QUT Scitech

QUT Gardens Point Campus, George Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

COMMENCEMENT DATE	January 2010
COMPLETION DATE	December 2012
CLIENT	Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd
BUILDING OWNER	Queensland University fo Technology
DEVELOPER	Queensland University fo Technology
ARCHITECT	Donovan Hill + Wilson Architects in Association
BUILDER	Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd
CAPITAL VALUE	$230 Million

PROJECT

The QUT Science and Technology precinct is a state-of-the-art educational facility for one of Queensland’s leading universities. Consisting of two towers of 23,000m² useable floor area, the buildings provide:

research and teaching facilities
multi-purpose laboratories and lecture theatres
workshops and practical teaching areas
collaborative student zones
indoor 50m swimming pool & gymnasium
café & retail outlets
basement car parking

Boasting a capital value of $230 Million, Floth was appointed by Leighton Contractors as the mechanical, fire, hydraulic, tri-generation and energy modelling consultants. The two multi-level buildings are linked by shaded and open green space, acting as a forecourt to the restored old Government House.

This precinct is not only utilised as a building for students to study in, but for students to also study its engineering and design. As leaders in co and tri-generation technology, Floth was required to create an energy and water efficient building, which can be researched and monitored by students and leading academics.
The brief from the client was to develop a precinct that combines teaching and research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), using a world leading model, creating a dynamic hub.

Required to create an energy and water efficient building, Floth implemented tri-technology in the building as a means of improving efficiency and reducing both energy consumption and greenhouse gas (carbon) emissions.

The tri-generation plant comprises of a gas-powered generator (834kW), absorption chiller and associated heat exchangers utilises engine waste heat to provide simultaneous heating and cooling, contributing to the precinct’s demand for; domestic hot water, indoor swimming pool heating, dehumidification and air conditioning.

In addition to the benefits provided by the free heating and cooling, the electricity produced by the generator is derived from gas, a much cleaner alternative to that derived from the grid supply, which is largely dependent on coal fired power stations.

A monitoring portal is available for students and researchers to gather operational data from the tri-generation plant for the purpose of undertaking practical experiments and confirming theoretical calculations. The outcomes from these studies will allow future operational strategies to be refined in order to maximise the building’s overall running efficiency.

The buildings’ greenhouse gas emission reductions have been calculated at 69.3 percent, equating to a CO² emissions reduction of 1,329,349 kg/per year when assessed under the Green Star Education V1 rating tool.