The UTS Vicki Sara Building, also known as the Science Faculty Building, is the building housing the Faculty of Science and the Graduate School of Health in the

University of Technology Sydney The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a public university, public research university located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1988, though its origins as a Institute of technology, ...

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. It is the third building to be opened under the plan for $154 million worth of structures designed by Durbach Block Jaggers (DBJ) in association with BVN Architecture constructed by Richard Crookes Constructions. The building is located in the City Campus at 67 Thomas St, Ultimo. It was completed in October 2014 and opened for teaching in February 2015. The building has 8 levels that provide spaces for over 1200 staff and students including teaching, learning and research facilities. The

organic form In romantic literature, a work has organic form if the structure has originated from the materials and subjects used by the author. Using the organic metaphor, the structure is seen to grow as a plant. It stands in contrast to a mechanical form, a ...

of the building is inspired by the shapes of grove of trees. The undulatory form of the building is inflected by 700 multi-colored, box-like openings piercing the glossy off-white surface of the façade. The external cladding has been crafted from 75%

recycled Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. This concept often includes the recovery of energy from waste materials. The recyclability of a material depends on its ability to reacquire the propert ...

glass.

Features

Spiral staircase

A large

spiral In mathematics, a spiral is a curve which emanates from a point, moving further away as it revolves around the point. It is a subtype of whorled patterns, a broad group that also includes concentric objects. Two-dimensional A two-dimension ...

staircase allows light to penetrate the building from above.

Super Lab

The Super Lab is a 52-metre-long room which can accommodate up to 220 students. It is configured into 12 different classrooms, allowing different classes to be held simultaneously.

Green auditorium

The auditorium was designed with conical flask lighting which produce a green hue, thought to encourage creativity and a state of calmness.

Sustainability

Sustainability measures in the building include: a green roof for research, external cladding made out of 75% recycled glass, and a 27,000-litre rainwater tank supply of

recycled water Water reclamation is the process of converting municipal wastewater or sewage and industrial wastewater into water that can be reused for a variety of purposes. It is also called wastewater reuse, water reuse or water recycling. There are many ty ...

for the rooftop garden and the building's toilets. The

ventilation Ventilation may refer to: * Ventilation (physiology), the movement of air between the environment and the lungs via inhalation and exhalation ** Mechanical ventilation, in medicine, using artificial methods to assist breathing *** Respirator, a ma ...

system has been integrated with a natural cooling system which reduces energy use by up to 20%. The Faculty of Science and Graduate School of Health Building has used many strategies in order to improve sustainability. Critical environmental practices include: *

Rainwater harvesting Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the collection and storage of rain, rather than allowing it to run off. Rainwater is collected from a roof-like surface and redirected to a Rainwater tank, tank, cistern, deep pit (well, shaft, or borehole), Aquifer s ...

* Water-saving sanitary appliances * Sustainable

building materials Building material is material used for construction. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, rocks, sand, wood, and even twigs and leaves, have been used to construct buildings and other structures, like bridges. Apart from natur ...

* Recycled materials * Low-emitting materials and finishes * Sustainable urban

drainage Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of a surface's water and sub-surface water from an area with excess water. The internal drainage of most agricultural soils can prevent severe waterlogging (anaerobic conditions that harm root gro ...

system * Smart design ( passive design strategies) * Maximised daylighting system.

Notable awards

* 2015 NSW Architecture Awards: Inaugural William E. Kemp Award for Educational Architecture. * 2015 Sydney Design Awards: Gold Winner, Architecture – Mixed Use – Constructed.

Gallery

Detail shot of colourful pastel tiles and skylight (a).jpg, Detail view of pastel tiles and skylight constructed over spiral staircase Detail shot of colourful pastel tiles and skylight (b).JPG, Perspective from the skylight constructed over spiral staircase Spiral concrete staircase.JPG, Spiral concrete staircase Green balcony.jpg, Green balcony (Level 1) Corridor and entrance to Super Labs.JPG, Corridor and entrance to Super Labs (Level 2) Circulation Space between Super labs and Consulting rooms.JPG, The skylight facing Alumni Green

References

{{Reflist Buildings and structures in Sydney University of Technology Sydney University and college buildings in Australia Sustainable buildings in Australia