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

| Sep 7, 2011

Administration, Maintenance and Operations Facility in South Bend achieves LEED Platinum

The facility achieved 52 LEED points, including those for site selection, energy, materials and resources and innovation.

| Sep 6, 2011

Construction on Beijing's tallest building starts next week

The 108 floor mixed-use skyscraper consists of offices, apartments, hotels and shopping malls on the lower floors.

| Aug 31, 2011

Sebastopol, Cailf., invites designers to submit ideas for renewing city center

The goal of The Core Project is to explore how the physical presence of Sebastopol can become a more economically thriving and aesthetically vibrant place, reflecting the naturally beauty of the region and the character of the community. 

| Aug 31, 2011

Wythe Confectionary renovation in Brooklyn completed

Renovation retains architectural heritage while reflecting a modern urban lifestyle.

| Aug 24, 2011

Deadline Extended: 2012 "Best AEC Firms to Work For” Awards

We’re looking for firms that create truly positive workplaces for their AEC professionals and support staff. In other words, this awards program will recognize those AEC firms that nurture and develop their most valuable asset—their people.

| Aug 23, 2011

Acoustical design education model

Pass this exam and earn 1.0 AIA/CES Discovery learning units. You must go to www.BDCnetwork.com/EnhancedAcousticalDesign to take this exam.

| Aug 19, 2011

Thought Leader: Boyd R. Zoccola, chair and chief elected officer of BOMA International

Boyd R. Zoccola is Chair and Chief Elected Officer of BOMA International. A BOMA member since 1994, he has served on the Executive, Finance, Investment, and Medical/Healthcare Facilities Committees. An Indiana Real Estate Principal Broker and a board member of the Real Estate Round Table, he is Executive Vice President of Hokanson Companies, Inc., of Indianapolis, and has been involved in the development of $600 million worth of real estate. On a volunteer basis, Zoccola was president of Horizon House and a board member of Girls, Inc. He holds a BA in biology from Indiana University.

| Aug 19, 2011

How and why AEC professionals choose flooring systems

Design and construction professionals who completed our flooring survey had strong opinions about their preferred flooring type. 

| Aug 19, 2011

Underfloor air distribution, how to get the details right

Our experts provide solid advice on the correct way to design and construct underfloor air distribution systems, to yield significant energy savings.

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