Client
Macquarie University
Location
North Ryde, New South Wales
Completed
2013
Value
$140 million
Role
Structural and civil engineer
The Australian Hearing Hub at Macquarie University is a unique, world class facility purpose designed for research, training, teaching and learning in hearing, and hearing related speech, language and reading disorders.
Macquarie University, together with Cochlear and Australian Hearing Services, has created one of the world's leading research centres, combining hearing services with high-end research.
The project has brought together key research groups in hearing and cognitive sciences, neurosurgery, special education and electronic
engineering with major organisations involved in developing hearing technologies and services, including nano fabrication.
Our role
Woolacotts Consulting Engineers was engaged to provide structural and civil design and documentation.
The seven storey building has 34,000 square metres of built area, parking for 340 cars, and specialist anechoic (no echo) chambers.
The anechoic chamber was constructed from precast concrete, masonry and was isolated from the rest of the building using tuned rubber bearings.
Green star features
The facility has many green star features including:
— Environmental and waste plans
— Reuse of demolition material
— Design for disassembly
— Rainwater collection and reuse
— Stormwater runoff detention
— Natural car park ventilation
— Spaces for hybrid and small cars
— Cyclist facilities
