super lab
UTS opens
state-of-the-art health and science building The University of Technology, Sydney’s (UTS) Faculty of Science and Graduate School of Health Building - the third major development in the university’s billion-dollar City Campus Master Plan - was officially opened on 27 April by NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner.
S
The green roof is one of several sustainability features incorporated into the new building, resulting in a 6 Star Green Star Design rating from
panning eight occupied levels, and
the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).
with a gross building area of 13,800 m , the building
Other features include the use of environmentally
has capacity for approximately 900 students and 300
friendly building materials; natural daylighting;
staff. According to UTS Dean of Science Professor
insulated double glazing; water-efficient fixtures;
Bruce Milthorpe, the facility contains state-of-the-
and energy-efficient LED lighting. Meters
art learning and research technologies and spaces.
and sensors constantly monitor the real-time
“One of the new building’s many laboratories is
sustainability performance of the building, making
2
a crime scene simulation lab, designed to resemble
Professor Milthorpe said the science building
bathroom, bedroom and dummy bodies, to teach
is “an important physical milestone for the faculty’s
students to detect blood, fingerprints and how
ongoing evolution”, with UTS having recently
these may be hidden to conceal crimes,” Professor
reorganised its five schools of science into just
Milthorpe said.
two - the School of Life Sciences and the School
Images courtesy of Andrew Worssam.
The building’s new super lab, described by
30 | LAB+LIFE SCIENTIST - June 2015
it a ‘living lab’.
a modern city apartment, complete with kitchen,
of Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
Professor Milthorpe as “the only one of its kind in
“Our two new science schools will break
Australia”, allows tutors to run different science classes
down old discipline silos, offering researchers
concurrently. Accommodating up to 220 students,
and students alike the chance to broaden their
the lab features “stunning learning technologies to
experiences,” he said.
support the university’s student-centred approach to
Minister Skinner noted that she is “particularly
learning that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration”,
excited this fine building will house a psychology
said Professor Milthorpe.
clinic - staffed by masters students working under
The building’s green roof includes a tree
supervision - which will have a research role with a
nursery and saltwater tank to grow algae, seagrass
multidisciplinary approach to issues such as pain
and saltmarsh plants, allowing researchers to better
management”.
understand how carbon dioxide sequestration, solid
UTS Vice-Chancellor Professor Attila Brungs
waste and wastewater treatment, and the impacts
concluded, “This building, and our entire newly
of climate change. The roof additionally provides
developed campus, embodies UTS’s vision to be
recreational space, insulation, improved air quality,
a world-leading university of technology and an
a plant and animal habitat, and the ability to filter
inspiring place equipping our graduates for jobs
and clean stormwater run-off.
of the future and delivering research with impact.”
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