Centre for Advanced Imaging
This singular building houses very complex technology.
It extends our relationship with the University of Queensland for whom we also designed the Queensland Brain Institute in collaboration with Wilson Architects.
Skirting a remnant eucalypt forest and overlooking a sports oval, this building defines an edge condition, a wall to the university campus that aligns research, industry and education.
Whilst this building makes formal connection to the Queensland Brain Institute, our idea concerns the poetics of placing a highly technical, internalised building with specialised and world class experimental molecular imaging technology onto a campus parkland edge.
A series of vertical concrete fins patterned with abstracted magnetic resonance imaging defines the front elevation, whilst recalling elements of the Queensland Brain Institute building and resonating with the rim of tall eucalypts. The rear then aligns and knits back into a series of adjoining scientific buildings. Atop this building, a communal terrace for staff affords views across the landscape and sporting oval beyond.
- Traditional Custodians The Turrbal and Yuggera people
- Collaborators Wardle in association with Wilson Architects
- Client The University of Queensland
- Location St Lucia, Queensland
- Project Duration 2008 – 2013
- Floor Levels 5
- Floor Area 4,800m2
- Selected Awards
- Brisbane Regional Commendation for Public Architecture, AIA 2014
Materially, the exterior envelope is either precast concrete in a sandstone hue that connects the building with its historic campus context, or a neutral charcoal metal panel that clothes the functions related to the technology within.
The precast panels are carefully crafted, their profile attuned to keeping out the sun whilst their surface is inscribed with a pattern derived from imagery produced by the centre.
