Plant facility constructed to provide hot water for heating and chilled water supply to service the building (as well as 6 other buildings in the precinct), adaptive air conditioning, blackwater Treatment plant to recycle waste water for re-use, rainwater harvesting and recycling plant and lighting control systems including sensors, timers and low energy lamping with electronic ballasts.
