Building a new roadway through a koala habitat

The Stage 2A building follows the completion of the campus's first purpose-built building in 2016. The second stage of the new regional campus in Port Macquarie includes a two storey addition to the campus, linked to the building, completed during Stage 1, by a timber boardwalk and a new roadway connection. The new building includes additional learning and teaching spaces, a laboratory, breakout and meeting spaces, student kitchen and facilities, events space, along with additional car parking.

One of the design challenges was building the new roadway through a koala habitat. This required careful consideration with the protect team's ecologist and arborist to provide a favourable outcome for all parties. As a result, landscaped batters and koala timber bridges within culverts were designed to allow for the movement of the natural wildlife.

Client: Charles Sturt University

Architect: BVN

Builder: Lahey Constructions

Value: $66M

Completion: 2020

Sector: Universities

Services: Structural, Civil, Facade