AIIM P&D Building at University of Wollongong Innovation Campus

This delicate timber structure holds some of Australia’s most powerful microscopes.  The Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM) Processing and Devices (P&D) Building at the University of Wollongong serves as a bridge connecting existing buildings on campus.  Covered in Pacific Teak wood on the top half and Spotted Gum wood on the bottom, the building’s structural elements had to be non-ferrous so as not to interfere with the sensitive microscopes, which are housed in airtight acoustic chambers with no natural light.  As a respite from those chambers, the rest of the interior is naturally lit, with the second level balcony floor covered cheery red linoleum. 

The building was created by projects firm Sinclair Knight Merz  (SKM-S2F), and was awarded the People’s Choice Award by the Australian Timber Design Awards.