The University of Queensland’s Advanced Engineering Building (AEB) at St Lucia was officially opened on 10 September.
The AEB enhances the University’s ability to deliver practical active-learning for engineering students, and makes the most of global research opportunities in line with shifts in engineering innovation.
UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said the award-winning building was a credit to UQ-trained architects who were continuing a tradition of transforming the aesthetics of the St Lucia campus and the quality of the student experience.
“The AEB is a great testing ground for students who have strong prospects of becoming leaders in industry and society,” Professor Høj said.
“They can look to the record of the many high-impact engineering alumni who precede them; but they have an edge that those alumni never had when they were students: a building that doubles as a sustainable engineering learning tool.”
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology Executive Dean Professor Simon Biggs said each day the AEB made informed and calculated decisions to measure and monitor internal and external conditions.
“Operational data provides students with best-practice models in action to monitor the environmental performance as part of their curriculum,” Professor Biggs said.
“For example, students can access elevator energy outputs, air-conditioning levels and the building’s structural performance, all in real time.
“Physically, the AEB has enhanced the University’s ability to transform engineering education with multi-purpose, active learning spaces where lectures are integrated with laboratories that can be used for design and test purposes.
“Designed by Richard Kirk Architects and Hassell, the AEB has influenced the University to redesign its engineering curriculum around the building.”
Professor Høj thanked the Commonwealth and State agencies and industry and private donors who contributed to the cost of the building, including engineering alumni who backed the GHD Auditorium and the David Beal laboratory.
The $133 million AEB building was funded by contributions of $50 million from the Federal Government, $25 million from engineering company GHD, $15 million from the State Government's Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, and UQ funds.
Media: Madelene Flanagan, m.flanagan@uq.edu.au, + 61 7 3365 8525.
