‘cairns institute’, a tropical research center part of james cook university, has been constructed to reflect its northern queensland setting. surrounded by rain-forested hills, the distinctive design draws the landscape into the heart of the campus, offering a stimulating atmosphere for the school’s occupants. this collaborative effort of woods bagot and local office RPA architects is intended to facilitate investigation and collaboration.

 

 


the distinctive design draws the landscape into the heart of the campus

 

 

 

a layered and evolutionary façade allows the campus building to blur into the landscape, while the external trellised skin of the structure incorporates a number of different environmental design solutions as well as forming the aesthetics of the institution. the result is a socially and environmentally sustainable design informed by and representative of its immediate context.

 

 


a layered façade will allow the campus building to blur into the landscape

 

 

 

‘a truly imaginative and integrated design solution that was distinctive and uniquely desirable to JCU’s community was paramount,’ said woods bagot brisbane principal mark damant. ‘attracting the best researchers was a central aim of the university, so it was crucial to create an environment that optimized the working experience to a point where people would love engaging with the building.’

 

 


the trellised skin of the structure incorporates a number of different environmental design solutions

 

 


the center is intended to facilitate research and collaboration

 

 


the large interactive lecture theater

 

 


the building viewed from the passing street

 

 


‘cairns institute’ is surrounded by rainforest on three sides

 

 


ground floorplan in context

 

 


first floorplan

 

 


siteplan showing the new building’s surroundings

 

 

project info:

 

location: cairns, queensland, australia
size: 4,000 sqm (43,056 sqf)
architects: woods bagot and RPA architects

 

builder/project manager: hansen yuncken
electrical and mechanical engineering: ashburner francis
urban design: prowse
structural and civil engineering: flannigan consulting group
hydraulic design and consulting: h2o consulting
quantity surveyor and cost manager: rider levett bucknal