UTS Central

UTS Central, also known as Building 2, is the building housing the Faculty of Law and UTS Library at the University of Technology Sydney. It is the final building to be opened under the A$1 billion City Campus Master Plan. The building is designed by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (FJMT),[3][4] with elements of an original podium design by Lacoste+Stevenson in association with DJRD.[5] Construction was overseen by head contractor Richard Crookes Constructions. The building is located next to the UTS Tower in Ultimo. It opened in August 2019.[6]

UTS Central
UTS Central as viewed from Broadway
Alternative namesBuilding 2
General information
StatusCompleted
TypePublic
Architectural styleNeo-futurism
LocationUltimo, New South Wales
Address61 Broadway, Ultimo 2007
Construction startedEarly 2017
OpenedAugust 2019
CostA$368.6 million
OwnerUniversity of Technology Sydney
Height66 metres (217 ft)[1]
Technical details
Floor count17
Floor area32,400
Lifts/elevators9
Design and construction
Architecture firmFrancis-Jones Morehen Thorp
Other designersLacoste+Stevenson, DJRD
Main contractorRichard Crookes Construction[2]

Design

The building is located next to the UTS tower and opposite Central Park in Broadway. The glass-encased UTS Central is made up of a dual design, with a 10-level twisted tower sitting above a 5-level podium and two underground floors. The UTS Central design is notable for its elegant, curved lines, which provide a complementary contrast to the modular, utilitarian design of the Brutalist UTS Tower.[7] UTS Central is linked directly with the UTS Tower through pedestrian links on levels 3–6.[8]

Double helix staircase

An intertwining double helix staircase made from Australian steel and curved glass connects levels 4 to 7. The double ribbon spiral design originated with architects FJMT and is inspired by the double helix structure of a DNA molecule, a reminder of how breakthroughs in science and technology have transformed our world. The double helix is one of four ‘architectural’ stairways in the building.[7] All of the helical staircases in the UTS Central building, including the double helix, were designed in collaboration with a leading Australian stair designer and manufacturer.

Glass facade

The building's façade comprises around 3600 glass pieces made from 48 types of glass, the largest measuring 6 by 2.3 metres (19.7 by 7.5 ft) and weighing almost 700 kilograms (1,500 lb).[9]

Key features

UTS Library

The UTS Library relocated from Building 5 to UTS Central in November 2019. The relocation allows the UTS Library to be directly connected to the library retrieval system (LRS) located below the Alumni Green. The UTS Library spans over three levels and is connected to the UTS Reading Room with views out towards Alumni Green and two outdoor terraces.[10]

UTS Reading Room

The design of the UTS Reading Room was inspired by traditional scholarly spaces, with a triple-height atrium opening to a large skylight and an uninterrupted glass façade overlooking Alumni Green.[10]

Hive Superlab

Located below ground on level 1, the Hive Superlab can accommodate up to 270 students and contains specialist audio-visual facilities (including bone conduction headphones) that allow seven classes to run simultaneously.[10]

Classrooms

The two largest classrooms hold up to 350 students, while a third accommodates 198 students.[10]

Faculty of Law

The upper levels of UTS Central will be home to the Faculty of Law. It will accommodate offices for the Law faculty, student areas and centres including AntiSlavery Australia and the UTS-UNSW Australasian Legal Information Institute. A moot court and two trial courts with modern technologies found in Australian courts will be available for law students.[11]

Public food court

A large food court is located on level 3 with 440 seats and eight food outlets.[12]

Sustainability

The building is targeting a 5 star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. UTS Central has been developed with many sustainability features including;[13]

  • Intelligent sensors connected to the building management system adjust heating, cooling and ventilation based on the amount of occupants in the building
  • Recycled water used for toilet flushing and irrigation of the building's landscaping
  • Adjustable louvre blinds which are connected to the building management system control the amount of sunlight hitting the glass facade
  • Chilled water supplied from the nearby Central Park provides cooling for the air-conditioning at UTS Central and other buildings
  • UTS Central as viewed from Alumni Green
    UTS Central as viewed from Alumni Green
  • UTS Central as viewed from Jones Street
    UTS Central as viewed from Jones Street
  • Interior view of UTS Library and Reading Room
    Interior view of UTS Library and Reading Room
  • The double helix staircase in UTS Central
    The double helix staircase in UTS Central
  • Aerial view of the rooftop garden
    Aerial view of the rooftop garden

See also

References
  1. "UTS Central Building 2". Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  2. "UTS Central". Richard Crookes Construction. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  3. "UTS unveils twisted neighbour to brutalist tower". ArchitectureAU. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  4. "FJMT's UTS Central Academic Hub Opens to the Public in Sydney". ArchDaily. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  5. "Lacoste + Stevenson wins UTS Podium Competition". ArchDaily. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  6. "UTS Central". University of Technology Sydney. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  7. "Building design | University of Technology Sydney". www.uts.edu.au. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  8. "UTS Central by the numbers". University of Technology Sydney. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  9. UTS. "UTS Central building fact sheet" (PDF). UTS. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  10. "Key spaces | University of Technology Sydney". www.uts.edu.au. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  11. "Faculty of Law". University of Technology Sydney. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  12. "Introducing the UTS Central Food Court". University of Technology Sydney. August 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  13. "UTS Central" (PDF). University of Technology Sydney. August 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2019.

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