ACU - australian catholic university

We are very pleased to have an ongoing relationship with ACU at the Brisbane (MaCauley at Banyo) Campus.  ACU recognises that a successful modern university campus is as much about the common space activation as it is the teaching space. Providing healthy, active environments that encourage student engagement and interaction is key to enhancing the education experience and retaining student numbers. The relatively new campus has fantastic academic facilities but has under utilised its extensive grounds and incidental gathering and co-curricular spaces.  Working closely with key ACU stakeholders Resonance d+a recently completed a number of interconnecting projects to provide additional amenity within strategic locations throughout the campus. 

ACU Weemala Outdoor Learning

Once again we are very pleased to have been invited by ACU to provide the design for this exciting little project. The Weemala outdoor learning area is a dedicated space for the indigenous support centre at ACU. This project utilises an existing slab and shade sail structure and updates to a new solid roof reflecting a bird, (inspired by the local tribe animal the Black Duck). The existing concrete has applied finishes that introduce song lines from the Weemala artwork and brings clearly identifiable Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander imagery to the space. The space is intended to be a comforting and secure space that provides for teaching, meeting, functions and general relaxation. The works extend into the landscape and include aspects form the artwork reflecting the land, forest, river and reef. 

We have designed custom made mobile and modular furniture from perforated aluminium and timber that provides the opportunity for a variety of functions, including screened private tuturial / meeting spaces or more open social engagement. Built in seats and central bar are complimented by mobile tables and chairs and even outdoor beanbags within the wi-fi range extend the habitable zone well and truly into the landscape.

ACU - building 207.1 refurbishment

 As part of their major works to co-locate the school of nursing, the second floor wing of building 207 was been freed up for alternative uses. This involved a complete gut and refurbishment of 400m sq on a long, middle floor north facing section of the main campus building. The new works constitute additional sessional staff facilities including 35 desks, breakout spaces, 3 new teaching rooms and 2 new meeting rooms. The project opens up the existing wing with an extra wide hallway incorporating built in seats and benches with GPO and USB outlets to encourage students to inhabit the movement spaces. This space hugs the northern wall with existing windows (complete with terrazzo windows jams) and links through glass doors to the sessional breakout zone. The hallway has a subtle angle that widens at the start to accommodate larger numbers of people and narrows towards the private sessional office space. This act also makes the corridor feel less like a hallway and allows greater habitability. the inclusion of seats and benches with mobile soft stools further enhance the relaxed and usable space.

Entries to the teaching spaces are highlighted by door recesses with large common space whiteboards and a feature squiggle light. The meeting rooms are accessible to the wider campus and include writable glass walls and much needed tele conferencing facilities. The built in plywood furniture and colourful soft furnishings provide a warmth to the breakout zones with a timber and glass screen that buffers this zone to the working space while still allowing  borrowed northern light into the office space. 

oval activation works

As part of ACU's health science precinct and their aim to engage with the community and encourage an active student lifestyle the lower oval was upgraded to a class A playing surface with new habitable viewing spaces around the edge. These works included a significant amount of in ground services and stormwater re-direction, collection for irrigation, new competition grade oval lighting for night time events and a covered terrace seating area adjoining the health science block. While these new works were intended to provide destinations in an otherwise under utilised zone of the campus they also provide a direct connection to the internal teaching space and have been designed for multiple uses. From the inclusion of power charging and wifi connection, terraced seating for viewing of the oval through to flat spaces for teaching purposes and a direct connection between O Block and the oval itself the new works promote a crossover between the active and passive spaces and revitalize a neglected area of the campus. 

the junction - coffee hub

The junction coffee hub is strategically positioned outside I block and the lecture halls to provide a decentralized catering option for the campus. Designed to hug the edge of the forecourt and tree line the coffee hub provides much needed shade and caffeine at the entry to one of the busier Blocks on campus. The junction is set against the heritage listed Administration building and aims to provide a counterpoint while subtly referencing the patterns within the existing building through the tiling layouts and cutouts in the folded metal seats. The blackboard walls of the cafe fold down when not is use to allow an open covered space complete with power and wi-fi. When the cafe is open it addresses the main access path and provides an active and shaded edge to the building forecourt.

i block fitout

Resonance d+a was commissioned to re-invigorate the common space and hallways of I Block. The existing concrete floors and Beige rendered block walls were dull and noisy. Part of the works was to soften the space and provide some acoustic absorption and resting spaces between classes. Through the introduction of seating, pinboards and magnetic whiteboards throughout and a few splashes of colour the new space allows itself to be manipulated by the users for the users.