Asia & The Gulf Commercial Design Trends Asia Commercial Design Vol. 30/9 | Page 54

different colours, which help with wayfinding. The
colours reference the baskets of knowledge from
traditional Maori mythology. Motifs introduced on
the exterior also flow through to the inside. And
the design team specified Southland beech timber
throughout the interior to add warmth and to bring
a residential feel to the building.
Dramatic wood panels are a key feature of the
atrium ceiling, and the auditorium, with the diamond
motif repeated in both areas.
Flexible learning environments are created by
positioning columns at the perimeter of the building
rather than in the centre. Johnston says it is difficult
to know what the institute’s needs might be in 20
years, but these floorplates can be adapted easily.
The sense of openness also extends to the train
station, where the entry, in one corner of the atrium,
is angled at 45°.

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“Again we wanted to remove barriers and make
the entry as seamless as possible,” says Johnston.
Peter Quigg, MIT director of academic operations,
says one of MIT’s fundamental operating strategies
is to make education accessible.
“Having an integrated transport interchange
fulfils that need almost to perfection,” he says.
“Accessibility has a direct bearing on student numbers, especially in our catchment area, so to have
rail and bus services bring people right to the door
couldn’t be better.”
Quigg says the new building is the first phase of
a three-phrase project that will eventually see two
further MIT buildings adding another 45,000m2 to
the facility.
There are also plans to build Te Papa North
Museum on the other side of Hayward Park, which
will be an additional drawcard.

Below:Learning spaces include
an auditorium, which is lined
with beech timber, interactive
classrooms and breakout student
hubs on each level of the atrium.
These feature colourful furniture
and pods where students can
meet and share ideas.
Right:The student hubs occupy
the sky bridges that link both
sides of the atrium.