Sixty years in the making, genU is a non-profit merger of Karingal and St Laurence with the mission to “deliver innovative services and supports that empower people to reach their full potential.” Offering a full gamut of support services – such as aged care, disability support, accommodation and business enterprises that kickstart the career of someone with a disability – the space is as inclusive as it is innovative.
NOWarchitecture was chosen to create unique public spaces with sustainability top of mind. Having previously collaborated on building envelopes, the combination of RAICO Pacific bespoke timber systems and Glassworks’ high-performing low-E Insulating Glass Units, LoE-366 and LoE-340 came together to deliver another fantastic result, further enhanced by Alspec ThermAframe.
The site spans more than 10,000 m2 with the building occupying almost 4,000 m2 of that space. And with a total project value of more than $15 million, the client wanted to do it once and do it right. As such, progressive design principles, engineering and glazing were required to future-proof the building.
Essentially a rectangular shaped three-story structure, the building’s long facades are broken up for aesthetic appeal and self-shading. Custom fabricated shade screens to the northern facade by RAICO Pacific coupled with some Alspec ThermAframe to provide further softening and reduced reflection from the dominant facade. While bespoke timber framing provides natural insulation complemented by energy-efficient glazing, a combination of Glassworks LoE3-366 neutral coloured low-E glass and LoE3-340 blueish-coloured solar-blocking low-E directly supported the timber structure.
“The glazing chosen for the facade controls heat load, promot[ing] maximum natural light and external views,” says principal architect Neville Cowland. In fact, the whole facade system achieves an impressive Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.18 and U-Value of 1.65 to the rear side where direct summer sun is prominent. The front facade achieves a Visible Light Transmission of 66% for more natural light, balanced with a SHGC of 0.27.
The building is designed for sustainability by capitalizing on embodied energy and cross-ventilation through intelligent design and material selection as well as natural light and passive heating and cooling through appropriate glazing. All three levels face on to an atrium space along the north facade, which fosters passive ventilation by allowing hot air to rise and exhaust at high level whilst drawing in cooler air from the south. Further, the timber and concrete composite structure responds to the highly reactive soil on the site whilst significantly reducing embodied energy and improves interior acoustics.
Glassworks congratulates all involved in this project and wishes genU many successful years ahead in achieving its vision of “building inclusive communities.”
