The Boola Katitjin, the largest mass engineered timber construction project in Western Australia, has been opened at Murdoch University. The new building comprises a total of four storeys and is designed to sustainably improve student life at the university through new, innovative spatial concepts. Source: Timberbiz
The large spans enabled by the use of glued laminated timber (GLT) allow for flexible room design in order to be able to react flexibly to future changes. In addition to the use of the most natural building material in the world – wood, there are photovoltaic installations on the roof as well as a concept for natural ventilation.
A world-first robotics technology trial installed up to 100 timber screw fixings (out of over 200,000) on the building as part of a proof-of-concept experiment for automating this labour-intensive task.
The Boola Katitjin is thus setting new standards in the field of sustainability, both nationally and internationally.
Murdoch University students will have access to a whole new study experience this semester, with the opening of its newest teaching building – Boola Katitjin.
Designed by Lyons in collaboration with Officer Woods, The Fulcrum Agency, Silver Thomas Hanley and Aspect Studios, the building is located at the heart of campus and will become the university’s academic core, providing space for up to 60 percent of its learning and teaching requirements.
It is named Boola Katitjin, which means “lots of learning” in Noongar.
“The name Boola Katijin was given by Dr Richard Walley, who has a long association with Murdoch,” Murdoch vice-chancellor and professor Andrew Deeks said.
“The Beeliar Wetlands around the University have been a place of learning for thousands of years, and we are proud to be adapting to the future of education to continue this tradition.”
At 180 metres long and four stories high with 16,000 square metres of flexible learning spaces, Boola Katitjin is the largest mass engineered timber building in WA and the largest on any Australian university campus.
