BlueScope Steel  was recently used to install a lightweight roofing system for a sustainable building project at the Mawson Lakes Campus of the University of South Australia. The architect on the project was Jackson Architecture.  

Client brief  

The project involved the development of a new building to house a state-of-the-art flexible research facility for the University of South Australia at the Mawson Lakes campus. The building needed to incorporate sustainable technology initiatives.  

The sustainable building would additionally allow free movement for pedestrians using sustainable technology initiatives in terms of both materials and design techniques.  

Highlights of the project 

  • The dynamic and highly articulated design is located at a gateway to the University
  • The design is a play on tectonic plates with levels expressed as slipping planes resulting in a dynamic and highly articulated form
  • The laboratory and administrative support wings are connected through an atrium that provides vertical connection over two levels with informal meeting areas on the pedestrian bridges to maximise interaction between scientists

Key features of the sustainable building  

The building will be home to the Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (CERAR) and Cooperative Research Centre for Contaminated Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC Care).  

The building features six key laboratories (both dry and wet) with a flexible design to accommodate up to 120 scientists and support staff in the future.

Laboratories on the ground floor are through extensive glazed partitions while the meeting rooms flow through to the reception to accommodate large events.   

The building was installed with ease by using lightweight steel roofing made from COLORBOND steel.  

Use of steel and colours  

Roofing made from COLORBOND metallic steel in the colour ‘Citi’ was chosen for a number of reasons including its durability against heavy storms and hail.  

This durability was a key factor in the selection of BlueScope Steel for the roof as the designers were intimately familiar with the harsh weather conditions of the area.