Lyons and m3architecture have jointly won the design competition for the new Andrew N. Liveris building, designed to accommodate the essential spaces required by the School of Chemical Engineering. The architectural concept emphasizes creating a distinctive physical environment and identity, allowing the building to balance openness and transparency on the exterior with focused, concentrated spaces within.
The building’s exterior design integrates chemical engineering with the campus context. Traditionally characterized by sturdy sandstone, the campus evolves with each new building by increasing the use of glass, enhancing transparency. This progression symbolizes technological advancements in fields like chemical engineering. Architects use the transformation from sandstone to glass as a metaphor to express the building’s connection to its time, place, and role as the home of chemical engineering.
A defining characteristic of this college building is its culture of openness and collaboration. It fosters strong connections among students, faculty, researchers, and industry professionals. This collaborative spirit is underpinned by a shared sense of exploration, linking students and educators in the learning environment as well as researchers and industry partners within experimental laboratories.
The open, interconnected staircase creates a collaborative space that blurs the boundaries between learning, research, and industry. This feature embodies the project’s core vision. The building itself is as significant as the campus, with the capacity to link different campus areas and serve as a central hub for the School of Chemical Engineering.
This project enables the college to continue its growth while offering opportunities to explore future development directions. It enhances the college’s reputation as a leading chemical engineering center in Brisbane and the Asia Pacific region and strengthens its openness and connectivity on the global stage.
Project Information
Architects: Lyons, m3architecture
Area: 1,258 m²
Year: 2022
Photographer: Peter Clarke
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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