Enabling world-leading research
H2o architects has designed the new high-tech Research Building for UTS. Our team recently attended the ‘topping out’ ceremony for the project – a seven-storey building housing several cutting-edge laboratories in the heart of the UTS campus.
The highly-complex project includes space for Advanced Analytics, Chemical Synthesis, Phenomics, Biomedical and Biotechnology Research and Translational Medical Science.
H2o architects’ design reflects the University’s strategic focus on research excellence, with each floor containing the latest up-to-date research equipment and technologies.
Laboratory spaces are carefully planned to adapt to the changing needs of researchers with a strong focus on innovation, collaboration and flexibility.
The Translational Medical Science Lab will provide infrastructure to rapidly translate novel genomic and imaging research discoveries from the laboratory to pre-clinical trials and eventually with commercial support to the clinic.
Meanwhile, the vision for the Advanced Analytics Lab is to be Australia’s leading accessible analytical chemistry research facility for academia, industry partners, small and medium enterprises, and end-users. The Lab will produce highly trained specialist mass spectrometry scientists for the pharmaceutical, biological, clinical, food and environmental industries.
The Research Building will be a high-profile research space that consolidates the research infrastructure of for the Faculty of Science and Faculty Engineering & Information Technology. It will facilitate integrated and collaborative research across the Science/FEIT disciplines.
The project is due to be opened in late 2020.
H2o’s 20th Anniversary Party
Thank you to everyone who attended our 20th anniversary party. We are delighted you could join us to celebrate this milestone as we now look forward to an exciting future.
We are thrilled to continue to provide our proven innovation and design skills to universities & schools, arts organisations, specialist science, housing and beyond!
We are grateful to have heard from some exceptionally talented speakers at the party – all of whom are part of our extended H2o family.
Haig Beck / Jackie Cooper
Esteemed architecture critics and publishers
Tony Isaacson
Kane Constructions former Director
Sofia Anapliotis
H2o former Associate Director
Pitsa Binnion
McKinnon Secondary College Principal and wonderful client
“Tim, Mark and the H2o team members along the way – your work has indeed contributed to a school we are proud of.
You took our words and stories, you understood our needs and you have delivered beautiful architecturally designed buildings and landscaped areas that people love and enjoy.”
Pitsa Binnion, McKinnon Secondary College Principal
Photography by Katya Menshikova
“ProtoLAB opens to provide large scale digital fabrication capability” – Swinburne University Architecture Workshop Refurbishment
“Swinburne’s new digital fabrication facility, ProtoLAB, formally opened this week. The expanded state-of-the-art workshop space designed by H2O Architects is home to industrial robots for large scale architectural design prototyping.
The ProtoLAB design features a glass façade, allowing natural light into all corners of the workspace. Prototyping, digital fabrication, design and making in progress can easily be observed as the façade generates interest and creates a spectacle at the northern end of Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus.”
Full article can be found at,
https://bit.ly/2Y8TGbs
“Civic Centre redevelopment” – Yarra Ranges Civic Centre Redevelopment
Currently under construction, the H2o Architects designed ‘Yarra Ranges Civic Centre Redevelopment’ is due to be completed late 2020. The project involves the construction and refurbishment of the Council’s Anderson Street offices and will create new public spaces available for community use.
Further project updates and information can be found at,
https://bit.ly/2Ivrawj
“Homage duly paid to stone-built homestead” – Cressy Road House
“H2o’s recent rear addition to an 1890s Western District stone homestead is a master class in how to do it right.
For a client couple who have occupied the Winchelsea property for 15 years “and who are old friends of mine”, Hurburgh and project partner Teresa de Miguel Barco removed the unsuccessful back-of-house structure and added a fascinating square of new rooms beneath a large central skylight which sits above the low pyramid roof profile like a chimney.”
Full article can be found at,
https://bit.ly/2EBB0ds
“Swinburne University’s design factory” – Swinburne University of Technology Innovation and Design Hub
“Academics and university researchers are known for their untidy desks, with post-it notes dotted around their computers.
However, walking into the offices, shared workspaces and workshops at Swinburne University’s ‘Design Factory Melbourne’ located within the Innovation Precinct, is more akin to what would expect walking into a creative agency.
One of 24 similar hubs worldwide, and the only one in Australia, the idea for this ‘factory’ was first born in Finland by legendary architect Alvar Aalto.
“It’s about creating an environment that brings together often a disparate group of people, whether they’re researchers, creatives or financiers,” says Professor Anita Kocsis.”
Full article can be found at,
https://bit.ly/2TeMmZs
“Work ramps up on site of high-tech Science Research Building” – UTS Science Research Building
Construction work has now begun on the new H2o designed “Science Research Building” at University of Technology Sydney. The facility, due to be completed in 2020, is a response to the increasing demand for research space in the heart of the campus and provides an additional “seven levels of cutting-edge labs and facilities”.
From Professor Dianne Jolley, Dean of the Faculty of Science, “The Science Research Building will be a high-profile research space that consolidates the research infrastructure of the Faculty of Science and facilitates integrated and collaborative research across the Science disciplines, and with other disciplines from across UTS.. The vision for the Advanced Analytics Lab is to be Australia’s leading accessible analytical chemistry research facility for academia, industry partners, small and medium enterprises, and end-users. The Lab will produce highly trained specialist mass spectrometry scientists for the pharmaceutical, biological, clinical, food and environmental industries.”
Full article can be found at,
https://bit.ly/2Xhp60n
The new 3 storey McKinnon VCE Centre was opened late 2018 by the Premier Daniel Andrews, introduced by the School Principal; Pitsa Binnion and MC’d by the School co-captains. The opening was complete with 4 piece brass ensemble and a fine mezzo soprano, singing the national anthem.
The building has been incredibly well received and features a simple classical plan, a vigorous and engaging cross section and robust materiality – being described as ‘industrial elegance’. Given this, and that H2o managed to capture 19 classrooms, 4 labs and various specialist activity areas plus BOH spaces, it is a remarkably tranquil place. To achieve a dynamic and inclusive learning experience for the students, the interiors are strategically open, permeable and incorporate neighbouring venues for learning, study and research.
McKinnon Library Hub
The McKinnon Library Hub represents a new outreach pedagogical model for Department of Education schools. It combines traditional storage/retrieval and resource library functions with teaching and breakout areas; formal and informal, internal and external, to create a new learning and social hub in the centre of the campus. Providing local community access extends the outreach concept to the general public, in this highly sought after Melbourne school zone.
The sustainable design features locally manufactured and fabricated precast panels, and sensuously and practically folded zinc cladding profiled to create fascias, down pipe housings, window reveals and low level seating for pupils.
Materials were chosen to meet low budgets, and to facilitate speed of erection and constructability constraints. Inset timber slat graffiti planks in the precast slabs are inspired by traditional African village Cray pot timber structures, crudely mud covered and white washed; often revealing the timber sub structure beneath. These carry building identification and extracts from the School’s philosophical charter.
Truganina P-9 School
Truganina P-9 School Stage 1 is a Prep to Year 9 co-educational school with a long term enrolment of 675 students. Truganina is a new, fast growing suburb, 21kms West of the Melbourne CBD.
The school has been designed to present a strong identity to the community with new buildings positioned along the East and North boundary with clear entrance points. The school offers stage related learning areas, and learning communities have been designed to suit the varying needs of different age groups. Building scale and materials choice reinforce its presence in the fast developing urban fabric, through the use of glazed bricks to Administration Building facades and exterior dados.
The colourful, Trespa facade panels to building side walls indicate slice through walkways between communities. Timber cladding has been used in the North and South Facades as well as in the framed pergolas. The school responds to its surrounding natural environment. There are direct connections from all learning communities to outdoor learning spaces.
The landscape proposal incorporates specific outdoor curriculum areas including science and food technology gardens, primary vegetable garden, sensory garden and performance areas, these being outdoor learning zones for a variety of purposes and group sizes.
