Pictorial> Gehry Down Under

Dr. Chau Chak Wing Building. West elevation. (Gehry Partners, LLP)
Dr. Chau Chak Wing Building. West elevation. (Gehry Partners, LLP)

You better run, you’d better take cover! Frank Gehry‘s is heading down to Australia with a half twisted-brick, half glass-shard business school for the University of Technology, Sydney. The $150 million project draws its inspiration from a tree house, or as Frank puts it, “a trunk and core of activity and… branches for people to connect and do their private work.”

Dr. Chau Chak Wing Building. East facade. (Gehry Partners, LLP)

The undulating 11-story brick facade is designed to reflect the dignified sandstone of brick historic buildings of Sydney while irregularly angled glass planes refract the new building’s surroundings. The university also wants to make the new business school sustainable and is considering incorporating efficient HVAC and lighting that turns off when a room is vacant, interior carbon dioxide monitoring, lighting that automatically adjusts depending on the brightness of daylight, and potentially a rainwater-capturing grey water system.

Dr. Chau Chak Wing Building. View north along Ultimo Pedestrian Network (Gehry Partners, LLP)

Inside, the building will contain classrooms, research space, a 240-seat auditorium, a café, and car and bike parking. The project has already produced returns for four lucky architecture students at the University of Technology, Sydney who have been offered elusive internships at Gehry Partners’ Los Angeles offices. Construction is expected to begin in 2012 with a gran opening planned in 2014.

Dr. Chau Chak Wing Building. Section view of west elevation (Gehry Partners, LLP)
Dr. Chau Chak Wing Building. East elevation. (Gehry Partners, LLP)
Dr. Chau Chak Wing Building. Detail of east facade. (Gehry Partners, LLP)
Dr. Chau Chak Wing Building. Ground floor plan. (Gehry Partners, LLP)
Dr. Chau Chak Wing Building. First floor plan. (Gehry Partners, LLP)
Dr. Chau Chak Wing Building. Third floor plan. (Gehry Partners, LLP)
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