Built Environment
The built environment at UNE plays a significant role in the daily life of students, staff and other members of the UNE community. The UNE campus combines elements of heritage and tradition with modern innovation and sustainable design. Each aspect of the built environment helps to define the UNE experience and create a quality living and learning environment.
The University campus extends over 180Ha and contains over 140 buildings, totaling more than 130,000m2 of Gross Floor Area. Seven residential colleges are also within the campus and provide accommodation for 2100 students. These are considerable figures and represent significant management and infrastructure challenges. To ensure that the built environment embodies the core sustainability principles of UNE, it was recognized as necessary to develop a comprehensive outlook and approach to development.
Sustainable Planning
In 2009 the University in collaboration with external consultants developed a Master Plan [.pdf 64MB] for the whole of the campus. This plan recognized the changing face of universities across Australia and provided a spatial framework for the future development of the campus into 2015. Environmental sustainability was recognized within the plan as core principle for the future of the University. Many recommendations were developed with sustainability being the primary driver. Below are a few of the outcomes and recommendations that were established within the plan
- Locate new buildings along east-west pedestrian spines, takes advantage of aspect/orientation.
- Controlled building height to maximize solar amenity, reduces shading and shelters pedestrian area.
- Promote pedestrian connectivity between and within the campus precincts.
- Establish a clear bicycle network, provide strategically placed cycle parks with appropriate facilities.
Environmentally Sustainable Design
In 2006 UNE opened the Oorala Aboriginal Centre, a sustainable building that utilises design features such as rammed-earth walls, passive solar heating, cross ventilation and local native plantation timber. It signified the beginning of a new era of Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) within the University. The centre was designed and constructed to incorporate environmentally sustainable design solutions and materials. There was extensive consultation during design to ensure the building met physical, functional and socio/cultural sustainability expectations. Dominant indoor/outdoor connectivity encourages building users to interact with the natural environment. The diagram below is taken from the Master Plan and is indicative of the ESD methods that can be found throughout modern buildings at UNE.
The Oorala Aboriginal Centre Presentation contains more detail about the project, ESD and the sustainability values of UNE.
A current project exemplifying the continuation of this era is the ongoing Pharmacy building project. This is the first building at UNE seeking a 5 star rating under the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star technical guidelines. Further details regarding the design and principles of the project can be found at: http://www.une.edu.au/fms/construction/pharmacy.php
