School: QUT Kelvin Grove Campus
Project:  Peter Coaldrake Building
Architect: Wilson Architects - Architects in Association with Henning Larson
Photographer: Christopher Frederick Jones 

The Peter Coaldrake Education Precinct at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) exemplifies contemporary educational design, offering valuable insights for educators and planners. Key features include: 

Innovative Learning Environments: 
The six-level, 11,000 m² building integrates classrooms, research facilities, and offices around an open ground-level atrium, fostering a vibrant social and academic hub. 

Technological Integration:
Equipped with advanced visualisation technology, including a five-meter diameter LED sphere and interactive walls, the precinct enhances digital learning experiences. 

Sustainable Design: 
The building incorporates biophilic design elements, connecting indoor spaces with natural landscapes to promote well-being and environmental sustainability. 

Community Engagement: 
Serving as a nexus for students, educators, researchers, and industry professionals, the precinct facilitates collaboration and real-world engagement. 

Interconnected learning environments: 
Architects designed the precinct to be seamlessly connected to the adjacent library. 

Encourages continuous learning by linking research, study, and teaching spaces. 

Students and educators benefit from an integrated environment, promoting collaboration across disciplines. 

The design minimizes barriers between different academic functions, fostering a holistic approach to education. 

By interconnecting the building with the library, the precinct serves as a central hub for learning resources, blending traditional and digital information access. 

Physical proximity between the precinct and library enhances accessibility, making it easier for students to transition between collaborative and independent study modes. 

Visiting the Peter Coaldrake Education Precinct provides educationalists with a comprehensive view of how modern design and technology can converge to create dynamic, sustainable, and collaborative learning environments.

School: The University of Queensland - Brisbane City
Project:  Brisbane City Campus
Architect: BVN
Photographer: David Chatfield

The ‘UQ Brisbane City’ scheme establishes a distinctive, state-of-the-art learning environment through the adaptive re-use of the iconic, state heritage listed Queensland National Bank and its 2008 tower extension. The re-imagining of these two parts provides new environments for alumni of the University of Queensland, alongside postgraduate students within the Architecture and Business Schools. 

The buildings offer a series of unique spaces that encourage interaction, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among students and professionals. The careful preservation of the buildings’ heritage, coupled with contemporary design insertions, creates a learning environment that is functional, flexible, and deeply respectful of its historical context.