Macquarie University Building E5A

This project involved a significant refurbishment of Building E5A on the Macquarie University Campus. E5A, a 1970 four-storey concrete-framed building, was now required to provide best-practice teaching spaces for a number of faculties in need of enhanced accommodation and specialist facilities. This primarily involved new flexible teaching spaces including support and preparation areas, new building services, storage and a general building upgrade to current BCA and DDA statuary requirements. A new fire stair and amenities block was required and this was designed by BSA to provide visual distinction from the original concrete and face brick monolithic form. This addition to the existing structure features aluminium cladding and a large glazed façade that overlooks the campus.

The refurbishment includes a complete floor of central teaching spaces available to the entire University, a new dedicated area for the Faculty of Science incorporating static teaching as well as generic damp laboratories and new function specific accommodation for the Chiropractic Department. The project, by necessity, involved multiple stages of works within a live environment.

BSA’s significant experience with interior fit outs and extensive knowledge of the needs of educational facilities was germane to the successful design and completion of the refurbished building. The stakeholders were well informed and the development of a close collaborative relationship with them ensured a functionally outstanding result for this demonstrably outdated building.

BSA’s client-based design process was also a key to the successful installation of the E5A Chiropractic Facility on the top floor. As a project with clear specialty requirements, a detailed understanding of the brief was crucial to the design development.

This project demonstrated the benefit of a well-orchestrated and committed project control group.