New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 33/03C | Page 30

enables adaptation to almost any university group.”
A vertical campus stacked over several floors
could potentially inhibit opportunities for students
and educators to commingle and interact. With 1
Parramatta Square, however, the atrium creates a
ready sense of community a nd connectivity.
“The interconnecting stairs and voids encourage
collaboration and organic conversation between
students and staff,” says the designer.
On the podium floors, circulation runs around the
perimeter of the floorplate with grouped learning
spaces resembling classrooms in the middle.
However, there is no front or back, or even walls –
students intermingle with lecturers in an egalitarian
environment that fosters interaction and banishes
the old back-of-class boredom. There are also
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enclosed quiet/study spaces on all podium floors.
Besides the radical, open layouts, cutting edge
technology permeates every aspect of the campus,
with students able to book a time remotely to, say,
pick up student ID cards or get advice. Information
stands throughout the building display real-time
public transport information and the classes on at
that time, and the rooms in which they are located.
The podium finishes on level 8 and includes a
rooftop terrace alongside the tower. Levels 8 to 10
include workspaces for staff and conference and
function spaces, while commercial clients occupy
the top floors. 1 Parramatta Square provides a
forward-looking combination of a 5 Green Star
university campus and commercial tenants, all at
one high-profile address.
These pages:The lively campus
decor includes ceiling elements
reflected in carpet patterns. The
advanced campus is designed
to achieve a 5 Green Star and 5
Star NABERS Energy Rating.