The vision for this ARCH project is to sustainably morph a utilitarian building into a 21st century vision for on-campus teaching and research for the University of Southern Queensland. The solution realised by ARCH makes a dramatic statement celebrating its ‘Engineering’ purpose by having expressive structural engineering, a celebration of the essential fume hood services, and exposed building services throughout.

The building has two main facades, one to the campus centre, and one to the ring road. A building that successfully presents both an outward civic presence and an active pedestrian campus frontage. The building is composed with large swatches of bold colour, dramatised with the application of a strong dynamic linear metallic cladding. The building achieves a dynamic design aesthetic, addressing passive solar control in a sustainable and creative way within a constrained budget.