Bringing to life a living laboratory

A living laboratory can be described as an innovation network based on the philosophy of open innovation. In the Woodside Building for Technology and Design, visual access to the workings of the building enable students and researchers to learn from its physical design and building services.

Visual access to plant rooms through glazed windows provide an insight into the role of different components of plant equipment, and some areas of the raised floor are laminated glass with LED back lighting for students to see how the mechanical, electrical and hydraulic services function.

Structural steelwork and exposed piles include sensors that show how stresses and vibrations on structural elements change in different load conditions and temperatures.

The building will become a part of the educational pedagogy for formal and informal learning. Its performance data on structure and building services will be available to students and researchers for research purposes.

Buildings that are truly inspired for the future demonstrate an understanding that the physical environment is not stagnant. The Woodside Building for Technology and Design is fluid and dynamic, flexible in its design and adaptable to future uses. It delivers a transformative educational experience for students, academics, researchers, the community and industry collaborators to learn and innovate.

Award-winning

The Woodside building was selected to feature at the COP26 UN Climate Conference in Glasgow in November 2021 as one of 17 projects from around the world demonstrating opportunities for sustainability in the built environment. It is one of two Passive House projects engineered by Aurecon, and one of only two projects from Australasia, along with Ngā Kāinga Anamata showcased at the conference.

The project has won the following awards:

High Commendation: FIDIC Project Awards 2022 – Education Buildings
Winner: Property Council of Australia Innovation & Excellence Awards 2022 – Award for Best Sustainable Development

Winner: Australian Institute of Architecture – National Architecture Awards 2021 – Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University:

David Oppenheim Award for Sustainable Architecture
Sir Zelman Cowan Award for Public Architecture

Winner: Australian Institute of Architecture – Victoria Division Awards 2021 – Grimshaw in collaboration with Monash University:

Victorian Architecture Medal
Melbourne Prize
Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
Award for Educational Architecture
Award for Sustainable Architecture

High Commendation: OneConsult Awards for Excellence 2021 – Superior Sustainability
Winner: Engineers Australia Australian Engineering Excellence Awards 2020 – Victoria Division
Winner: Sustainability Awards 2020 – Education & Research

Read more from the team who worked on this project:

LinkedIn Pulse: The reality of Passive House design and large-scale projects
LinkedIn Pulse: Large-scale buildings CAN play a major part in the path to net zero

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