Flinders University Biodiversity Facility

Designed in association with Phillips/Pilkington Architects, our new Biodiversity Facility for Flinders University is now complete and open for business. Located at the College of Science and Engineering at the Bedford Park campus of Flinders University in Adelaide, the purpose-built facility supports contemporary teaching and research across biodiversity, nature conservation and education.

With environmental issues at the forefront of global debate, the new Biodiversity Facility plays a vital role in supporting the teaching and learning of conservation and biodiversity. Together with Phillips/Pilkington Architects, we’ve taken the opportunity to highlight the university’s valuable work, and have entered the facility into this year’s South Australian Architecture Awards. Entered into both the Education and Interior Design categories, we look forward to the announcement of the award winners later this year in mid-June.

Designed with a low carbon footprint and reduced energy inputs, the facility incorporates bespoke environmental conditions with a focus on humidity, temperature and light control. The facility also includes landscaped outdoor areas designed to blend with its bushland surrounds in sympathy with the local landscape.

Enhancing the sense of enclosure, a dark colour palette is used as a background for vibrant highlights throughout. Externally, the facility appears rugged, surrounded in earthy tones that ground the new building to its location. Internally, entryways and delivery portals are accentuated with bold colours including turquoise, orange and yellow, taking inspiration from the fish and lizards accommodated in the facility.

Part of Flinders University’s upgraded science precinct, the new Biodiversity Facility supports the university’s reputation for world-class research and teaching. Photo by David Sievers.