The Lyons Architects designed Melbourne Brain Centre in Parkville, Victoria, has been completed with 5 Star Green Star rated laboratory.
Brookfield Multiplex has completed construction of the $102
million building almost four months ahead of schedule.
The facility was purpose-built to provide world-class
accommodation for three medical research organisations: the Florey Neuroscience
Institutes, the Mental Health Research Institute and The University of Melbourne’s
Centre for Neuroscience
The 11 storey building (including basement parking) provides
approximately 18,750 square metres of ventilated office space on the north side
of the building with a controlled environment scientific area to the south.
The building’s facilities include four levels of underground
parking, an auditorium, art gallery and custom built Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(MRI) facilities.
The building will accommodate 500 staff and provide
environment controlled intensive PC2 laboratories and air-tight PC3
laboratories for testing, research and development.
Design features include two internal voids providing natural
light and air control with steel stairways to facilitate staff interaction and
movement between the floors.
The complex building façade is one of the key ESD features
of the building.
The façade reduces heat gain through a combination of
precast concrete spandrel panels, double glazing and sunshades designed to
intercept direct sun during the warmer periods that also assist in reducing the
ventilation system demand throughout the year.
Electricity usage is minimized through its co-generation
plant that provides power resources using natural gas as its fuel source,
reducing emissions by approximately half (if grid-based electricity was used).
A highly efficient ventilation system in the office areas
will operate on a mixed-mode system with openable windows providing fresh air
when ambient temperatures are suitable. A weather station will record outdoor
conditions to allow the building to operate in ideal conditions and minimise
energy consumption.
“We are proud to deliver
this landmark sustainable laboratory building. It reflects our mandate to
continue to innovate and lead sustainability in the property arena,” said Dean
Lockhart, Regional Managing Director Brookfield Multiplex, Victoria.
“We worked closely
with the Melbourne Brain Centre’s project partners and strategically staged construction
to ensure minimal disruption to daily life on the Parkville campus. Other
challenges included logistical coordination of site access from a major
arterial road and tailoring our methodology with an arborist to minimise
potential impact on the heritage listed Elm trees on Royal Parade and the
protected plane trees within the university grounds,” Lockhart explained.
The Melbourne Brain Centre is an initiative of major
funders, the Australian and Victorian Governments, and key philanthropists. It
is co-funded by project partners the Florey Neuroscience Institutes, the Mental
Health Research Institute and The University of Melbourne.
* This article was changed (21/9/11). It had incorrectly stated the building was completed to become the first 5 Star Green Star
rated laboratory building within an Australian education facility. However, this is the second such building.
