flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

The Starchitect of Oz: New Gehry building in Sydney celebrates topping out

The Starchitect of Oz: New Gehry building in Sydney celebrates topping out

Sustainabile facility combines a complex façade with a trunk-and-branches organizational plan.


By BD+C Staff | January 17, 2014
The Dr Chau Chak Wing Building is Frank Gehry's first project in Sydney. All ima
The Dr Chau Chak Wing Building is Frank Gehry's first project in Sydney. All images courtesy Gehry Partners LLP.

The Dr Chau Chak Wing Building at the University of Technology, Sydney, will mark Frank Gehry's debut project in the Australian metro. The 12-story, $150 million project will serve the university's Business School and is being built by Lend Lease.

Gehry says the design, which is a bit reminiscent of his Stata Center at MIT, was inspired the trunk-and-branches arrangement of a tree. The main structure has been completed and work has begun on the façade--as usual with Gehry, a complex proposition. About 320,000 bricks will be hand-laid to achieve a crinkled effect, guided by extensive BIM analysis. The UTS civil engineering labs collaborated with Chinese partners to create and test prototypes for the brick work. The building's west side will feature huge panes of reflective glass.

As with many new Australian facilites, this one incorporates a green focus. High-performance glazing will combine with energy- and water-efficient engineering, including a 20,000-L rainwater tank. The building is aiming for 5 Star status in the Green Star sustainability certification program.

Part of a 10-year master plan for the campus, the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building is scheduled to be completed this year. 

Related Stories

Codes and Standards | Aug 3, 2022

Some climate models underestimate risk of future floods

Commonly used climate models may be significantly underestimating the risk of floods this century, according to a new study by Yale researchers.

| Aug 3, 2022

Designing learning environments to support the future of equitable health care

While the shortage of rural health care practitioners was a concern before the COVID-19 pandemic, the public health crisis has highlighted the importance of health equity in the United States and the desperate need for practitioners help meet the needs of patients in vulnerable rural communities.

Reconstruction & Renovation | Aug 3, 2022

Chicago proposes three options for Soldier Field renovation including domed stadium

The City of Chicago recently announced design concepts for renovations to Soldier Field, the home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears.

Codes and Standards | Aug 2, 2022

New tools help LEED projects reach health goals

The U.S. Green Building Council now offers tools to support the LEED Integrative Process for Health Promotion (IPHP) pilot credit.

Market Data | Aug 2, 2022

Nonresidential construction spending falls 0.5% in June, says ABC

National nonresidential construction spending was down by 0.5% in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

K-12 Schools | Aug 1, 2022

Achieving a net-zero K-12 facility is a team effort

Designing a net-zero energy building is always a challenge, but renovating an existing school and applying for grants to make the project happen is another challenge entirely.

Healthcare Facilities | Aug 1, 2022

New Phoenix VA outpatient clinic is one of the largest veteran care facilities in the U.S.

The new Phoenix 32nd Street VA Clinic, spanning roughly 275,000 sf over 15 acres, is one of the largest veteran care facilities in the U.S.

Codes and Standards | Jul 29, 2022

Few projects and properties are being built beyond code

Clients and architects disagree on how well building to code provides resilience, according to a recent report by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in partnership with Owens Corning.

Headquarters | Jul 29, 2022

Nike HQ’s newest, largest structure: the Serena Williams Building

In Beaverton, Ore., the new Serena Williams Building, at just over 1 million square feet, is the largest structure at Nike World Headquarters.

| Jul 28, 2022

Fanning Howey hires Dennis Bane, AIA, as Project Executive

Fanning Howey, an architecture, interiors and engineering firm specializing in learning environments, has hired Dennis Bane, AIA, ALEP, to serve as a Project Executive for the firm’s Indianapolis office.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


Urban Planning

Bridging the gap: How early architect involvement can revolutionize a city’s capital improvement plans

Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) typically span three to five years and outline future city projects and their costs. While they set the stage, the design and construction of these projects often extend beyond the CIP window, leading to a disconnect between the initial budget and evolving project scope. This can result in financial shortfalls, forcing cities to cut back on critical project features.



Libraries

Reasons to reinvent the Midcentury academic library

DLR Group's Interior Design Leader Gretchen Holy, Assoc. IIDA, shares the idea that a designer's responsibility to embrace a library’s history, respect its past, and create an environment that will serve student populations for the next 100 years.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021