Murdoch University – Boola Katitjin Building, Perth, WA

NDY was engaged by Lyons Architects and Murdoch University to deliver core building and specialist engineering services designs for the Boola Katitjin Building, located adjacent to Banksia Court. This building forms an integral part of transitioning Discovery Way as the primary arrival gateway for the University.

Boola Katitjin, which translates to “lots of learning” in the Indigenous Noongar language, amplifies the Murdoch experience with new places to learn, study and socialise; and becoming the University of choice for First Nations people.

The linear 4 storey academic building comprises a concrete structure for the lower level stories, with an innovative engineered timber frame for the upper three stories.

The primary purpose of the project is to provide the University with state-of-the-art contemporary learning spaces, to meet the needs of contemporary higher education. In addition, the project provides for extensive areas of informal, student focused, ‘peer to peer’ learning areas.

The building also contains a new campus wide Student Services Hub and a series of innovative ‘future focused’ research and industry engagement spaces. Boola Katitjin provides Murdoch University with approximately 16,000 m² of contemporary collaborative learning space, informal peer-to-peer learning, academic workplace and campus landscape.  The project acts as a demonstration of the University’s commitment to sustainable practices and design innovation.

Working in close conjunction with Lyons, NDY developed plant and riser spatial principles and colour mapping drawings to geographically depict various building services design solutions during the early design phases. NDY’s suite of digital engineering tools has been used to develop these outputs and to carry out various early design verification and compliance checks on element such as:

• Fire hydrant and hose reel coverage compliance checks
• Communications cable lengths (with respect to chosen communications room locations)
• Distribution board demarcation zone drawings
• AV line of sight reviews
• CCTV field of vision reviews.

Colour map outputs depicting:

• Mechanical air conditioning design philosophies
• Hydraulic wet/dry areas and temperature control requirements
• Lighting illuminance level philosophy
• Fire and Smoke compartmentation
• Acoustic wall details.

Designed to achieve a 6 Star Green Star Design and As-Built v1.3 rating, the project demonstrates leadership in sustainability on a national scale. NDY has worked closely with the architect and facade consultant, through an iterative modelling process, to ensure the building’s architecture passively controls solar gains to minimise cooling energy and enhance thermal comfort, incorporating deep eaves to the north, vertical fins to the southern facade, and horizontal fins to the eastern and western facades. The combination of smart and informed passive design and high performance building fabric results in Boola Katitjin exceeding NCC Section J 2019 performance requirements by 10% and resulting in a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when modeled under Green Star protocol.

Wind microclimate and thermal comfort studies have informed the architectural and mechanical design and enabled the use of mixed mode ventilation to select areas for 40% of the year, further reducing energy consumption. The project team has prioritised reduction of embodied carbon in construction materials resulting in a hybrid, mass timber construction for the majority of the Boola Katitjin structure, the largest in Western Australia so far. Mass timber construction not only reduces new carbon emissions entering the atmosphere but sequesters carbon from the atmosphere as it grows. NDY has developed a strong understanding of Murdoch’s appetite to push boundaries in sustainability in the built environment and has delivered the expertise required to design a world leading sustainable building.

The digital engagement strategy for Boola Katitjin aims to foster a sense of connection, engagement and belonging for students. It focuses on wellbeing – supporting students’ mental and physical health, while enhancing Murdoch University’s philosophy of free thinking and a radical mindset.

Some of the technology solutions:

The “building’s front door” comprises a circular motif which extends from the outside pavement into the building suggesting that this is a place of safety and pause. The space has been designed to accommodate for a large range of functions and live events with large, high-definition LED video screens and a high-quality, public address system using steerable column array loudspeakers provides high speech intelligibility and clarity.

Inside the space is double-height and embellished, creating a feeling of immersion and awe as you arrive. The ceiling is covered in dowel lighting, an elegant design element and reference to the Noongar story of the kulbardi (magpie) and the creation of the sky. A continuous digital ticker display circumnavigates the room connecting the space to the broader digital engagement strategy.

Digital video and photographic works that capture and manipulate time and motion are strategically located throughout the building to assist students with reducing stress and increasing mindfulness. NDY specified a range of large format displays with appropriate size, shape, picture quality and brightness to suit the surrounding environments and deliver on each artist’s ambition for the art works.

As the specialist audio visual consulting engineers for the project our team worked closely with the University, Lyons (architect) and Multiplex to design and deliver technology innovation. Some of the audio visual (AV) highlights of the building include:

• Four 120 student flat floor collaborative teaching spaces with full height glazing high definition, high brightness large format LED video walls to ensure all students have unobstructed sightlines to the academics and screens
• Four 90 student flat floor collaborative teaching spaces using multi-LCD video walls
• Six 60 student flat floor collaborative teaching spaces
• A suite of small and large meeting rooms
• Digital signage and wayfinding screens
• Room scheduling screens
• Student services automated queuing system
• Digital welcome space with large outdoor high-brightness LED screen and public address system for up to 200 people.

To facilitate Murdoch University’s approach to next generation learning and teaching as both hybrid and blended (students attending in person and joining remotely online), all teaching spaces and meeting rooms designed by NDY have a native Microsoft Teams online education system enabling safe, secure and student-focused learning with equal access for remote participation and in-person learning.

Multiple cameras in each space ensure the academics are always seen and heard, ensuring the experience of remote students is just as dynamic as in-person learning. The same cameras are also used for whiteboard capture, for brainstorming and ideation. All classes can be streamed online or recorded so that students can play back at a later time. There is little dedicated, proprietary AV infrastructure as all audio, video and control signals are routed and distributed throughout the building on the IT network infrastructure using a Crestron NVX AV over IP solution.

The project has provided an environment where students not only connect and engage but also truly belong. With a strong focus on wellbeing, it nurtures both mental and physical health, empowering each student’s journey. Beyond that, it’s a tribute to the narrative of Murdoch University as a hub for free thinking and a revolutionary mindset.

Images by John Gollings and Lyons Architects with Silver Thomas Hanley, Officer Woods, The Fulcrum Agency and Aspect Studios.