The new $38 million Griffith Business School building is the stellar culmination of a concept by Brisbane-based firm Wilson Architects.
The company has created the seven-storey showpiece as a collaborative and interactive structure in keeping with the vision “Transforming business on the Gold Coast” and maintaining a perfect balance between functionality, warmth and aesthetic appeal.
“We wanted a building that was open, light, engaging and inviting, a business hub that would encourage people around it while making a connection between the university and the broader business community,” says Pro Vice Chancellor (Business) Professor Michael Powell.
There are three major entry points to the building, with students able to gain direct access from within the campus proper or via a more socially conducive lower level equipped with a cafe and seating.
For the wider Gold Coast business community, the Griffith Business School’s formalised entrance is situated at street level through an administrative foyer off Parklands Drive.
“Our initial proposal sought to explore the possibilities of revealing the interactive experience of the spaces held within by providing anopen, inviting, transparent andengaging building,” says Wilson Architects Director, Mr John Thong.
“Multiple departments and centres are co-located within this new building. Ideas will be exchanged, newcollaborationsestablished and a place created that fosters a sense of collegiate and industrypartnershipwithin the wider professional businesscommunity.
“When you look at the materials themselves, the bulk of the construct is simply aluminium, glass and rendered masonry, which makes the building an economically sound outcome as well as very well detailed, functional structure.
“The outcome reflects very closely our initial ideas and seeing that progression all the way through is one of those pleasing things that happens on the rare occasion in architecture, so that is extremely satisfying.”