The new Chemistry Building, a component of the Colleges of Science Project at the ANU, consists of a new three-storey, two (2) wing building with 9,100 sqm GFA and the refurbished Birt Building with 4,100 sqm GFA. The building was constructed within the ‘live’ campus science precinct.
The new buildings provide accommodation and compliant laboratory space for the Research School of Chemistry, the Department of Chemistry and the Physical, Synthetic, Biological and Theoretical Chemists. The new facilities built by Hindmarsh include, specialist research laboratories including Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry & Experimental laboratories each distinct and contained from each other, future proofing of the Chemical Services laboratories to allow for conversion of all or any spaces, instrument rooms including Mass spectrometry, Micro Analysis, NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance rooms) & X-Ray laboratories, chemical store rooms, workshop rooms for electronics & glassblowing and associated offices, administration, seminar, drop-in centre and general meeting areas.
Specialised equipment installed by HCA included laboratory gas reticulation and equipment including Oxygen, Helium, Nitrogen, Argon, Acetylene, Compressed Air and Carbon Dioxide; Gas detection systems; NMR equipment; Microscopy equipment; X-Ray equipment; Gaseous Nitrogen generation plant and Helium recovery plant.
Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) initiatives and targets for the Chemistry building included, a new Central Plant facility constructed to provide hot water for heating and chilled water supply to service the building, as well as six (6) other buildings in the precinct, adaptive air conditioning, blackwater treatment plant to recycle chemistry wastewater for re-use, rainwater harvesting & recycling plant. The building design meets GBCA 5 Star Green Star.
Design & build of complex feature window glazing systems, comprised of large geometric shaped panels. Further, the facade is integrated with the adjoining Biosciences/Teaching Buildings to create a unified precinct identity.