Oeuvre

- BUILDING ENVELOPE DESIGN -

Re-Skinning Baillieu Library

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Design Brief

 

The existing Baillieu Library in University of Melbourne requires a redevelopment of the building envelope to bring it to current standards.  Using plans from the existing building, the decision making process of designing a facade system for a large commercial building from scratch is simulated.  

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Assuming that only the concrete / steel structure is in place and can support whatever is designed, and that the existing façade to be completely removed, the new proposed system is designed to better respond to the internal users' requirement and comfort level.  Being environmental and social friendly, the facade tries to integrate both traditional passive systems and advance active technology to improve the building's energy performance, environmental impacts, users satisfaction level and aesthetics to the public.

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Unitized curtain wall system with glass and precast panels and other lightweight / renewable materials are chosen for the project.  With constructability being a key concern, joints between different sections and materials are developed and illustrated graphically, while justifications for material choice and the reasoning is explained in a separate written technical report.