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Architecture awards confirm high standing of USC
2 August 2008
Even before the first advertisements were placed for architects for our earliest buildings, the University was committed to environmentally sustainable design principles.
Since that period early in 1994, the University has won international praise and recognition for its buildings and campus planning.
Last week the new Chancellery Building won the Harry S. Marks award for sustainable design at the Australian Institute of Architects’ Queensland awards night in Brisbane’s Convention Centre.
Lindsay and Kerry Clare of Architectus received their awards, which follow on from their success of ‘Building of the Year’ at the Sunshine Coast ceremony last month.
Some of Australia’s leading architects comprise judging panels and the standards are very high, and getting higher each year, as design and sustainability principles become even more important.
Some of our earliest ‘architectural laboratory’ experiments had some shortcomings in hottest and coldest months, but we have continued to refine natural ventilation principles, with each building stage becoming more sophisticated. This latest building gives individual staff control over their own internal room climate. They can use air conditioning or not, depending on circumstances.
All of our buildings are of course academic or academic-support buildings. We have not had to build student residences, one because we have not had resources to do so, but more importantly because over 1000 student residential places have now been built privately next to the University, without using up any of our master planned spaces needed across this century.
The Library is of course one of the most famous library designs in the world and has been the recipient of Australia’s highest architectural award, and the subject of studies in journals and books, all of which recognise its importance as a statement about the ‘Sunshine Coast School of Architecture’, by Mainwaring and Neald.
At the ceremony last week, I was approached by a number of architects who commented on the importance of the USC campus and its buildings as one of the most significant architectural sites in Australia in terms of innovativeness and sustainable design.
This expert opinion very much mirrors the views of almost all our visitors from around the world, many of whom comment that it is one of the most beautiful university environments they have seen anywhere.
A lot of people have to be thanked for maintaining this justified image. The litter problem is less than other universities, but could be improved. The respect for wildlife is good, and domestic animals are kept out for the most part. The great majority of residents and visitors appreciate the significance of the environment and want it protected.
We were early on asked by the community to commit to being an environmental exemplar, and we have with increasing success attempted to achieve that status. The most recent architectural awards have provided further evidence that independent, informed, judges believe that our architectural practices remain cutting-edge.
Professor Paul Thomas AM is Vice-Chancellor at the University of the Sunshine Coast.