Biological Sciences

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Project overview

The award-winning Biological Sciences on upper campus was designed to support current research and teaching needs while also providing infrastructure to support future technological advances in biology and medicine.

The new nine-storey building is home to the Schools of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science in the Faculty of Science for more than 550 staff and PhD students and 360 undergraduate biomedical and biological sciences students.

The vision of the project was to enhance interdisciplinary teamwork by bringing together biologists, and environmental, earth and biomedical scientists in one building and to reinforce synergies between the research groups, schools and faculties.

UNSW’s bigger vision for the upper campus was to create a biomedical precinct close to the Randwick hospitals. Our upper campus biomedical precinct features the Lowy Cancer Research Centre, the Wallace Wurth building for the School of Medicine and now Biological Sciences.

The Biological Sciences completion marks a major milestone in UNSW’s significant $500m investment in world-class research and teaching facilities.

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The ambitious Biological Sciences Renewal project took place in a staged process over four years. The first part was the construction of Biological Sciences South – E26. The work saw the demolition of the Biological Theatres, then the development of a 16,900m2 nine-storey building. Once finished, staff and students who were based nearby commenced work in the new facilities.

The second part of the renewal was the refurbishment and modernisation of Biological Sciences North – D26. The work saw the removal of the façade and removal of the internal walls to strip the building back to its frame, then the refurbishment of a 20,700m2 eight-storey building.

A large, light-filled atrium with a column indicating North & South is the only way to tell that the project was completed in two stages.
The Biosciences project was developed to support School of and the School of

Ground floor and Level one feature large flexible first year teaching facilities. The labs have an advanced audio-visual system that can display live information and images of laboratory specimens.

UNSW Medicine’s School of Medical Sciences and its Department of Anatomy are also embracing the new building’s capabilities as home of their anatomy laboratories.

The new laboratories support our key research priorities by integrating practical clinical experience, research, and education

On the upper four levels the modern infrastructure in the research laboratories will enable more efficient research.

Biosciences also features 189 solar panels, generating enough energy to power up to eight houses.
2018 Award under the Tertiary Buildings $100m and over

2019 under the Buildings $100m and over
Development: UNSW Estate Management

Project Manager:

Architects:

Contractor:

Photography: Multiplex

Stage 1 Completed: 2015 – 2017

Stage 2 Completed: 2017 - 2019