ANU Laurus Wing Modular Student Housing
ANU Laurus Wing Modular Student Housing
Client:
Hutchinson Builders
Location:
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Status:
Completed 2010
Contact Person:
Colin Odbert
Made from a series of stacked shipping containers, the architectural concept for the Laurus Wing was a fast, efficient and economical answer to the Australian National University’s student housing shortage.
In fact, the modular, pre-fabricated solution saved six months of construction time while reducing waste and mess overall.
Just as importantly, it represented a potential model for future housing on campus, giving ANU a building that wasn’t just delivered efficiently but also designed for expansion and potential re-location.
For our practice and our client, Hutchinson Builders, the Laurus Wing was also a fertile testing ground. Together, we gained valuable insights into the benefits of standardisation, which allowed us to control both quality and consistency on the project.
We applied those lessons to pre-fabrication projects that followed, including one at ANU’s Mount Stromlo site – a pilot for locally sourced, locally fabricated modular construction that took flexibility one step further.
A unique construction story captured in the façade
Our design team opted for external building materials that reflect the unique construction methodology of the project.
The cladding is largely prefabricated and panelised for efficient assembly, while the other materials we selected are both durable and low maintenance.
Arranged into two wings, the living modules are linked via a shared lift lobby and communal spaces. These wings form a protected, landscaped courtyard for gathering.
When it was completed in 2010, a modular, pre-fabricated building was still a rare sight on Australian campuses. So the Laurus Wing drew plenty of attention, not to mention an ACT Sustainable Cities Award.
Today, it’s still hardworking, high-quality housing for the 180+ postgraduate students living in its single studios and one-bedroom apartments.
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Client:
Hutchinson Builders
Location:
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Status:
Completed 2010
Contact Person:
Colin Odbert
Awards
ACT Sustainable Cities Awards – Sustainable Building Award (2010)
