Innova21 emerged out of the university’s desire for the highest possible standards for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in building design. The result was the first Australian building project to achieve a 6-star rating from the Green Building Council’s Green Star Education v1.0 tool.

IN BRIEF

Construct a new campus building expansive enough to handle the demands for space, both present and future, of the University’s Faculty of Engineering, Computer, and Mathematical Sciences. Quality accommodations must be provided for students and teachers alike, to facilitate effective teaching, research, and the performance of all other duties normally associated with an academic environment.
Achieving maximum levels of sustainability should be the overriding justification for all design choices and material selections.

ARCHITECT’S WORDS

The building respects and enhances the character of the precinct through a contemporary and distinctive design. Important elements of passive design, such as the sun shading devices as well as active elements such as the thermal chimneys on the north façade of the building define the building’s character.

Careful selection of exterior colour sand materials was required in order to make this Curtain walled building blend with the predominantly red-brick character of the lower campus of the University specifically the fritted dot treatment to the Spandral panels, the Red Alucobond back panel to the Thermal chimney and the selection of the blinds colour. The contemporary sandstone clad-columns at the base of the building complement the sandstone columns of the heritage listed Barr-Smith Library adjacent.

Key innovative elements include the use of Active Slab technology (hydronic cooling loops within the concrete floor slabs) combined with an Under Floor Air Distribution System utilising 100 per cent fresh air ventilation, providing a healthy and comfortable internal environment. Heat rejection from the computer server rooms to the ground is achieved via geothermal loops incorporated into the basement diaphragm wall. The building also has a low E double glazed curtain wall; a programmable (DALI) lighting system and a building management system (BMS) designed to reduce energy consumption.

Another key sustainable technology is the tri-generation plant located at the roof level that will provide electricity, heating and cooling for the whole building, saving energy and with ongoing cost savings.

There is an extensive rainwater harvesting system with 500,000 litre underground rainwater storage tanks. The collected water is used for toilet flushing and irrigation within the building. These technologies within the building will be monitored via the BMS, this data will be available to students so that the building itself becomes a teaching tool in terms of its environmentally sustainable design.

Materials selection as well as the furniture, fittings and equipment within the building were selected in relation to their eco preferred content, as well as minimal PVC and formaldehyde content. An exhibition space has been incorporated to the south of the building in an area that was previously a car park as part of a link to the existing Engineering faculty buildings. This space is roofed with an Ethylene Tetra Fluoro Ethylene (ETFE) inflated roof membrane; another example of innovative material technology in use in this building.

Innova21 satisfies the University of Adelaide’s need for contemporary staff accommodation and computer aided teaching facilities with the high indoor environmental quality criteria established by the Green Star Education Tool. These design imperatives were achieved whilst integrating this modern building within the context of the heritage aspects of the University of Adelaide campus.

ACCOLADES

  • Australian Institute of Architects 2011 SA Architecture Awards – Sustainable Architecture Award Winner Australian Institute of Architects 2011 SA Architecture Awards – Public Architecture Commendation
  • South Australian Engineering Excellence Awards 2011 – Buildings & Structures Commendation (Aurecon)
  • South Australian Master Builders Association Excellence in Commercial Construction Awards 2011 – Excellence in Environmentally Sustainable Construction Winner (Hindmarsh)
  • South Australian Master Builders Association Excellence in Commercial Construction Awards 2011 – Excellence in a Commercial/Industrial Building over $50M – Landmark Project Commendation (Hindmarsh)
  • First University building in Australia to achieve a 6 Star Green Star – Education Design v1 Certified Rating

SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS

In order to achieve the coveted 6-star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, a number of ecologically friendly techniques, innovations, and design features were included in the Innova 21 complex.

The highlights include:

  • Tri-Generation Plant – placed on the roof of the edifice, this gas-powered plant is used to produce electricity, heating, and cooling, which it is able to do with emissions levels that are 17% lower than what is produced by coal.
  • Thermal Chimneys – located on the north side of the building facing the sun, which allows the air inside of them to be heated naturally, these glass tubes draw exhaust air through louvres on each floor through the process of convection.
  • Curtain Wall – low-E double glazed curtain wall insulates the building while still allowing natural light to enter.
  • DALI Lighting System – programmable light system that adjusts illumination levels and turns lights on and off in the building based on the activities going on in particular rooms at particular times.
  • Rainwater Collection – a rainwater collection system on the roof can transport and store up to 500,000 litres of water underground, where it can be piped into the Innova 21 complex for use in toilets and irrigation.
  • Active Slab Technology – hydronic cooling loops within concrete floor slabs that help provide constant circulation of fresh air in the building.
  • EFTE Canopy – placed over the complex\\'s new exhibition space, this unique inflated ceiling made from ethylene tetra fluoro ethylene provides effective insulation and strong, durable protection for this area.
  • Building Management System – designed to track energy use patterns and other ecologically-relevant data, this system monitors the performance of the building\\'s various subsystems and displays the data collected on a central media wall in the exhibition space for the study of interested students and faculty.

The overall design of the Innova 21building is intended to maximize the use of natural energy and light from the sun, and to generate efficient air flow throughout the entire complex. The selection of construction materials, as well as the furnishings and equipment that were installed in the building, was made with only the highest ecological standards in mind.

PRODUCTS

EXTERNAL WALLS AND CEILINGS
KINGSWOOD ALUMINUM
ALUCOBOND ARCHITECTURAL
SA STRUCTURAL
CONSTRUCTION GLAZING PTY. LTD.
COMMERCIAL CERAMIC & STONE
GVA

INTERNAL WALLS AND CEILINGS
ANTEX & ARO TECHNOLOGY

DOORS
ARCHITECTURAL HARDWARE & DOORS PTY. LTD.
ASSA ABLOY
GVA

WINDOWS AND WINDOW TREATMENTS
AGP
HI-LIGHT INDUSTRIES
LIDI

FLOORING
ASP FLOORING
ONTERA
AMTICO
SA STRUCTURAL
NEOFLEX

LIGHTING
MANCE DESIGNance Design
AUSTUBE PTY LTD
ERCO
BEGA
IGUZZINI
LIGMAN
WE-EF LIGHTING PTY LTD
ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING

ROOFING
VECTOR FOILTEC (AUSTRALIA)
FIELDERS STEEL ROOFING
KINGSPAN INSULATION

AIR CONDITIONING 
WATSON FITZGERALD
KARL VON HACHT OF BUSH TIMBERS

STONE BENCHTOPS
CAESERSTONE

PAVING
BEST BRICKS & PAVERS
URBANSTONE

LANDSCAPING
WILSON & COMPANY

SIGNAGE AND PLYWOOD PANEL GRAPHICS
SIGN CONCEPTS SA

BATHROOM
CAROMA
HANSA
LAMINEX, STRUCTURAL MP PARTITIONING
ITALIA CERAMICS
JD MACDONALD & BOBRICK

APPLIANCES
FISHER & PAYKEL APPLIANCES
ZIP HEATERS

FURNITURE
KFIVE
URBAN CULTURE
LIVING EDGE FURNITURE
BURGTEC OFFICE SYSTEMS
STYLECRAFT AUSTRALIA
INSITU
4M FOUNDATION
KOSKELA
PLANEX
DEXION

FURNITURE FABRICS
KVADRAT MAHRAM
WOVEN IMAGE
LAINE FURNISHINGS
INSTYLE CONTRACT TEXTILES