Diverse functions are facilitated within all these spaces by their design. Not only do people pass through, but they can sit or stand, meet others, take shortcuts to other parts of the campus, work or study.
All spaces allow for multiple modes of learning, including group discussion.
A Living Sustainable Building Experiment
LCD screens on the wall facing to the west entrance show various demands for energy and water.
These screens refer to the building as a 'living laboratory'. A monitoring and management system optimises all systems throughout the building. Over 3000 sensors are collecting data that can be used for research and teaching. The building is a field test that will last in excess of 50 years.
Up to 750,000 litres of water can be collected from the roof and building exterior and stored in the basement. The water is used for building services such as bathrooms and for irrigation.
The building is serviced by a natural ventilation system which makes substantial use of cross-ventilation across the different types of spaces within. Air is circulated by underfloor air distribution (situated below the Atrium floor) and released via the roof.