A DECADE OF SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE

摘要

The Callaghan campus of the University of Newcastle is situated some 8 kilometres west of the city centre of Newcastle, New South Wales. The creek and wetland systems making up the catchment area of the campus feed into adjacent RAMSAR listed wetlands of the lower Hunter River. The University has over the past decade developed a holistic and sustainable approach to many aspects of the management of the 150 Ha Callaghan campus, incorporating innovative techniques of catchment management (the LandSoft system), organic waste management, native landscape rehabilitation and other measures. From 1992 to 2001 a succession of twelve buildings have been constructed on the campus which have included ecological sustainability as a key component of their design brief Functionality economy and social considerations were also major factors in the design process. In most instances the design commissions for many of these buildings were awarded following limited design competitions, which has resulted in some truly excellent architecture. Projects first delivered in the early 1990's reflected a relatively 'low tech' approach - utilising many of the principles applied to passive solar residential design. Successive projects became more sophisticated in their design, although 'natural systems' were primarily relied upon rather than complex highly engineered solutions. Although they vary greatly in their design and function, all of these buildings utilise steel as a major component of the overall project - in some instances as 'fly' roofs and in another as external cladding to a massive cantilevered structure. Many of the projects have been recognised for their environmental innovation and their overall architectural excellence by way of an array of awards.