Australian made MASSLAM columns stand tall and proud at the University of Tasmania’s (UTAS) West Park Campus located in Burnie, with the design drawing on biophilic elements to foster a natural environment for students.
Much more than a mere building material, timber is a resource that connects nature with design. Beautifully curated by John Wardle Architects for the UTAS Burnie campus, this $52-million build utilised local materials to complete a visionary educational centre for students and visitors.
Built by Fairbrother, UTAS Burnie is the combination of clever design and innovative procurement. The new campus was designed to provide a world-class learning experience, and the brief was achieved by incorporating biophilic elements such as timber. Natural elements were paired with practical products including hardwearing carpet and durable furniture to complete the functional space.
Along with timber veneers and joinery, UTAS employed MASSLAM45 ‘seen-structural’ 450 x 450 columns and an array of mullions to transform this university campus. MASSLAM45 (made from PEFC certified Victorian ash) is part of our MASSLAM range of glue laminated columns, beams, floor and roof systems for mass timber construction.
John Wardle Architects: “The profiled nature of the building envelope breaks down the building scale from what could be dominating as a single form, into smaller modules, alluding to many buildings within a campus rather than a campus within a single building.”
Mass timber offers major benefits to construction as it is cheaper than concrete and steel, faster to build with, safer due to prefabrication, more accurate, lighter in weight and fire-resistant. MASSLAM specifically has advantages that allow longer spans, higher ceilings, increased floor space, lesser beam depth and lower associated installation costs.
Australian Sustainable Hardwoods: “UTAS Burnie perfectly showcases the use of innovative timber products, championing Australian grown and owned solutions such as MASSLAM – our range of mass timber columns, beams, floor and roof systems.”
Project details
Timber Used: Goodwood
Application: Mass Timber
Date Completed: 2021
Architect: John Wardle Architects
Builder: Fairbrother
Photography: Adam Gibson
