EZONE UWA - Stages 1A & 1B

EZONE UWA has been conceived to create a new learning, teaching and research environment encompassing the existing Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics facilities at The University of Western Australia. The project demonstrates excellence in engineering, architecture and sustainability. As a showcase project the building includes numerous engineering innovations, all focused on increasing the amenity for engineering students while also providing real world examples of engineering concepts to assist learning and inspire further innovation.  An innovative structural solution allowed all perimeter columns to be removed at ground level, leading to a 'floating' effect, while integrating support structure into the 'petal' façade. 

Pritchard Francis undertook the civil and structural design for the project, which demonstrated numerous design methodologies combined to create a dramatic architectural statement. These elements included:

• Two storey high composite steel and post tensioned concrete truss system allowing the ground floor perimeter columns to be removed, creating a 'floating' effect.
• The perimeter ‘veil’ structure is formed from a series of aluminium ‘petals’ in an overlapping ‘circle of life’ pattern. The veil is supported directly from the composite truss, which further extends, cantilevering to support a 240m2 unsupported zone as part of the internal 'street'.
• The open ‘street’ area between Building 222 and 275 is covered by a large span steel framed lattice roof. 
• ‘Floating’ staircases have been designed without traditional stringers, instead using a steel plate balustrade as the structural element which acts as a deep beam.
• The open ‘street’ area between Building 222 and 275 is covered by a large span roof 15m above floor level which has been designed in a lattice pattern with V-shaped beams which is partially enclosed by the aluminium 'petal' facade.
• 5m high, 1m thick L-shaped reaction wall was designed to house and withstand state of the art structural engineering laboratory equipment to aid in the teaching of the future students of the university.
• Civil drainage concepts were integrated throughout the external landscaping, integrating with the Indigenous influenced indoor/outdoor landscape solution.