New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 33/03C | Page 26

design were tweaked to accommodate the campus.
“However, given the advanced style of learning
environments proposed for the building, these
changes were not radical – more services-driven
than structural,” says the architect.
“The large light-filled atrium was ideal for a sense
of connection across levels and the expansive,
uninterrupted floor plates – 2145m 2 at podium level
– were already ideal for the kind of learning-without-
classrooms philosophy behind the campus.”
One major change from office floors to campus
was the density of occupancy, growing from around
1 person to 10m 2 to one person to every 8m 2 .
To cope with the higher occupancy, Architectus
addressed four principal elements. An additional
escalator and lift were added to the design,
mechanical services were upped to keep the
building cool despite the increased numbers,
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bathroom capacity was increased and, lastly, the
fire stairs were widened to cope with increased
numbers.
“What is more surprising is not these changes to
the design, but rather the relatively minor adjust-
ments necessary for change from lucrative office
spaces to campus – and the potential to revert
back, at a later date.”
Woods Bagot undertook the interior design of the
contemporary campus. Director Georgia Singleton
said the company took an agnostic approach to the
fit-out, allowing for a truly flexible, multidisciplinary
and future-proofed learning environment.
“There are no lecture theatres within the space,
instead the design fosters an interactive approach
to teaching and learning – a prominent aspect of
the WSU curriculum,” says Singleton. “One objective
was to create an agile educational environment that
Below:Plans bottom to top show
the podium ground floor, the
ninth floor with a rooftop terrace
where the building narrows to the
tower, and a typical tower floor.
Right:At the heart of the podium,
the glass-roofed triangular
atrium floods light into the
campus interior. Befitting the
campus philosophy, broad stairs
encourage casual connections
between students and staff.
Following pages:Exposed
services, break-outspaces,
textured walls, colour, space and
not a blackboard or classroom
in sight – the Western Sydney
University campus brings a fresh
perspective to higher learning.