Green building houses dynamic centre of Commerce
The Faculty of Economics and Commerce at the University of Melbourne have recently moved to a new five star energy rated building designed by architects Metier3. The Faculty now form a large part of the growing university campus precinct south of Grattan St, at 198 Berkeley Street in Carlton.The new building provides state-of-the-art facilities to students and staff, featuring a range of collaborative and individual teaching spaces, open-access laboratories, two lecture theatres and student break-out areas for informal learning. Several classrooms, typically holding around 60 students in each, enable the teacher to be centrally positioned.
Associate Professor Kim Watty, Director of the Faculty’s Teaching and Learning Unit, said, “The benefit of collaborative teaching and learning is that students become central to the learning process. Collaborative learning spaces are ideally suited to group work, discussion and interaction within and between student groups and the lecturer.”
Facilities include a 409 seat lecture theatre located in the basement, and a smaller 100 seat lecture theatre on level one. The building incorporates cutting-edge audio visual and information technology facilities including video conferencing, wireless internet access throughout, and VoIP telephony. The benefit of this technology is to facilitate engagement and interaction.
It is the University’s first 5 Star Green Star rated building, which means it has been recognised and awarded 'Australian Excellence' by the Australian Green Building Council. The building’s rating is part of a pilot for education institutions designed to improve the health and wellbeing of students, as well as to lower absenteeism and operational costs.
The building incorporates 'chilled beam' cooling technology throughout, together with natural air ventilation systems for the Ground Floor and Level 1. It also includes environmentally-sustainable initiatives including a double-glazed facade with the ability to minimise glare, features for rainwater collection, low-energy light fittings, and bike storage. The building provides 100 per cent fresh air, thereby improving the quality of the indoor environment.