The School of Design & The Built Environment at Curtin University is an Honourable Work with a Complexity

The School of Design & the Built Environment at Curtin University is an honourable work with a complexity and thoughtfulness that make it both a landmark and good neighbour. Instantly recognisable as a Wardle design yet completely at one with its context, in a skilful demonstration of material cues and textures that are referential though not identical.

In a precinct that is distinctly more urban than the existing campus the building still manages to make strong connections to nature with carefully curated distant views through neighbouring buildings and a courtyard composition bringing landscape up to and onto the building.

The interior is inviting and warm with soft, earthy hues that invoke a sense of nurturing calm. Exposed services are coordinated with precision and artworks skilfully interwoven. The zinc façade veil effectively provides passive solar shading, yet its beauty is in its precisely articulated folds. Of note is the southwestern corner where the veil gently opens making a welcoming gesture to the passer-by and inviting a glimpse to the learning within.

An exemplar in sustainable design achieving a 6 Star Green Star, Design and As Built V1.2 rating, the building is a testament to the skill of its creators.

The School of Design and the Built Environment building mirrors the precinct in which it is located: Exchange. Designed as a living laboratory and teaching tool, the five-storey building is home to students, professional and academic staff, industry partners and commercial tenants.

The building is conceived as an activity map of ‘thinking, making and showing’  – putting learning on display around a central quarried atrium that creates strong visual, physical and audible connections between levels. Opportunities for informal learning, gathering and socialising have been embedded within the stairs and activate the primary circulation, complementing the dedicated learning spaces. The building has been highly successful in encouraging students to linger beyond formal classes, as well as attracting students from the wider precinct - enhancing its function as an interdisciplinary place of exchange and collaboration.

A warm and activated interior contrasts the cooler palette of the exterior. Internal finishes have been chosen to be enduring, local and sustainable – often performing a dual function as display, pinup, or operable wall. Achieving a 6 Star Green Star rating, excellent indoor air environment, independent power generation and passive solar design, and visual connections to landscape from every level; the building is an exemplar in sustainable design and a vibrant new home for the School of Design and the Built and Environment.

Leveraging of the work encapsulated in Curtin University’s award-winning Masterplan for the Curtin Exchange Precinct, The Wardle team have created an exciting new School of Design and the Built Environment (DBE) at the heart of Curtin’s Innovation precinct.

Demonstrating a close working relationship with its client the design team have with the DBE Building acknowledged the ancient stories of the traditional inhabitants of this place. The living stream is referenced in imprints and artwork within the ground level courtyard of this significant addition to the University campus. The five-story building provides diverse spaces providing delightful opportunities for teaching and research. Elements of the building are also a referential tool for teaching such as the living stream artwork. As with other Curtin buildings BDE is designed as a living laboratory, with data frequently being collected to improve environmental performance.

The DBE Building recently Achieved and has received a 6 Star Green Star Design as Built V1.2 rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. 

An extensive list of Sustainability initiatives integrated into this design helped the project achieve this world leading accreditation. These included high performance facades for heat resilience and large solar PV (187.3KW) providing renewable energy. The project achieved a 71% reduction in operational carbon compared to a benchmark building (calculated via Green Star GHG modelling protocol). Embodied carbon (reviewed via Life Cycle assessment) and environmental credentials were carefully considered in the material selection. 

The building provides many protected sheltered spaces for study throughout its interior and exterior footprint all with excellent access to natural light both from windows and the roof lights above the central staircase. Many spaces are flexible enabling adaptability, and a variety of study, teaching and learning options. These places include the Makerspace, Collaboration Hub, and ground floor Exhibition space. 

The DBE Building integrates seamlessly into the surrounding streetscape, exceeds it’s brief to be a place of collaborative community practice, and is an excellent, truly sustainable, addition to Curtin Exchange Precinct.